Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
NOAH
When I finally check my phone after Audrey heads into Common Bond I see three missed calls from my mom.
“Shit.” I hit dial. It only rings once before my mom’s voice comes through the phone.
“Noah?” Her voice is high pitched with worry.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you back. I came home and went right to bed and didn’t see.”
“I was so worried about you. When you weren’t answering, I texted Colin who told me that you’d been released and were fine.”
I’ll have to send him a message thanking him. I’m sure Chrissy told him I took Audrey home with me last night. “I’m all right, Mom. Just a little bruised.”
“I swear I’ve never gotten used to seeing my baby boy on that field. It’s a heart attack every time you hit someone.”
“Good thing I’m normally the one doling them out,” I say, trying to inject some levity into my voice.
“I thought I was done with this stress when your father retired, and there you went right into it after him.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“You didn’t even do our sign to let me know you’re okay.
I can see it on the TV, you know. Just like I could from the bleachers.
” When I first started playing serious football, post peewee, Mom and I came up with a hand signal that I could do to show her I was fine.
That way she would know if I had broken something, or just got the wind knocked out of me.
With everything going on lately and the brutality of that hit, I forgot all about it.
“I promise I’m fine.”
“Your father is worried too,” she says in a way that suggests he hasn’t actually said he was worried about me, she’s just inferring it.
“I’m sure he is.”
“All the football lessons are how he shows he cares.”
“Mom, it’s fine. I’m fine. You’re fine. Everything is fine. No reason to keep rehashing it on the phone.”
“I wish you two would have a more understanding relationship.”
“We have the exact relationship that he wants us to have.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He called me the other week after my fight on the field to scold me about it, but I don’t have any missed calls on my phone from him after getting hurt. Just you.”
There’s a long pause. “I’ll say something to him.”
“Thank you.”
“You know that we both love you very much.”
“I do. I love you, too, Mom. Talk to you later. Don’t worry about me.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
It’s not long until Audrey gets in my car.
She still hasn’t said anything, and neither have I.
I don’t want to say something to steer her away from the conversation with her sister if she wants to talk about it.
If she wants to sit in silence and soak it all in, we can do that too.
I noticed she came out empty-handed and knew she wouldn’t think to get a drink.
I back the car out of the parking spot I’ve been in and circle us around to the drive-thru. May as well, we’re already here.
Silence floats around us in the car like big, billowy clouds.
I’m a little worried she didn’t say anything to Sarah.
That she went in there and couldn’t find her courage.
Maybe I should have insisted on going in with her.
I reach over and take her hand because I think she needs the physical touch to bring her head out of the clouds.
“So…” she starts.
“So…” I echo.
“I told her there’s no more money; there’s no more secrets between me and you. I hope that also means no more secrets between me and her as well.”
“What did she say?”
“I think she’s still hurt by Tyler’s infidelity.
It’s going to take some time for her to move on from that.
I also think she’s a little jealous of the freedom that I have now that she’s a single mom, and wanted to trap me like she might feel trapped at times.
Misery loves company and all that.” Quiet falls over us again, blanketing like soft snow.
“I also think she was surprised I spoke to her like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I come first and what I want is more important.” A tear slips from her eye, and I can’t help but wipe it away. She looks at me, eyes a soft liquid brown.
Relief floods through me, at least partially. I didn’t need to worry about her. She had everything handled. I gently kiss her nose. “I’m proud of you, baby.” And there’s this moment of silence filled with overwhelming peace between us.
So when a voice comes through the drive-thru box, we both jump sky high. “What can I get started for you today?” Audrey puts her hand over her heart. We look at one another and burst into laughter.