AR - Endgame Part 6

“Two and two,” your mom says as you and Adella come through the door. You can smell dinner and hear Kayla singing along to Drake in the living room. “You’re killing it, Riley.”

It’s an unusual compliment from her. You blush as you remove your jacket.

“Hi, Adella,” your mom says.

“Hi,” Adella replies.

“So I stopped by last night. Where were you guys?” she asks.

You and Adella exchange a look. Panic hits harder than you expect. You feel dizzy.

“Out,” you say. Very creative.

“Out at Jessica’s house?” your mom goes on. “Because that looked like your car.”

Your face gets hot. You’re busted. Your mom would not fail to recognize your car.

“Yeah,” you say, and your mouth is suddenly dry. “Listen, Mom. Stef’s helping us.”

“Helping?”

“She kind of got us into this, so it’s the least she can do,” you go on, trying to stave off a meltdown. “Ellen’s doing some dirty tricks. So we kind of are too.”

“Oh. It was a little late for a strategy meeting,” your mom notes.

You shrug at her, then look at Adella. “We aren’t old, Mom. We can stay up past nine.”

Your mom peers at you suspiciously for a moment longer. “Are you hungry?” she asks finally.

“Yes,” Adella tells her.

Mom goes back into the kitchen, and you let your breath out.

“Jesus.” You fan your face with your hand. “That was close.”

Adella snickers, and you pinch her.

“Don’t even play,” you warn her through clenched teeth. “She cannot find out.”

“She’s cool,” Adella says nonchalantly.

About you and Adella doing stuff with a couple twice your age? Who knew Mom when she was in college? Even high school? No. Nope. Adella does not know what your mom can be like. It doesn’t matter that you are almost twenty-one. She will ground you for life. Somehow.

“So you’re doing better now, right?” Kayla asks over dinner.

“The team? Yeah,” you tell her.

“The little one scores all the points, right?”

“Val. Yeah. She’s good.”

“As good as you?” Kayla asks it casually. She’s not that interested, but she’s tired of the dirty looks that Mom gives her when she looks at her phone, so she’s making an effort. But it’s a lowkey compliment. You haven’t gotten very many of those from Kayla over the years.

“When I was her age?” You frown. “Probably. But she won’t stick with soccer.”

“Why not?” That question comes from Mom.

“No passion for it. She’s competitive. But she loves sports, not soccer.”

“Alice will stay with soccer,” Adella predicts.

“You think so?” you ask.

Adella nods confidently.

“Is that the tall girl? She seems pretty good,” Mom says. “But she should play basketball.”

“Ew,” you reply. “Don’t even joke.”