Page 8 of The Offside Rule
Isla launched herself out of the pool and ran over, dripping wet. “Grandma!”
Mom caught her without hesitation, laughing even as Isla soaked the front of her dress. “Oh, I missed you.”
“I saw you last week,” Isla said into her shoulder.
“And I missed you the second you left.” Mom grinned, hugging her tight and not caring that she was getting her dress wet.
Dad came up behind them, grinning like Isla had personally hung the moon. “What about me?”
Isla peeled herself out of Mom’s arms and threw herself at him next. “Grandpa!”
“There she is.” Dad lifted her right off the ground, despite the fact that she was wet and getting pool water all over his shirt. “Look at you. You get taller every time I see you.”
“I’m the same height,” she said.
The smart aleck she was.
Mom brushed Isla’s wet hair away from her face, her eyes soft and bright. “Are you having fun, sweetheart?”
“Yes. Mila has diving rings, and Jaden keeps cheating.”
“I do not!” Jaden shouted from the pool.
Isla pointed without looking back. “See?”
Dad laughed. “Sounds serious.”
“It is.”
Mom kissed Isla’s cheek. “Go play, honey. We’ll be here talking to our friends.”
Isla ran back toward the pool, yelling for Mila before she’d even reached the water.
My mother watched her go; one hand pressed to her chest. “That girl.”
“She’s something,” Dad said, his voice quieter now.
Then Mom turned that look on me. I knew that look too.
“No,” I said immediately.
She blinked innocently. “I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was only going to ask how you are.”
“No, you weren’t.” I had just gotten the runaround from my coach. I didn’t need my mom on my case too. I just wanted to chill and enjoy the Fourth of July.
Dad grabbed a beer from the cooler.
“I was going to ask if you’re seeing anyone,” Mom said because she was relentless.
“Yup. I called it.”
“Hunter,” Mom chided.
“I’m not dating,” I said bluntly.
