Page 55 of Playing to Win
“Okay. That will work. But won’t the lack of cars in the parking lot tip her off?”
“Well, won’t y’all have cars in the lot?”
“Oh, yeah. That’s right. Wait, what if she recognizes all of them?”
“Just make sure that I can park right up front so she won’t be paying attention to them.”
“Got it. You are one smart man, Mr. Kelly. I have a feeling this is going to be Callie’s greatest birthday party ever.”
“I sure hope so. I know you told me she didn’t want a party. I hope this doesn’t blow all the progress I’ve made with her.”
“I know it won’t. After all, who doesn’t love a dancing mouse?”
“What arewe doing in the Chuck E. Cheese parking lot?” Callie looked at Kyle in confusion. They were meeting her dad at Oso, her favorite Mexican restaurant downtown for a casual, quiet birthday dinner and then planned on having cake with Aria and Cassie at her apartment afterward. Just like she wanted it. Simple. No fuss.
“I gotta pick up Jamal’s kid for him. He got tied up with something and couldn’t do it and the kid’s mom is in a, uh, a hair appointment or something.”
Callie looked at him, a skeptical look on her face. “I didn’t know Jamal even had a kid.”
“Well, you said yourself that you didn’t follow anything about the players. Why would you?”
“Point taken.” Callie leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
“What are you doing?” Kyle asked her.
“What does it look like I’m doing? Waiting on you.”
“Well, I want you to come in with me.”
“Why?”
“Because, um, because what if he’s still playing a game? I don’t want to make her leave and then have you waiting in the car for a long time.”
“Kyle, you just said he and her. Which one is the kid? A boy or a girl?”
“Oh, yeah. A girl. Yep. Definitely a girl.”
“You are acting really weird.”
“No, I’m not. I just don’t know the kid that well.”
“So you forget whether it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Just shut up and come in with me, okay?”
Callie sighed. “Fine.”
She got out of the car and walked up to the doors with Kyle. He grabbed her hand and swung it back and forth. “Have I told you happy birthday?”
“Nope. But I don’t mind.”
“Well, happy birthday. I’ll give you your birthday present tonight.”
“You already gave me Trisha. She threw up and pooped in your car. I think that’s enough.”
“Well, too bad. I got you something else, too.”
“Kyle!”
