the Wildcats.
Mel says sweetly, “I wasn’t planning to dump you. Just ghost you.”
Gordy lets out a little puff of breath instead of a laugh. Mel can almost feel it against her forehead, the way she would if she were curled up in his arms.
“Wow, that’s really cool of you, Mel. Thanks so much.”
Mel teases him like this sometimes. As if she didn’t care about him. But hearing him pout, already missing her, tugs at Mel. No joke.
She should get off the phone.
Instead Mel walks the curb like a balance beam, setting one white canvas sneaker in front of the other and asks, “Where are you?”
“I just got to the lookout on the Frick trail. Where are you?”
“Starbucks.”
“Oh wait. Yeah. I see you down there.”
Gordy’s turn to tease her.
The first time they hiked the Frick trail together, Mel had sworn she could see the Starbucks from the lookout. Not because she actually could, though she did follow the highway with her finger to a spot that was surely a decent guess. It was amazing, dizzying really, to see the entire valley from that vantage point, lush with the greens of summer. Her universe normally fit neatly inside a rectangle of Astroturf.
Granted, she was in a weird place. So much was in flux and none of it in her control. There was her scholarship to Truman, Phoebe’s knee injury, whether or not Coach would be coming back to West Essex, whether or not she would be team captain. Mel was haunted by how she’d let Coach down. His lead scorer unable to put up a single point. Not just in the championship game, either. Mel didn’t score in their last two regular-season games. That she’d played well in the off-season for her club team coaches was no consolation. Actually, it made Mel feel worse.
Hooking up with Gordy gave Mel a way out of her own head. When they were kissing, she thought only of kissing. It was a huge relief to let go. After all, how could things fall back into place with her holding on so tightly to the pieces?
And now, just as she’d hoped, they have. Pretty much.
“Mel? You still there?”
“Yes.”
“Just for the record, I’m happy for you. Last night … I’ve never heard you sound so unsure of yourself. I mean, you’re—”
“Ooh. Hey, Gordy?” Mel bites her lip. “That’s my mom on the other line.”
“Right.”
Something in his voice tells Mel that Gordy knows she’s lying. Mel likes him. She really does. But the ache that’s appeared in Mel’s chest only makes her clearheaded about what she needs to do. So, with a finger already hovering over the red circle, she ends the call with a purposefully cool and detached “Bye.”
Mel hops off the curb and hurries inside.
Phoebe sits at a table, lips around her straw, draining her usual—a Grande iced mocha, no whip. Mel’s usual—a Grande iced mocha, extra whip—is in front of an empty chair. Phoebe’s staring at her phone, dragging her finger down the screen, the same steady stroke, over and over again.
“Everything okay, Phoebs?”
“Yup.” Phoebe turns her phone over, screen side down. “You?”
Mel tucks her hands inside her sweater cuffs and pulls her cup greedily toward her. She takes a sip. Perfectly sweet. “Never better.”
* * *
Back at home, Mel finds Psych-Up party prep in full swing. A cleaning crew is spread out across the house, vacuuming stripes into the carpet, cleaning windows, fluffing pillows. The caterers have arrived and are stacking three different sizes of white china plates. Outside, the pool guy is lying on his belly, testing the pH in a little beaker.
Her parents spared no expense. Why would they, with so much to celebrate? Their daughter got a full ride to Truman. No matter the outcome of this season, Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich are certain they’ve already won.
There are plenty of other success stories. Most of her senior teammates have already committed to top schools. Jenny Puglisi is headed to Monroe College, Summer Ackerman to DCU. The rest are still weighing their options.
The only senior who hasn’t received a single offer yet is Phoebe.
Mel always knew that two scholarships to Truman would be a long shot, even before Phoebe got hurt. But Phoebe’s worked so, so hard to come back after her injury. Landing a spot on a college team has to happen for her. And Mel is ready to do whatever she can to help Phoebe shine. Fingers crossed, they will at least end up playing in the same division next year.