Breakfast didn't help with Tamara's exhaustion. With her belly full she wanted nothing more than to curl up and go back to sleep.
“Maybe you should get a coffee to go too,” Hayden said.
“I planned on it,” Tamara yawned, laying her head on the table, “Are they going to bring us the check or not?”
“They already brought the check,” Hayden laughed.
“I'll go pay for this, you drink more coffee.”
After her third cup of coffee Tamara began to feel and look more like herself. She even ducked into the bathroom before leaving to do her makeup. After examining her reflection she winked at herself, with a bloodshot eye.
“So besides the bug you couldn't find has anything else weird happened?” Tamara asked, as she slid back into the passenger seat.
“Not really,” Hayden shrugged.
“What do you mean, not really?”
“Nothing that I've noticed. Let's not talk about Sir Bedivere anymore, okay? I mean we're about to participate in a tournament. We don't need to worry that we've screwed it up. Superstition can only hinder you if you believe in it.”
“Who told you that?”
“My mother,” Hayden blushed.
“I didn't take you for a mama's boy.”
“I'm not. My mom died when I was six.”
“Sorry,” Tamara frowned.
“Don't be. You didn't kill her. You didn't even know she was dead.”
“I just meant….”
“Don't worry about it, Tamara, really it's okay,” he said, playfully bumping into her shoulder when the car came to a stop at a red light.
“It's too early in the morning. You're going to knock me over,” Tamara giggled.
“Nah, I'll catch you if you fall.”
Tamara laughed and leaned her head against the window. A bug hovered a few feet from the car window and disappeared when she blinked.
“I'll hold you to that,” she said blinking rapidly, trying to ignore the single piece of glitter drifting to the ground.
The parking lot was nearly full when they arrived at the tournament. Hayden was forced to park in the back forty. Tamara pulled her hoodie tightly around herself and ignored her chattering teeth as they walked across the parking lot.
“It's not that cold,” Hayden laughed.
“Yes, it is,” she said, pulling her hands inside her sleeves.
Tamara nearly tripped over the air when Hayden stepped closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
“You're warm,” Tamara grinned.
“I'm naturally warmblooded, I guess.”
Tamara pressed her side close against Hayden's and rested her head on his shoulder as they walked. Greg and the others had gathered outside the door, waiting for them to arrive.
“You guys are three minutes late!” Cindy said.