“Of course I love her,” Coach said. “This whole thing is just… it’s tough on the kids. Mike Jr. had a tough time going to bed last night. He waited for Carrie to leave the room and then he asked me if she was going to die.”
“Fuck,” Abel said.
“Coach, I’m so sorry,” Riff said.
“What do you say to that?” Coach asked. “My son. My only son. And he’s preparing for his mother to be gone.”
“That’s tough,” I said.
“And don’t any of you tell me it won’t happen,” Coach said. “Go enjoy your night, guys. I’m going home to my wife. We fly out tomorrow. Everyone stay out of trouble and be ready. Got it?”
We all said,Yes, Coachat the same time.
He walked off and we all broke apart without saying a word.
I went to my bag, grabbed my phone, then snuck out into the main hallway and found somewhere private to go.
The urge to hear Madison’s voice…
“Hey, sweetie,” I said when she answered the call.
“What’s going on? Why are you calling me?”
“Did you see the game?”
“I had it on,” she said. “I didn’t really watch it though.”
“So close to supporting me, huh?”
“I didn’t know it was my job to support you.”
“In a mood, huh?”
“Who? Me?”
“Need me to come over and take care of that bad mood?”
“If I needed you, I would have texted you. I didn’t realize we were on an actual phone call arrangement now.”
“Just wanted to say hey,” I said. “Coach had a rough moment just now. Kind of pulled the mood down. Can’t blame him. He’s afraid his wife isn’t going to make it. You know? So tough to hear him-”
“Mav, I’m sorry, but why are you telling me this?” Madison asked.
Her voice was colder than the ice I had just played on.
“I’m not sure why,” I said.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t,” she said. “Okay?”
“Yeah,” I said. “No problem.”
Madison hung up on me.
I looked at my phone.
I nodded.
I realized this was a moment to end this arrangement between Madison and me.