Me: I think they say it’s because of possible weather conditions, but I’m betting it’s because our head coach’s daughter lives here.
Hudson fills the seat beside me and pulls out an iPad, opening the video-sharing app to watch tape. “Did you hear back from Katie?”
I nod. “She’s softening up.”
Hudson smirks, scrolling through the footage he wants to study.
Hadley: Was or is public speaking hard for you?
Me: Last year, I felt sick before every game, knowing I’d have to speak to the press.
Hadley: I sent my brother-in-law books about how babies are born and about menstruating. It really wasn’t a prank, more of a joke to his ego because he apparently learned nothing except how to make the baby.
Hadley: …his gift was packed inside a sealed bag surrounded in fake blood… because I’m kind of an asshole.
I feel a sense of accomplishment or relief that she finally shared the contents of the gift with me. I’ve questioned this detail far too much over the past couple of weeks. I imagine her cheeks blushed from admitting this, blue eyes bright with nerves as she awaits my reaction. It isn’t at all what I’d imagined.
Me: Fake blood to represent birth?
Hadley: And periods. He thought we chose what days we menstruate.
Me: Tell me there was a note.
Hadley: With a dripping blood font.
Me: That’s solid.
Hadley: Lanie said he nearly threw up. I feel perversely accomplished.
I chuckle, drawing Hudson’s attention.
“Who’s that?” he asks.
I shake my head, striving for nonchalance. Hudson doesn’t meddle, but Palmer sure as hell will. Hudson accepts my response, firing off a couple of messages as he waits for my attention.
Me: Describe your relationship with him in three words.
Hadley: Gahhh. Seriously? That’s impossible. Our relationship is … confusing.
Hadley: Okay, turbulent, sarcastic, and professional.
It’s the last response I was expecting.
Me: I thought you guys would be close since you pull pranks on each other.
Hadley: He’s very clinical and he rarely puts my sister as a top priority. He’s a nice enough guy, he’s just not the guy I wished for her.
Me: I feel that way about every guy my sisters date.
Hadley: It can be hard when you want to like someone more than you actually like them.
Me: Or like someone more than you want to like them.
My text goes beyond flirting in the right context, but it likely sounds more like a stupidly vague social media post rather than a confession, which it is.
Hadley: What do your parents do?
Me: My dad’s a firefighter and my mom’s a teacher. We also have a white picket fence around our childhood home, to really paint the picture.