Maddy: Anyway, what are you up to?
Nate: Trying to find an excuse not to go to the post game after-party on Friday.
Nate had a big game coming up on Friday and Maddy remembered he’d told her that he’d be practicing till his arms fell off. His words, not hers.
Maddy: Aww, is Nate too good for high school parties now?
Maddy: Is that the right way to uphold your jock image?
Maddy: Come on, my dude, you have an image to maintain!
Nate: Why are you so invested in this?
Nate: Sounds like someone else is eager to go.
Maddy: Puh-lease, as if.
Nate: I didn’t say it was you.
Maddy: Oh
Nate: Tell you what, you’ll come with me.
Maddy: What?? I’m not a party person!
Nate: And I am?
Maddy: Well, you should be!
Nate: And why is that?
Maddy: You’re an athlete, you’re supposed to like the attention! That’s what stereotyping is all about.
Nate: Ok then
Maddy read the message and released a breath. Crisis averted.
Another message pinged.
Nate: I’ll be your stereotypical jock and you will be the stereotypical nerd he drags to the party to make her socialize.
Nate: Should be fun.
Maddy supposed she had dug her own hole right there.
fifteen
The next few days passed uneventfully, and Maddy took full advantage of the peace that came with feeling content. She went to school, did her homework, and whenever she saw Nate, she smiled and said hello. When she didn’t see him, she sent him texts—either encouraging messages wishing him a successful practice or desperate pleas to let her off the hook for the party. He gladly accepted the first and completely ignored the second.
In the afternoons and evenings, she spent time with her grandma, playing every board game in existence. Family dinners with her parents and nonna Angela became a cherished routine, filled with warmth, laughter, and the comfort of home.
On Thursday night, Maddy and her nonna were seated at the latter’s small, rounded, wooden kitchen table, the tattered Monopoly board splayed in front of them.
Maddy was actually hopeful she could win this time.
She’d always loved playing with her grandma. Her nonna was somewhat antagonistic but she mainly played for the enjoyment of it, and because she saw how much Maddy enjoyed it. The two of them had always played together, at least until her nonna had started to get sick and she no longer could.
Maddy shook her head before she started getting sentimental again.
