Game Changer (The Field Party)

“Great, I’ll pick you up at six,” I told her, then opened my truck door.

“Okay, see you then,” she said with a little wave before turning and heading back toward the store.

I should be worried about this or feel guilty, but dammit, I was fucking looking forward to it.

JULY 3, 2020 Don’t Have Fun

CHAPTER 18

EZMITA

“I’ve never been to a drive-in movie,” Rosa said longingly. As if I didn’t know this. None of us had been to a drive-in movie. “And you’re going with a boy. A really hot boy. Asa Griffith is waaay hotter than Brett.”

Both Rosa and Teresa had been in and out of my room watching me decide on what to wear and now while I was getting ready. When they’d heard Momma agree to my going out with Asa, they had both been excited. They weren’t the ones going, but they knew that the more that our parents eased up on me, the more they’d ease up on them. At least they hoped that was the case. I hated to inform them that they had many years to go before that happened. It wouldn’t be when they turned sixteen, like Rosa was hoping for. Not even close.

“Is Brett jealous? It would be so romantic if Brett got jealous!” Teresa exclaimed with a clap of her hands as she flopped down on my bed. “Two hot guys fighting over you. I can’t imagine!”

Rolling my eyes, I sat down to put on my sandals. “Don’t you two have anything better to do?”

“No,” they replied in unison. Lucky me.

“The boys are watching that movie you and Brett left in the DVD player. It’s dumb. I tried to watch it and got bored,” Teresa said.

“Do you think he’ll kiss you?” Rosa asked.

I stood up and looked at my two younger sisters. They frustrated me to no end. They were nosy and they rarely gave me peace. However, I was the only big sister they had now. There was a time I used to follow my older sister around, wishing I could be her. Wanting to be just like her. Until she was gone.

As annoying as they could be, I knew they needed me. I had needed my big sister too. She hadn’t cared about that. Maybe she hadn’t been strong enough. Maybe she had needed some help and no one realized. Whatever the reason, I would be different.

“I don’t think Brett will care. He broke things off or whatever. As for the kissing, I don’t think so, but maybe. Now, I need to go to the bathroom alone if you two don’t mind. Go find something to do. I’m done and Asa will be here soon.”

They both sighed. I understood being stuck here and bored. I felt bad for them, but they both needed to learn to entertain themselves.

I didn’t wait for their complaints. I headed to get my teeth brushed and do something with my hair. Locking the door to ensure they didn’t follow me, I got to work. If I didn’t think too much about tonight, maybe I wouldn’t be so nervous.

Not likely.

* * *

Asa rang the doorbell at exactly six. I was waiting near the door so that no one else got to it before me. Taking a deep breath, I glanced at myself in the mirror before opening the door. Brett had never made me this nervous. Not even on our first date.

“Is that him?” Momma asked from behind me just as my eyes met Asa’s.

“Yes, Momma,” I replied, giving him an apologetic smile.

“Have him come inside,” she said, or more like she demanded.

Ugh, no. She had done this with Brett, but I’d hoped she wasn’t going to do it with Asa. “I’m sorry,” I whispered as I stepped back for him to come inside. There was no need to tell him why—Momma was loud enough.

He winked at me, then stepped inside. The wink helped ease my dread somewhat. Maybe he was used to girls’ mothers giving him the date talk.

“Asa Griffith,” my tiny momma said with a stern voice.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a nod.

“I like your momma. She’s a fine lady. Your father is a good customer. Buys a lot of my cinnamon rolls.”

“Everyone loves your cinnamon rolls, ma’am,” he assured her with that charming smile of his.

I wasn’t sure his charm would work on Momma, though.

“Yes they do,” she agreed without smiling back in return. “You drive safe. Nice and slow. NO drinking or drugs and no sex. Bring her back here by eleven o’clock. Not a minute later. I checked the movie times, and that should give you plenty of time to finish the movie and drive directly back here. No stopping anywhere. No parking.”

If my face could’ve gotten redder, I would’ve been mistaken for a large red apple. “Momma,” I pleaded, hoping she’d shut up now. This was so much worse than when she’d done it to Brett.