Chapter Seven
Sofia
“They gaveme a ten on floor, but I don’t think I deserved it.”
My mom’s soft chuckle fills the line, bringing a grin to my face. “Ah, if they gave it to you, it’s right.”
My heart flutters at the excitement in my mom’s voice. I am giddy, I am, but if anything, I’m nervous. My scores today were awesome. I mean, they’ll probably be the scores to beat for those who come after me. But it means I have to beat them. I have to do the best, be the best, and to do that, I have to stay focused. I can’t get carried away with all the hoopla around me.
And what hoopla it is.
Everyone has made such a huge deal about me. From the local newspapers to the Dean to the students, everyone knows my name now. It freaks me out. What if I have an off day at the next meet? What if I suck? I’ll not only be letting down my team, but the university.
Crap!
“You looked beautiful in all the pictures, bella.”
My smile grows as I cross my ankles, touching my toes. “Thanks, Mama. Amelia did my makeup.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. I think Tia and I are going to try to drive to the meet in Missouri.”
I shake my head. “Ma, that’s too far.”
“Won’t be too bad. Tia has a good car that will get us there.”
“No, maybe I can fly you in. I’ll ask.”
“No, don’t ask for more. They do enough for us.”
I press my lips together. They, the sponsorship, really do a lot for me, us, but I don’t want my mom in a car for that long. It’s not good for her back or her legs. My aunt Tia isn’t very diligent when it comes to Mom’s condition either. Damn it. “Let me see what I can do.”
“All right, my bella. I am so proud of you. The videos are amazing, and I think you did deserve that ten.”
My lips quirk. “I got loose in the third tuck.”
“I couldn’t tell.”
“Neither could anyone else, I guess.”
“Always want to be the best.”
“Because I am.”
She chuckles softly. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Disconnecting the call, I drop the phone before reaching for my laptop. Going to a cheap tickets site, I search for a flight for my mom. I’m sure Amelia won’t mind her sleeping here when she comes in, so I don’t have to worry about a hotel. Plus, she’ll bring food because she’s crazy. She’s been bringing food when we travel almost my whole life. She never wants me to go hungry. She’s always taken such good care of me, and now, I’m not there to do the same.
Damn it, I should have gone to a school in Nevada.
Gone is the excitement of the meet. Now I’m hit with the guilt I’ve tried so hard to keep at bay. When my eyes start to well up, I close them, trying to keep the tears from falling. Some leak, though, and I feel weak. I made this choice to better myself and ultimately give my mom a good life. I have to keep my eyes on the prize. I can’t start getting homesick. I have to do what I came to do, and that’s to get an education and to open my own gym.
End game, Sofia. Think of the end game!
When the door opens, I wipe my face quickly as Amelia comes in, kicking off her shoes and throwing down her bag. “Mom got you a plate of food. She figured you’d be hungry.”
I put on a bright smile to cover my tears. I don’t smile much, so maybe she won’t notice my red eyes. “She didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugs. “I think my mom might be trying to adopt you since your mom isn’t here to spoil you, and she spoils really well.”
My heart soars. “That’s so kind.”
“My mom is one awesome chick,” she says, handing me the box. It’s from Hattie B’s, a place Amelia talks about endlessly. She loves hot chicken, and by the smell of it, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to hate it. “How late did you end up staying at the gym?”
“I just left. Got here about forty minutes—”
“Why are you looking at flights? Are you going home?” she says, interrupting me. “Are you running out on us already?” she jokes, and I chuckle as I shut my laptop, setting the food on top of it.
“No, my mom wants to come to a meet. But she wants to drive in with my aunt, and I can’t let her do that. She’ll be in so much pain.”
“Yeah, I don’t think that long of a drive would be good for someone who has MS.”
Ah, I hate those two letters. More than I can ever express. I hated it even when I was battling my own injuries. I was more worried for my mom than my issues. It’s so frustrating.
Nodding, I bite the inside of my cheek. “So I was looking at flights, but they cost my arm and probably all my toes, so I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to my adviser to see if she can get my sponsor to pay. Though, my mom doesn’t want that.”
I chance a glance at Amelia to gauge her expression. I hate people feeling bad for me, but Amelia only looks as if she is thinking. “If you don’t want to ask, I know how we can make some money.”
“If this involves making bad decisions, I’m out.”
She laughs as she waves me off, falling onto my bed as her eyes meet mine. “No, dork, my mom is a party planner, and office parties are starting to pick up this time of year. She is always looking for people to work as servers. My cousins and I do it all the time to get extra cash because our parents are trying to teach us to fend for ourselves and not live off them.”
“How’s that going?”
She rolls her eyes. “Horribly. We’re all terribly spoiled, and they give us money in the end.” I chuckle as she beams, her grin so bright. “But for real. We can work like two weeks’ worth of parties, and we’ll have the money, no problem.”
I just blink. “We?”
“Yeah, I’ll so help get your mom here.”
Tears gather in my eyes once more. “You would?”
“Yeah, what do I need the money for? I have everything I need, and what I don’t, I get. Spoiled, remember?”
For the first time in my whole life, I think I love someone other than my mom. Reaching for Amelia, I wrap my arms around her neck, and of course, my tears start to fall. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just know I got you.”
“You don’t even know me.”