“Sounds like we’re in,” Hailey winked as she ran off to join the boys.
When the team was all gathered in the locker room, Jack settled them down and began his usual post-game speech. “You guys all did a nice job out there tonight,” he said loudly. He clapped his hands! “I was very proud of all of you on the floor. Grant, I don’t know how else to put it…you were the man tonight, Buddy! They double and triple teamed you all night long, and I’m going to have to check your assist total for the night, but I was so proud of how you handled the ball. Paul, Hailey, Joe John…you guys made your shots count! Billy Wayne, you stepped it up! Because of you guys, they had to pull the double team off of Grant! That was teamwork…y’all played like a team out there! We’ve come a long way!” The kids cheered and Jack quieted them down again. “As y’all know,” he said, “we have our big Christmas tournament starting tomorrow. We will be spending two nights in a hotel…the school is paying for our rooms, and, in appreciation, we are going to bring them home a first place trophy!”
The kids shared high fives all around.
“Yeah, we are, Coach!” Paul hollered.
“Hope Hull in da house!” Billy Wayne belted.
Hailey turned her head toward Grant, shocked that he had not followed Billy Wayne’s outburst with his typical sarcastic jab.
“You’re quiet,” Hailey whispered.
Grant curled his lip. “I’m losing my touch,” he sighed, wiping sweat from his cheeks with the bottom of his jersey.
“Alright, gang,” Jack smiled. “I want you all to get plenty of sleep tonight. We need to be here at six o’clock in the morning because I want to walk through some plays before we get on the bus to head out of town. Everybody come with attitudes that will represent Hope Hull well. Get out of here! Get some rest!” As the team began busily gathering their things to leave, Jack raised his hand. “One more thing before we go,” he called. “I walk the same halls that you guys walk all day long, and I know about the party going on tonight at the Harper place. I need all of you in bed and concentrating on playing at the top of your game this weekend, not out getting your groove on in the party barn…understood?”
A groan spread across the room.
“We have business to attend to this weekend,” Jack shook his head. “I want my players with their heads in the game, so, if I hear of any of y’all being at that party, you will not play this weekend…that is final…I don’t care who you are!” Jack clapped his hands together. “Dismissed!”
When Hailey and the boys walked out of the locker room, Misty was waiting outside the door.
“Maybe we shouldn’t go to the party,” Hailey insisted as they followed the crowd to Maude’s to put in a quick appearance.
“Maybe she’s right,” Paul sighed.
“What?” Misty exclaimed. “Why not? We all agreed that we deserve to go to one Austin Harper party before we graduate!”
“Coach says if we go, we can’t play this weekend,” Paul relayed.
“No,” Grant smiled. “He said that if we go and get caught, we don’t play. So…let’s not get caught.”
“Cohen,” Paul groaned.
“Maybe he’s right,” Hailey shrugged. Her own words replayed in her head as she said them. Knowingly disobeying her father was not something she would usually consider, but there was a little voice inside her head singing the Pam Tillis song she and Grant had danced to, and there was nothing she wanted more than to find herself in his arms again tonight.
“We can all ride together in my dad’s pick-up truck,” Misty suggested. “We’ll stay for a little while and cut out early.”
Everyone looked at Paul.
“Fine,” he nodded as they approached the diner. “Shake a few hands, eat a piece of pie, then get out of here and meet us at Misty’s house.”
Hailey was home, looking in the mirror, fixing her hair when Jessica and Emily walked into their shared bedroom and closed the door. Hailey sniffed her hair, admiring her coconut shampoo.
“Where are you going?” Jessica smiled knowingly.
Hailey stared at Jessica. “What are you wearing?” she exclaimed.
Jessica glanced at herself in the dresser mirror and threw her hair over her shoulder.
“It’s called a skirt,” Jessica nodded, “and I’m wearing it because I’m going to the same place you are! Don’t play coy with me; I know you and Grant are going to the party! Why else would you be staring all starry-eyed into the mirror?”
“Would you keep your voice down, please,” Hailey grumbled.
“Oh, that’s right,” Jessica smiled. “Dad specifically told you not to go!”
“Hello,” Hailey pointed. “You’re not one to talk; you look like you belong in a movie about Daisy Duke’s Hollywood adventures. I am sure Dad would not approve!”
“Sit down,” Jessica said pulling Hailey onto the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing?” Hailey exclaimed.
Jessica reached for her make-up case. “Making you over,” she insisted. “Em, I need help…stat!”
“I don’t think so,” Hailey protested.
“Do it for Grant,” Jessica begged.
“Some guys don’t need their girls to look like movie stars,” Hailey said confidently.
“Grant!” Jessica called, knocking on the wall that separated the girls’ room from Grant’s. “Can you come in here please?”
Grant cracked the door open. “Yeah, Jess,” he said, and his eyes moved up and down her body before drifting back to her face.
“That’s all I needed,” Jessica smiled victoriously.
