Scrimmage Gone South (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was her closest friend and they usually saw each other every day, even if was to just share a quick cup of coffee at Lanie’s candy shop, Heavenly Confections. But between Lanie’s new family — husband Luke, three-year-old Emma, and baby on the way — and Tolly’s new development, they had spoken only once since Kirby had moved in.
    “Exhausting.” Tolly sat on the sofa and tucked her legs under her.
    “Who knew you’d have the next baby?” Missy said as she sat down in front of the coffee table and started to serve the food she’d set out.
    “I bet mine is bigger than yours will be.” Tolly accepted a glass of wine and plate of artichoke quiche and fruit salad from Missy.
    “I hope so,” Missy said, “but it doesn’t feel like it right now.” Missy and Harris’s baby was due the week after Thanksgiving — seven weeks away.
    “How’s it going?” Lucy asked.
    Tolly took a bite of quiche. Heaven. What Missy could do with food. “Kirby’s fine. He’s sad, of course, and we’ve got to get used to each other, but he’s sweet and respectful. Right now I’m just trying to get my nest back in order.” Knowing her penchant for organization, they were all on the verge of laughing at her.
    “Where is he sleeping?” Lanie asked, still trying to hide her amusement.
    “He’s been sleeping on the sofa, but as of tonight, thanks to Lucy, he has his own beautiful new room.” Lucy was an interior designer and had dropped everything to deal with Tolly’s emergency. “I put him upstairs in my old room and moved my bedroom to the office downstairs. I didn’t use it much anyway. But now, I’ve got a ton of stuff to go through and get rid of.”
    “You know you’re the town heroine, don’t you?” Lucy said. “You saved their star quarterback.”
    “I don’t know about that, but today Darla Sturges brought me a Bobcat Mom rah-rah kit.”
    “What is that?” Lanie asked.
    “It consists of a shirt with Kirby’s picture and number, a button that says
QB-One Mom
, a bumper sticker, stadium seat, a yard sign with his number, and hell — I don’t know what else. Blue and gold pompoms. Baseball cap, like I’d wear that. Crap for days. She said the kits are a booster club fundraiser, but all the mothers went in together and bought it to welcome me into the fold. I haven’t felt this special since I pledged Chi O.”
    “Don’t forget Junior League,” Missy said.
    “Lightweight. Talk to me about Junior League when they come up with a car magnet, two feet across. Oh, and before I forget.” Tolly pulled a piece of folded paper from her pocket. “I am to help serve the pregame meal the week after next, and the week after that I am to provide sixteen dozen cookies for them to have after the game. Darla said I
could
buy them
but
, and she just let that
but
hang in the air like we all
know
what kind of women
buy
cookies. And certainly Kirby has been through enough without being embarrassed by Oreos and Chips Ahoy.” Tolly cast Missy a pitiful look.
    “I got you, baby,” Missy said. “I won’t even tell anyone you didn’t bake them.”
    “Sounds like a cult,” Lanie said. “Tell us more.”
    “That’s what I know. There was also a big manila envelope, labeled
Student Athlete Parent Information Packet
but I didn’t have time to look at it. I had to take delivery on a bed and Lucy and I hung curtains.” She was in no hurry to bask in the wisdom of Nathan Scott. That day was done.
    “You’re doing great,” said Lucy, who was always everyone’s biggest cheerleader.
    “Am I? I’m scared. I did something I thought I’d learned my lesson about. I reacted without thinking.”
    Missy laughed. “Tolly Lee, I’ve never known you to so much as ask a waitress to hold the pickles without working the angles.
What if I decide I want the pickles, after all? Even if I don’t, what if someone else at the table wants them? What if they are special pickles that I would like, even if I don’t like most