Almost Perfect - Brian Katcher [56]
Sage roughly ran her fingers across her eyes, attempting to stop the tears before they started. “You showed me I can’t lie to guys. But I can’t very well say, ‘By the way, I have male genitalia’ on the first date, can I? Jesus, I’m screwed.”
“C’mon, Sage. It’s not that bad.”
Sage reacted like I’d just told her she could make a fortune moving money out of Nigeria. “Not that bad? Logan, not everyone can be a monk like you, okay? I want to meet guys, just like any other girl, and I can’t! I’m going to be alone.”
I was utterly out of my depth. I tried to think of something to say to encourage her, but anything I’d say would just be empty words from someone who didn’t really understand. No matter what kind of friend I was, no matter how supportive I acted, Sage’s problems wouldn’t go away. There was nothing I could do to help. Sage was doomed to walk a long, lonely road. Me shouting Everything’s going to be okay! from the sidewalk wouldn’t do her much good.
Sage turned the ignition key. The truck was already running, and it made that nasty grinding noise. I took my cue and left.
chapter nineteen
I STOOD on the football field next to Jack, flanked by the runners from Westran. Jack had placed in four events at our first track meet of the spring. I’d only managed to finish a close second in the 400-meter dash.
Coach Garrison looked down at his shoes as he addressed the crowd of dozens. “We’d like to thank everyone for coming out today. Our next meet will be on the twelfth, in Hallsville. Remember, Boyer T-shirts are still for sale at the ticket booth.”
He tried to pass the mike to Principal Bloch, who just frowned and shook his head. I couldn’t tell if Bloch was pissed because he had to come here on a Saturday, if he was disappointed that Jack and I were the only Boyer students who’d won anything, or if he was just being his usual unpleasant self.
As the Westran team high-fived their way to their bus, I scanned the crowd for my mom. It took two seconds to find her.
“Logan, you were amazing,” she bubbled as I joined her at the bleachers.
I shrugged like it was no big deal. Actually, I was really glad that Mom had come to the meet. I wished I had done better. Eighteen years old, and I still wanted to impress my mommy.
“Are you sure you didn’t finish first in that last race? It looked awful close.”
I wiped my forehead on my sleeve. “It was close, but he edged me out.”
“You were robbed.” I swiveled in time to see Sage returning from the snack bar. She sat down. I realized that the jacket on the bench next to my mother actually belonged to Sage. That meant she’d been sitting with my mom. Luckily, I was still winded, so my subsequent panic attack just looked like I was trying to catch my breath.
Mom smiled as Sage passed her a bottled water. Then Mom turned back to me. “Logan, do you need a ride home, or are you doing something with the team?”
It took me a stunned second to process her question. I was still trying to figure out why they had been sitting next to each other. “Uh, you go on ahead, Mom. I have to shower.”
Mom hugged me, smiled again at Sage, and walked to the parking lot. As soon as she was in her car, I assaulted Sage with an angry stare.
“She asked me to sit with her,” replied Sage, not the least bit defensive. “I couldn’t really tell her no. It’s not like I could lose myself in this crowd.”
I could picture Mom trying to get to know her son’s “friend.” She had always peppered Brenda with questions whenever they were together. And now this new girl shows up to watch her son run. …
“What did you guys talk about?” I asked, not even pretending to be calm.
“I told her you were a tiger in the sack. And that we decided to name our first kid Durwood.”
“Sage!”
She stared at her cuticles. “We just talked about the track team and school, nothing else.”
“Sorry. Sorry.” I shouldn’t have worried. I knew Sage would have been on her best behavior. “Thanks for coming.”
She flashed her braces.