Page 49 of Falling Into You

For one, she knew her dad had insisted they come down to the restaurant for dinner only because he was feeling guilty about not coming to homecoming or regionals this weekend. But what was really bothering her was Jacob. And not just the very real possibility of him having to step away from the team due to either a failing grade or his torn athletic loyalties. She wished he could somehow cheerandplay soccer. He was so good at both sports—better at soccer, of course, but he’d picked up everything she and the squad had taught him so easily. He should be able to do both.

Assuming he aced his test. Which she was sure he had.

“You wouldn’t understand,” she told her father finally, reaching for the bread basket at the center of the table.

“Ah, the classic parental brush-off. Not working this time.” He shooed her sideways, farther into the round booth, and sat down in the seat she’d vacated. “Just tell me. I know I’m an ancient dinosaur, but maybe I can actually help.” He slid her bowl over so it was in front of her again.

“Don’t you have to be in the kitchen?” She unfolded the linen napkin at her place and draped it across her lap.

“It’s slow right now,” he said, looking around at the few other occupied tables. “Besides, I want to know what’s going on with you.”

Rory took a deep breath. “It’s more about my friend Jacob. He’s been a soccer player basically forever, but the coach recently got annoyed with him and suspended him from the team.”

“What did he do?” her dad asked, taking a piece of bread for himself.

“It’s kind of a long story, but basically he was just being... well,Jacob.” Rory gave a short laugh. “He likes to pull pranks and stuff, and I guess he went too far. Anyway, when Stuart got hurt, Jacob stepped in to take his place so we could still compete at regionals.”

“You forgot the part about how he stepped in because he likes you, but go on,” Owen added, his mouth half full of food.

Rory blushed hard.

“Oh, really? Helikesyou? Like,likesyou likes you? What about Tucker?” her dad asked.

“I broke up with Tucker.”

Her dad looked shocked, and she could tell he was about to ask about a million follow-up questions, so she hurried to go on.

“It’s not about that right now,” she said, lifting her fork like a sword.

Her dad raised his hands in surrender. “Got it. Not talking about Tucker. Okay, so what’s the problem? It sounds like Jacob is a stand-up guy who came through for you in your time of need. You still get to compete this weekend, right?”

Rory bit her tongue to keep from making a sarcastic remark about the fact that he’d managed to remember regionals were this weekend.

Instead she said, “There’s also a big soccer game on Sunday. And I know Jacob wants to play in it, even though he says he’d never bail on me. Or the squad.” She took a bite of her food and paused for a second as the rich, salty flavors coated her tongue. “I just wish there was a way he could do both. Compete at regionalsandplay in the match.”

“I mean... maybe there is,” her dad said. “Where are regionals again?”

“In Fairmont,” she said. “At the community college.”

Owen perked up and pulled his phone toward him. “And where’s the soccer game?”

“It’s at Bergen High,” she said. “But regionals are an all-day thing. I don’t think—”

“It’s a night game,” Owen said, turning the phone around to show her the screen. He’d pulled up the Woodmont varsity soccer schedule, and sure enough, the game didn’t start until eight.

“What time does your competition end?” her father asked, tapping away at his own phone.

“Wait, I know what you’re thinking, but it doesn’t matter. He can’t play in the soccer game unless his coach lets him back on the team, and so far, he’s been pretty clear that isn’t happening,” Rory told them.

“Okay, but just humor me,” her dad said. “I know regionals is a long day, but what time do they usually present the trophies?”

“Around six? Usually. It depends.” She was starting to feel a little swirl of hope in her gut, and she leaned over to try to see her dad’s phone screen. “Sometimes deliberations take a little longer.”

“Looks like the drive from the community college to Bergen High is about fifty-two minutes.” He looked up at her and smiled.

“It’s close,” Owen said. “But it’s possible.”

Rory took her dad’s phone out of his hand and stared at the map. Her whole body tingled. Itwaspossible. Jacob could do both.