Chapter 27

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

T oo Bad He’s Just Your Friend

Charlotte

Ruby has joined me at the sports complex this morning for my meeting with Alice. She has created an app that allows for augmented reality of the hockey team.

“Hey, Alice, this is Ruby,” I say, introducing the two.

“Nice to meet you,” Ruby says, shaking Alice’s hand.

“Let’s set up shop in the media room,” Alice suggests. The guys are in practice now, but we leave later tonight for an away game in Wisconsin.

Ruby and I follow her to the media room. The last few weeks have been really good for the team. The guys are second right now in their conference with Wisconsin leading the Big Ten, but there is still time for them to take first place. This weekend is important.

Ruby connects her computer to a projector screen while Alice and I take front-row seats.

“I’d like to introduce you to the stars of the Riverside Rockets,” Ruby begins. We created the script together and I told her what I wanted the app to include. We will eventually have to build on what we have, but Ruby knocked it out of the ballpark.

Ruby goes through the presentation, showing how users can place the players in a location of their choice, from popular places in the world like Times Square or the Eiffel Tower. Users can then dress the players in a jersey or varsity jacket. Then if players have a certain type of smartphone, they can take a picture, which will look like they are in the photo with that particular player.

Alice’s eyes shine and she nods her head with amazement as Ruby takes her through the user experience.

“Finally,” Ruby concludes. “One click over here and the user is directed to the campus store where jerseys can be purchased.”

“Wow,” Alice says, and she claps her hands. “You guys have truly done an amazing job. Charlie, I plan to speak with Brenda Burton this evening about all your accomplishments.”

“Thanks, Alice. I do appreciate you,” I say to her.

I hug Ruby. “You’re so amazing. Thanks for doing this.”

“You know it helped me too. I used it for an assignment we had to submit,” she states.

“When can we get this baby up and running?” Alice asks.

“There are a few more tweaks, but I expect a couple more days and we’ll will be good to go,” Ruby replies.

Alice stands. “I better get going. You’re on the bus with us tomorrow night, right?” she asks.

I nod. “I’ll see you there.”

Alice leaves and Ruby looks at me with stars in her eyes. “You’re so lucky that you get to travel with the team.”

“I guess.” I shrug. Finn and I have done a very good job about keeping our distance, and the Dean hasn’t asked to speak with either of us.

“What’s wrong?” Ruby frowns.

“It’s nothing,” I say to her.

“Charlie, you can’t lie to me,” she says, looking worried.

“I just have this sinking feeling in my stomach like I’m constantly waiting for the ball to drop. The Dean is going to decide I’m at fault and I’m going to have to make a choice.”

“Or,” Ruby says accentuating the ‘r.’ “Everything will be fine. You just need to think positive.”

“I wish I could be more like you in that regard, but life has taught me how to deal with lemons,” I reply to her.

“That isn’t a bad thing,” she says.

She looks at her watch. “I can’t be late for class.”

“Sure, go ahead, we can talk later,” I assure.

She runs off and I head back into the media room to grab my bag. On the way to class, I call to check in with Dad.

“Hello?” he answers, his voice groggy from sleep.

“Hi, Daddy,” I reply.

“Charlie.” He sighs. “How are you?”

“I’m doing great, actually. The internship is going amazing.” I begin to explain the app Ruby created for me. “The main social media coordinator was super impressed. I’m hoping she is going to give me a good reference.”

“I’m sure she will. She’d be crazy not to,” he says.

“Daddy, do you think you can get time off work around Thanksgiving?” I ask.

“I’m not working on the Thursday or Friday,” he answers. “I was thinking of buying a ham and making some mac and cheese for us.”

“That sounds nice, but I have a friend. . .he has a big farm out in Tennessee, just outside of Nashville. His sister invited us for the holiday,” I say carefully.

“Is this just a friend or a boyfriend?” he asks.

“It’s Finn, Dad, do you remember him?”

My stomach is spinning from this conversation. Daddy doesn’t like change, and I don’t know the last time he took a trip.

“I remember Finn, Charlie,” he says. “I speak with him every week.”

Now I’m confused. My jaw drops. “What do you mean?”

“You know we talk on the phone,” Daddy clarifies like I am dense.

“I knew you got his phone number and asked him to watch out for me but I didn’t realize you spoke regularly.” My heart suddenly beats differently, and I don’t like the feeling. I am trying to not have feelings for Finn, and then he goes and does the sweetest things and doesn’t even tell me.

“It’s no big deal. He’s a nice kid and I appreciate him keeping an eye on my girl,” Daddy says. “So you were saying that Willow wanted to have us for Thanksgiving?” He shocks me further by knowing his sister’s name.

“You know his sister’s name?” I feel my eyes bugging out.

“Finn told me he has a cute niece and nephew. He’s really a nice guy, Charlie. Too bad he’s just your friend.”

“Ah, ba, wa.” Daddy has rendered me speechless.

My dad laughs into the phone. I don’t know when the last time was that I heard him laugh.

“I’m glad you’re amused by all this,” I say with an accusatory but playful tone.

“I’ve been putting in extra hours at the Supermart. I can pay my own ticket to Nashville,” he shares. In the past, Daddy had a hard time keeping a stable job because of his disorder. The fact he is doing so well causes tears to prick my eyes, but I need to get to class and I don’t want to walk in with a red face.

“That’s really great, Daddy.” My voice cracks. “I’m supposed to be heading with the team to Wisconsin tomorrow. Maybe we can talk tonight and book the tickets.”

“Sounds like a plan, Char,” he replies, and it makes my insides warm and fuzzy knowing Daddy is doing better.

“Talk soon, Daddy, I need to run.”

“Bye, Char, love you.”

“Love you too.”

I turn off my phone as I am standing outside the lecture hall. I take a seat and quickly check my email before the prof starts the lecture. My stomach sinks when I read an email from Dean Anderson asking me to come to her office at 4:00 p.m. today.