Brain Games

2. Game, Set, Match

We're all crowded around a small round table that should really only hold about four people max. Why we didn't just push two tables together, I don't know, but I really wish we had, because I'm currently molded to my mother's side, trying my best not to brush against Brad sitting to my left. Of course the seating order has me sitting next to him. And of course he's practically man spreading, daring me to brush against him by purposefully keeping his knee within an inch radius of mine. Hence why I'm plastered to my mother's side.

At the other end of the table, our dads are sitting next to each other, chatting up a storm like they're two old best friends catching up.

Again, traitor.

Not that my mother is any better. At the rate her and Kalani are going, I wouldn't be surprised if they have plans to go shopping and get manipedis sometime soon.

What is my life?

Brad leans over, lips inches from my ear. "Looks like they're hitting it off, huh?"

I only harrumph in response and he has the audacity to smile at my displeasure. Jackass.

"Yeah, I can tell Dee's nervous," I hear my dad's voice across the table and I turn my attention to him. He has an amused but proud look on his face as he stares at me. "If this were a normal day, she'd be on her third cup of coffee by now." He chuckles. "She maybe drank a fourth of a cup this morning while she was getting ready, and I don't think I've even seen her take two sips of this one," he calls me out, gesturing towards my paper coffee cup with his own cup.

Subconsciously, I fidget with the cardboard sleeve around my cup as all eyes turn to me, making me nervous. I force myself to take a sip, the warm liquid almost immediately sinking to my stomach and churning uncomfortably.

Kalani gives me a comforting smile. "Where are you hoping to match today, Delilah?" she asks, making polite small talk.

"Warner Central Hospital in New York," I spew out immediately, like I have so many times before. It's a reflex at this point.

"Oh!" Her eyes light up with genuine interest and excitement. "That's a great hospital. Arguably the best in the country. What are you wanting to specialize in?"

"Neurosurgery," my parents and I all say in unison.

Kalani's smile grows. "That's what Bradly wants to go into, too!" She shoots a proud look at her son.

Both of my parents fawn over the revelation, and soon enough, all four parents start swapping childhood stories about Brad and me.

I tune them out, my attention honing in on two classmates that just arrived with their families. Slowly, more classmates trickle in, making me itch in anticipation to get into the auditorium and grab a perfect seat for the most important day of my life.

I don't realize all my muscles are tight and my leg is obnoxiously bouncing up and down until a hand lands on my mid-thigh, squeezing it reassuringly. I look over to my mother to catch her giving me a knowing look.

"Well," my mother announces, setting her coffee on the table and lifting her hand from my thigh to glance at her watch. "Looks like there's about twenty minutes until show time."

"Oh, yes," Anthony says, checking his own watch. "We should probably go grab some seats." He takes two more large gulps of his coffee before standing.

We all follow suit, standing up and recycling our cups in a nearby bin before walking back to the auditorium. I try my best to walk at a normal speed, but the nerves and anticipation have me leading our tiny pack by a margin of at least seven feet.