Camryn Quinn is finally getting what she wants...sort of. Moving into a dorm and away from her not so supportive father is a good first step, but like everything with him, it comes with strings. She must attend the college of his choosing for at lea...
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"There's my superstar!" a familiar voice calls in the distance.
I lean my phone up against the empty ceramic mug that was already waiting on the table when the waitress seated me. I watch through the screen as my whole family works to cram themselves around the small kitchen table back home. My grandparents are seated, my mom and sister's heads poking up behind them.
"I'm not even playing Saturday." My grandma swats a hand towards the screen. My mom glosses right over my comment and dives into a million questions about my personal life. Many of which I already answered when she texted them to me three days ago.
I lift my gaze from the screen temporarily, buying myself some time before I have to tell her once again I have no interest in having a girlfriend, and that I know how STD's are passed on. Harry's Diner is busier than normal, especially for a weekday. I shouldn't be surprised that my little secret spot on campus is slowly being discovered. It may be hidden from the traffic of the main street, but it's the best food in town.
I'm just thankful everyone is minding their business, and no one has stopped to talk to me yet. Aside from the short brunette who took my order. Her flirting was innocent, and welcomed after an afternoon of standing on the sidelines during practice once again.
My mom's voice cuts through the speaker again, snapping my attention back to my phone. "So how is rehab really going? You had worry written all over your face when they showed you on the sidelines. Is it your classes? Are they harder this semester?"
"I missed you too Mama," I snorted.
"Well you never call me anymore! What else am I supposed to say?" Her shoulder shrugs, and Zoey, my sister, tells her to chill out.
I attempt to argue with the fact that I called her on Tuesday, but it's pointless. I could talk to her once a day and it would never be enough. Some parents hide the fact that they miss their kids once they are gone. My mom takes every chance she gets to remind me that I might be away at school, but she's still the one who raised me and deserves the chance to butt into my life. I know she means well. My sister and I are her world. Everything she's ever done has been for us. I'll never forget that. It's the only reason I'm so far away from home, and the real reason football means so much to me.
The rest of my family has resorted to having a side conversation as my mom attempts to ask another question. This is how most of these calls go. She hogs the majority of the time, the others throw in comments when they can, and it usually ends in an argument about who deserves to share their story. I hate that they feel the need to fight over time, but with all of our schedules, our time together is limited.
I can't help but smile at all of them. I never realize just how much I miss them, miss this, until their faces are right in front of me. Texts aren't the same.
"Rehab is good. Knee feels stronger every day. Doc thinks I'll be ready to get back to full practice soon, and hopefully be game ready by October," I say. My mom nods, her lips tight but pulled into a smile. "I think Callan Quinn is the real deal. We weren't even running our best plays today."
