Chapter 24: Aria

                                    

                                          
The plane jostles as we touch down, jerking me out of my peaceful sleep.
I blink at the brightness of the sun streaming in from the windows, sliding my own window shade open to watch the California tarmac rush by.
Back in California just a few days after returning from it. However, this trip is different. No Griffin. No theme parks. No vacation. All work.
It's championship time for my team.
The trip to the hotel is quick, and I enter my room as my phone rings.
Seeing my mom's ID flash across the screen, I quickly swipe to answer her call.
"Mom!" I exclaim. "How are you? It's been a hot second since I've talked with you!"
Guilt pierces me as I realize I haven't talked to my mom on the phone since Griffin and I started seeing each other. It's been weeks.
Although my parents live just upstate from me, they might as well live in another country with how busy we all are. I don't see or talk to them nearly as much as I'd like.
"I'm good sweetie! Your dad and I have been ridiculously caught up in work lately, and I can't believe we let so many weeks go by without talking to our only baby! How are you? What's new with you?" my mom's soothing voice rings out, full of excitement and love.
Dropping my bags, I throw myself on the bed, exhaling as I hit the mattress. 
"Well, I'm in California right now for national championships with my team, so that's fun. Just got to my hotel room."
My mom squeals, as I knew she would. She loves soccer, and misses when I used to play. She now lives vicariously through my coaching. She spends close to thirty minutes talking to me about my team, the athletes, and strategy before finally sighing with contentment.
"Oh, honey, I'm sure you will do great! Sounds like you're about as prepped as you can possibly be!"
I smile. "I agree, mom. I think the girls will do great tomorrow and Saturday. I've got a fight back Sunday, but I'm going to see if I can get home Saturday after play finishes if I can."
"Oh?" my mom says, intrigued. "Why the rush to get home? Got a hot date you haven't told me about?"
I'm silent for a beat too long, wondering how I want to introduce Griffin, the first real interest I've had since Ethan, to my mom.
"Child, I swear to all that is good and holy that if you don't spill your guts right now I will fly to where you are and make you. A mother always knows when her kid is hiding something, and I would be willing to bet my bank account that you aren't telling me something," my mom practically shrieks.
"Laura," I hear my dad yell in the background. "What on God's green earth are you screaming about?"
"Jeff, Aria has a boyfriend she isn't telling me about," my mom tattles, her voice switching halfway through and signaling to me that I am now on speaker phone so my dad can hear.
"Dad, that is not true at all! She hasn't let me get a word in edgewise! How was I supposed to tell her when she won't stop talking for two seconds!" I tease.
I hear both my parents laugh, before my mom retaliates, "Well isn't that just the pot calling the kettle black? You could get a brick wall to talk back to you with how chatty you are, missy!"
My dad cuts in, used to our antics. "You've made your point ladies. Now, I think Aria has something to tell us about her new beau."
I chuckle. "His name is Griffin," I begin, launching into an explanation of everything that's happened since I met him. My mom squeals and interjects comments at all the right moments. My dad grunts in approval multiple times.