“I know. All this sucks. The girl of your dreams dumped you, and it’s hard, but that’s why we need nights like tonight. Besides, you’re up for homecoming queen. I voted for you so for sure you’ll win.”

I groaned and flopped back on the bed. “Ugh. I don’t have the energy for homecoming right now.” Honestly, prepping for homecoming court was the only thing taking my mind off Parker. “I want to hide in my room and look at our photos and reread the notes she slipped into my locker. Remember when she snuck that cute puma stuffed animal in my equipment bag?” It was still on my bed, the one thing that I didn’t pack away. I grabbed it and absently played with its tail. Hayley picked up my favorite picture of me and Parker.

“I really like this photo. You look so fucking happy.” The photo was of us on the dock last summer. We were completely relaxed. Hayley took the picture. I plucked the photo from her fingertips and held it close to my chest. “That girl is in love with you. There’s no doubt about it. She let you go so you can be who you’re supposed to be. Maybe someday she’ll come back, but right now, her parents call the shots.”

Hayley pulled out the dress we found two weeks ago. At five foot three, the junior department at every department store was designed for her size. I was six feet tall. I had to shop in women’s evening wear at Nordstrom’s and even then, the dress had to be altered.

“Okay, I’ll get ready.”

Hayley held up her hand for a high five but I ignored it. I wasn’t in the mood to celebrate but I owed it to everyone to be there. It was going to take a solid hour to get ready and I was going to need every minute.

“Just so you know, you’re going to win homecoming queen. Your competition sucks,” she said.

“Oh, okay. Let’s see.” I counted on my fingers. “Head cheerleader Missy, her sidekick Amberlynn, student body president Tamryn Sykes, and Avon Vue, which I still say is a fake name, and me. I’m a nobody.” A nobody who got dumped and whose heart would forever malfunction.

“Hello? You’re the only female quarterback in the state! Probably in this time zone. And you have a perfect record this year.”

“We’re only halfway through the season.” Although I pretended I didn’t care, I desperately wanted the undefeated season and a trip to state just to show the world I could do it.