“That I can do. If you start going peepee and poopie on the potty, I’ll get you that Barbie car.”

“Yay!” Mia kicks her feet. “I’m getting a Barbie car. I’m getting a Barbie car.”

“She’s gonna hold you to that, you know,” Becca says. “Kid has the memory of an elephant.”

“Let me know how she does in her big girl underwear and I’ll have that car here by next week.” I stand and stretch my arms overhead.

Mia stands on the couch cushion. “Where are you going?”

“Your Auntie Rae Rae is about to lay the smack down on someone.” I flex my bicep and wiggle my eyebrows.

“I want to lay the smack down! Can I go, Mommy?”

“No, babe. We’re going to stay here and wait for Aunt Rae to call us from the hospital.”

I glare at Becca. “You have no faith in me. I will not be going to the hospital.”

At least I hope not.

“Rae, you look badass!”

I grimace at Kerry and Andrea. “I’m starting to get nervous.”

Kerry shakes me by my shoulders. “You’ve got this. You’re the toughest chick I know.”

“I am?”

“No, but you’re tougher than Sammi so that counts for something.”

My shoulders slump. “Is he here yet?”

“Haven’t seen him.” Kerry pulls something out of her purse and hands it to me. “Put this on.”

My eyes widen as I take the plastic mouth guard from her. “You really think I’ll need this?”

“Better safe than sorry. You don’t want to get your teeth knocked out, do you?”

My stomach flops and I groan.

Andrea laughs and shakes her head. “Rae, you’re going to be fine. All you had to do was show up tonight. You don’t have to win the entire game. Just show Principal Fuckwad who he’s messing with.”

“Raegan, come on!” Chris waves me over to the rest of my team.

I nod and take one last look at my friends. “Thanks for coming, guys. I’ll see you after the game.” Hopefully.

Bleachers line the gymnasium. Students and their parents hold up signs they’ve created to represent their favorite teachers. I spot Joshua in the front row. He beams when we make eye contact and waves excitedly.

No sign of Jaxon though. Maybe he isn’t playing. Maybe I’ve been worried for nothing.

Chris wraps his arm around my shoulders. “You ready, Raegan?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

“You got beat up by a mob of angry students. This will be a cake walk for you.”

I force a smile. “If only there was cake involved.”

He squeezes me before dropping his arm and turning to the team.