Chapter 36 Dusty
Chapter 36
Dusty
Cam and I went to Riley’s soccer game together on Saturday morning. I didn’t want to not show up the first time Riley asked me to do something—even if that something was at the Meadowlark Rec Center on a Saturday morning.
When Cam and I walked in, my first thought was that I had no idea there were this many seven-year-olds in this town.
The place was packed.
I wanted to grab Cam’s hand as we walked in, but I didn’t. I let my hand brush hers, though, and she didn’t pull away, so I did that a couple more times before I saw Gus, Teddy, and Riley sitting on the bleachers. My mom and Hank were there, too.
Gus was putting—well, trying to put—Riley’s curly hair into a ponytail. She looked fucking adorable in her purple soccer uniform. She told me last year her uniform was pink, but this year it was purple because she was on the seven-year-olds team.
A grin stretched across Teddy’s face when she saw me, and she immediately looked at our hands.
“I like this view,” Teddy called as Cam and I got closer. When I glanced at Cam, she was blushing.
My mom looked up then. A wide grin stretched across her face. She stood when we got closer. “Good morning, you two,” she said.
“Hey, Mom,” I said.
When she hugged me, she whispered in my ear. “Do you have something to tell me, Dusty?”
“We can talk about it later,” I whispered back. When I pulled out of her hug, my mom gave me a look that said there was no way we were not talking about it later.
“Hi, sweetie,” she said to Cam, and Cam hugged her, too.
“Cam,” Gus said. “Can you help me with this?”
Cam laughed. “Riley’s curls: eight thousand. Gus Ryder: zero.” Cam took the seat behind Riley and kissed her on the cheek. “Your dad never gets better at this, does he?”
Riley shook her head, but she didn’t verbally respond. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet—getting her head in the game, I was sure. Cam used to do the same thing before a soccer game. Go quiet and keep her eye on the prize.
“I am getting better at managing them, though,” Gus said. “Me and wash day are best friends now.”
Cam laughed. “It only took seven years.”
“Okay, to be fair, she didn’t have that much hair for like four of them.” He slid next to Teddy on the bleachers and gave her a quick peck on the mouth before he looked at me. “Hey, Dusty. You came.” He sounded disappointed.
“Riley asked me to,” I said, and I looked over at her. “I can’t wait to see you play, kid.” That got a smile out of her, and I felt like I’d won the lottery. “You know,” I said, “I used to watch your mom play.”
Riley perked up as Cam pulled her hair back. “Really?” she asked, and I sat on the bleacher bench in front of her, so we were eye to eye.
“Yeah,” I said. “I bet you’re just as good as her,” I said. “Maybe even better.” Riley looked bashful.
“All right, Sunshine,” Cam said. “You’re good to go. Go warm up.” Riley stood up and gave each of us a high-five before she ran out onto the court with the other purple jerseys.
“So,” Teddy said, looking between Cam and me as I sat down beside her, “anything new and noteworthy to report, you two?”
“Theodora,” Gus said in warning.
“What?” she asked.
“I’d also like to know,” my mom chimed in, and I gave her a look.
Cam was stiff next to me, not ready to take on Teddy’s teasing. “I got bucked off a horse this week,” I said. “Little asshole got spooked, and I went flying.”
“It’s true,” Gus said. “I saw it.”
Teddy pouted. “You guys are no fun,” but when I looked at Cam, she mouthed “Thank you” just as somebody blew a whistle.
“Looks like the game is starting,” Gus said.
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen seven-year-olds play soccer,but it’s equal parts adorable, confusing, and frustratingas hell. There are like two kids who kind of know what they’re doing, and then the rest of them are just there for the vibes.
Riley actually had possession of the ball a decent amount. At one point, she got fouled, so she got to throw it in. Truly, I didn’t know anything about soccer. Cam tried to educate me when she used to play, but every time she started talking about it and trying to explain the rules, we just started making out…
But at least I knew when to cheer.
While the game was going on, all of us chatted. Well, Teddy chatted, mostly. She tried (and failed) to convince me to get a cat she saw on the animal shelter’s website.
“You know I’m allergic to cats, Ted,” I said.
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why you can’t just grow up and pop a Benadryl like an adult.”
“I can’t take care of a cat if I’m unconscious,” I said. Benadryl took me out. I heard Cam giggle next to me, and she pressed the side of her leg against mine for a second.
“How are you liking the house, Cam? Settling in okay?” my mom asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “I can’t think about the fact that I might have to leave it in a year. It feels like mine.”
“And Riley? Does she like it?”
“Loves it,” Cam said. “I’m going to have to keep an eye on her when it gets warmer. She’s itching to start climbing trees, and I don’t want any broken bones on my hands.”
Riley’s age group played a shortened version of a game, with each half only being fifteen minutes. At halftime, Riley congregated with her team around a cooler with juice boxes and clementines. When she looked over at all of us, we waved.
I didn’t miss all the glances that came our way from the rest of the town. I didn’t care. I loved being here with Cam and being here for Riley.
Near the end of the game, Riley got her hands (feet?) on the ball, and I stood so I could see. She dribbled it between her feet like a pro.
She was able to break away from the little amoeba that was following the ball and started heading toward the goal.
“Oh, shit, she’s going,” I said louder than I intended. Gus, who was next to me, stood, too.
“That’s my girl!” Gus yelled. “Go, Sunshine, GO!” There was one player who was gaining some ground on her, but Riley was gearing up to try for the goal. I watched her take a big step and swing her right leg back before letting it rip.
The ball went straight into the goal.
“Let’s fucking go!” I yelled and heard Gus’s victory cry next to me. Without thinking we grabbed each other’s hands and did one of those sports bro hugs. I don’t know what came over me. I heard Cam and Teddy laugh.
“Are they okay, do we think?” Teddy asked, but Cam never got a chance to answer because I pulled her close to me and kissed her temple. I heard my mom squeal behind me.
“Terrance Tucker!” she yelled. “Have you been keeping this from me?!”
I went still when I heard my full name and looked down at Cam, ready to apologize for not thinking, but she was smiling. She laced her fingers through the hand of the arm that was hanging over her shoulder—keeping me there. When our eyes met, she shrugged.
“Wait a second,” Teddy chimed in. “Your real name is Terrance ?”
Oh my fucking god.
Cam burst into laughter next to me, and my mom joined in—hugging both of us over and over again.
I didn’t have a chance to bask in the moment because Riley came tearing toward us.
She went directly to Gus, and then to Cam. Her parents were both beaming. Cam shrugged out of my arms to hug her daughter, and my mom took another chance to hug me.
“Don’t screw this up, Dusty,” she said in my ear. “Not everyone gets a second chance at their first love.” I was about to tell her that I didn’t have any intention of that, but then Riley called my name.
She was blushing under everyone’s attention. Teddy gave her a squeeze, and when it was my turn, Riley threw her arms around my neck. She held out her wrist to show me that she was wearing her bracelet—I didn’t notice it when we got here.
“Do you think it’s good luck?” she asked me.
I grinned. “Yeah, kid. I do.”