Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
“Great game, son.” My dad hugs me, and then my mom takes her turn.
I look between them. “You both came.”
“Of course.” They look at me like I’m the crazy one, and they haven’t been absent from all of my games for the past two months. I let it slide.
I don’t know how comfortable they are being together, and I decide that tonight I don’t care.
“Let me grab Reagan and let’s go out to dinner.
Heath and Ginny, too. Shit, let me just grab all the guys.
” They promised we’d be a family still, and families go to dinner after the game with their friends.
We head to The Hideout and span two tables that they’ve pulled together for us.
I don’t have any delusions that my parents are going to decide to get back together or that things will be easy from here on out.
I’m sure there are lots of things I haven’t even considered yet that will pop up and remind me that we’re no longer the same family we once were.
But for tonight, this is just about perfect.
“Is this okay?” I whisper to Reagan. It hadn’t occurred to me until now that being around my family might be like rubbing salt in an open wound.
“Yeah, it’s great. I’m glad to see you and Ginny both smiling so much.”
I bring our fingers up to my lips and kiss the back of her hand. “You’re pretty great.”
She leans into me and presses a quick kiss to my lips.
My mom doesn’t miss a thing. She’s smiling as she watches me and Reagan interact.
I’m definitely going to get some phone calls about us.
I introduced her as my girlfriend, but if the way I feel is projected in my actions even a fraction, then they’ll know how special she is.
The conversation is light and fun. Mav is good at injecting humor into any situation.
I can see my parents relax at their opposite sides of the table, and that makes me take a deep breath and sit back too.
Dad asks me about our upcoming games. We’re down to only a few games in the regular season, so the guys are quick to jump in with their excitement and hopes for regionals.
The only awkwardness comes as we’re saying goodbye and my parents get in their separate cars.
That’s going to take some getting used to, but they came, and I feel like maybe we’re gonna be okay—a new normal.
Not the way I would have pictured it, but what is?
Life has a way of taking whatever you think you know and flipping it upside down—testing your faith in people, love, and even family.
Back at the apartment, we all file out to the deck.
“Should we play sardines?” Dakota asks.
“I’m pretty cozy right here.” Reagan snuggles into my side. I hear that.
“Yeah, and I’m tired of having to be a trio with those two.” Rhett tips his beer toward us. “It’s a real bummer.”
I flip him off and pull Reagan closer.
“I took care of that and called in a backup,” Dakota says. “Come on. It’s so nice out, and sitting here with these happy couples makes me feel like I’m on a bad episode of Bachelor in Paradise.”
“I would totally pick you if we were stranded on an island,” Mav tells her.
“Who says I’d pick you?” She smiles at him, though.
It is a nice night. The late February weather promises spring is near. Warm enough to skip the layers but cold enough Reagan still sticks close for warmth.
“Where’s this backup, Kota?” Maverick slings an arm around her shoulders as we get close to campus.
She points, and we all look ahead where Liam is walking toward us.
“Dreamboat?” Mav asks. “Whose team is he on?”
“Not it,” Rhett calls quickly.
“What’s up, guys?” Liam says.
“Hey,” I say. “Ever play sardines?”
“Not outside,” he says, looking around.
Rhett and Maverick argue over who has to pair up with him.
“I’ll be on his team,” Dakota says and rolls her eyes. “You guys are ridiculous. We need another person now that Adam started dating in the family.”
Ginny giggles. “That sounds so wrong.”
“If I’m dating in the family, so are you,” I tell my sister. Heath’s arms snake around her waist.
“But he might wrinkle his jeans,” Mav says, motioning toward Liam’s pants. They are impeccably wrinkle-free. “Man, this sucks. Rhett needs a girlfriend. I want my partner back,” he yells at Liam.
“Then maybe that should be the rule for the night,” Dakota says and looks at Liam. “Take off your pants.”
“No pants?” Rhett barks a laugh. His gaze rakes over Dakota’s legs.
“Just for the boys,” she clarifies.
“Aww, come on,” Heath complains. “Tomorrow’s laundry day.”
“So?” Dakota lifts her hands in exasperation.
Ginny’s laughter echoes into the night, and pretty soon, there are tears in her eyes. “Oh my gosh, again?”
Heath’s starting to blush.
“What the hell?” I ask.
He turns to the side and pulls his jeans down enough that I get an eyeful of bare ass.
“Dude.” I put up a hand to block my vision.
“Are you going commando, bro?” Mav asks.
Reagan laughs, and I pull her tight against me and duck down. “Shield me.”
“Okay, wow. Well, that’s unexpected.” Dakota smirks. “I guess the guys can keep their pants on.”
“Thank you,” Rhett says and shakes his head. “There are some things you just can’t unsee.”
Reagan turns in my arms and looks up at me. “How come you never go commando?”
“I prefer not to chafe my dick on my jeans.” Just the thought makes me shift uncomfortably.
“Fair point, but think how easy it’d be to cop a good feel if I could just slip my hand down,” she says as she does just that—slides her hand down the front of my jeans over my boxers.
I chuckle and groan, glance up and suck in to give her more room.
“Hey, hey, you two.” Rhett kicks a rock at us that hits my hip.
“Dude, you could have hit her.”
“But I didn’t because I was aiming for you. No getting it on out here. Reminds me I’m going home by myself tonight.”
“Gonna touch base with yourself?” Mav asks him, then laughs at his own joke.
Rhett nods enthusiastically. “Absolutely. A strategy session, if you will. Plan out all our goals for the coming year.”
“Oh geez.” Dakota shakes her head and gives Liam an apologetic smile. “You still want to be a part of this? I won’t blame you for bowing out now.”
“He’s used to us,” Mav says. “And he’s gonna do the same thing later. Aren’t you Dreamboat?”
Liam turns a bright shade of red.
“All right. Let’s get this thing started.” It’s clear I’m going to have to be the one to take control of their ridiculousness, per the usual.
But tonight, I’m feeling pretty ridiculous too. Ridiculously lucky, ridiculously happy, and absolutely, ridiculously in love. Anything’s possible. It’s a one and a million kind of night.