Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
ARTHUR
I’m standing outside my team captain’s condo, arm raised to knock. But I just can’t do it.
It’s just a family dinner. Why does it feel like it’s game seven in the finals? Worse even.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been to the finals before. Whereas a family dinner? Uncharted territory.
Sure, I ate meals with my parents growing up.
I remember my mom sitting perfectly still, like she was silently begging the roast not to be overcooked.
My dad would critique my latest game between bites.
On his bad nights, when he had been drinking, he would skip the analysis altogether and go straight for the insults.
I roll my shoulders and lift my hand again. Any second now. The hot pink gift bag dangles from my fingers looking ridiculous. I should have bought something neutral. Sensible. But the pink had been impossible to ignore. Loud. Bright. So Elliot that I had to grab it.
A dog barks on the other side of the door, saving me from myself. I blink. Since when does Michaels have a dog?
The door flies open to reveal a grinning Ben. Sam stands beside him, one hand gripping the collar of a very excited mutt. “It’s okay, Mr. Stetson. Cujo is friendly.”
I step inside and give the dog a solid pat on the head, his tail wagging like I’m his new best friend.
“Nice alarm system, Michaels.”
“He must have heard you in the hall,” Sam says happily. “C’mere, Cujo.” The mutt follows him back into the apartment looking pleased to be getting so much attention.
“They say dogs can smell fear, Coach.”
“What’s your point?”
Ben laughs. “Nothing. You just look terrified.”
“Shut it, Michaels.”
I follow him into a spacious living room and immediately notice there are more people here than I expected.
I knew Ben and his girlfriend Madelyn were on the guest list, which makes sense since this is their place. I’m surprised to see Ben’s sister, Beth and her boyfriend—also my goalie—Foster.
“Hi Arthur,” Beth greets me warmly from her place on the couch.
“Nice to see you again, Beth. James.” I nod at Foster.
“Coach.” He nods back.
“We came over earlier so Sam could see Cujo and he invited us to come back for dinner,” Beth explains.
“You know Foster.” Ben smirks. “Any excuse to be social.”
Foster gives his teammate a sideways glance but says nothing. It’s somehow comforting knowing someone here likes people even less than I do.
“Hey, you made it.” Elliot appears in the hallway and the already bright room gets a bit brighter.
She’s wearing a pink floral long sleeve dress, her blonde hair falling past her shoulders.
She looks relaxed and happy as she walks right up to me in this room full of people.
As she rises on her tiptoes, my body leans to meet her on instinct.
Her warm lips touch mine only for a moment before she pulls back.
She beams up at me and I feel like the luckiest son of a bitch alive.
There are mixed reactions to the kiss. Beth and Maddy have sappy expressions like they’re watching baby elephants having a water fight. Foster and Ben look a bit more shell-shocked than anything, wide eyed and expressionless. Sam looks amused.
But Elliot? Elliot looks the happiest I’ve ever seen her. Like I just made her birthday wish come true.
What follows is one of the nicest meals I’ve ever had in my life.
While Michaels and Sam managed to make a decent pasta carbonara, Caesar salad and garlic bread, it’s the effortless ease of the company that makes the evening.
There’s no awkward silences, just comfortable conversation and lots of laughter.
“Can I give Cujo a piece of bacon?” Ben asks, holding up a small chunk of meat.
“No,” everyone says in unison.
“Why not?”
It’s Sam that answers. “It’s too high in fat and sodium. He can’t digest it properly.”
Ben looks at the dog who’s staring up at him with literal puppy dog eyes. “I think he’d really like to try, though.”
“Listen to Sam, Ben,” Beth says, using what I expect is her school teacher voice.
“Yeah,” Foster adds. “You might have almost twenty years on him, but he’s beating you in maturity and common sense.”
“Oh my god, who even invited you two?” Ben gripes good naturedly as he pops the bacon into his mouth.
Maddy slaps him on the arm. “Sam and I did. And we are honoured and delighted by their presence in our home.”
“Speaking of presents!” Sam says pushing himself back from the table. He fist-bumps Maddy on his way by.
“Did you two plan that segue?” Ben asks her.
“Maybe,” Maddy smirks. He shakes his head, but he’s grinning as he leans in and kisses her cheek. He stands and begins collecting the dishes from the table.
Sam returns with a few gift bags and cards, including my own. He piles them on the table and hands one to his mom.
Elliot seems almost shy as she accepts the gift. “You all really didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”
The birthday girl is delighted by a pink pottery mug from Beth and Foster, and an even more pink set of icing decorating tools from Ben and Maddy.
“I’m sensing a theme here,” I say, exchanging a smirk with Sam.
“It’s not my fault pink is a superior colour!” Elliot protests.
She opens my gift next. I briefly wonder if I should have stuck with the earrings, but the smile that spreads across Elliot’s face when she opens the card makes me feel better about my decision.
“I’m aware the card is meant for kids,” I start, “but—”
“But it’s got my favourite dinosaur on it!” she squeals as she shows off the card to the room. There’s a cartoon triceratops on the front and the words Happy Birthday in bold bubble letters. The inside reads I hope your birthday is raaawsome.
Everyone laughs except Foster. “Who has a favourite dinosaur?” he asks seriously.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
Elliot rolls her eyes at us and digs in the bright pink bag before pulling out an oversized grey sweatshirt. She doesn’t say anything as she stares at the image on the front.
Maybe it was a stupid idea. Maybe I ordered it way too big. I just wanted it to be comfortable. Something she wore when she wanted to be cozy.
“It’s just…you’re always so cold,” I start.
Elliot looks around the sweater at me, her eyes misted with tears.
“It’s perfect.” She turns the sweatshirt around so everyone can see the well-known movie logo on the front.
“Our favourite movie!” Sam grins.
“Oh I love Jurassic Park!” Beth says.
“Classic,” Michaels adds appreciatively.
“I love it,” Elliot tells me as she hugs it to her chest. The happiness on her face is enough to make my chest feel all tight.
“I’m glad.” I clear my throat. “It’s lined with fleece on the inside, so hopefully it will be warm.”
“Thank you,” she says. “It’s so thoughtful. And so me.”
Finally, she opens Sam’s present. She tears off the hot pink wrapping paper to reveal a double picture frame. One side has a picture of her and Sam from when he was a baby, the other a selfie of them that looks like it was taken at a recent Otters game.
This time, she doesn’t fight the tears as she hauls Sam in for a hug.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I love it almost as much as I love you.” She kisses his hair before ruffling it. Her eyes meet mine and she gives me a smile, one I can’t help but return.
“Okay.” Sam wiggles out of her clutches. “Who wants cake?”