Chapter Sixteen
“I’m sorry, we’re doing what?” My mouth gaped as I tried to reconcile what I’d anticipated with what actually appeared to be happening. Our next activity was going to be a surprise, Luke had said. “Wear sweats.”
Not having any “sweats,” I decided on a cute pair of navy LuLu Lemon knockoffs and a loose-fitting cream-coloured tunic, thinking we were maybe going to go to a spa or something less enjoyable like an indoor sporting event. I was not even close to being prepared for what came out of his mouth.
“Dodgeball!” He grinned so wide it took up three quarters of his face.
“No, we are most definitely not,” I said, my arms crossed, refusing to exit his truck, which was currently sitting in an elementary school parking lot.
“C’mon.” He nudged me with his elbow. “My buddy’s a wedding photographer and he said he’d give us a deal if we subbed on his team tonight. They’re short two players.”
“First of all, I can’t play dodgeball in what I’m wearing,” I said. “And secondly, I can’t play dodgeball period. I still have nightmares from elementary school. Anytime I see a kid playing with a red ball, I almost have a panic attack.”
“Really?” He looked concerned.
“No.” I sighed. “But I do intensely hate dodgeball.” How could I not when the two times I’d actually played dodgeball as a kid were spent guarding an anxious, bullied Ben while the other kids pelted him with the sting of rubber. “Besides,” I said, “I don’t want to look stupid in front of all of your friends.”
Luke’s grin faltered and his eyes softened. “Totally fine. Of course we don’t have to play if you don’t want to. Sorry, I should have asked before I planned the surprise. I love dodgeball; I always have a ton of fun.”
“You play? Like regularly?” I asked, instantly regretting the note of surprise in my voice.
“Look, Julie,” he said and I winced. “I know I’m not super buff, but I still play sports. And don’t look too shocked but” he—held up his hand—“I’m actually good at some of them. I used to play on this team every week, but I took some time off to plan the wedding. I know how much it being a success means to you and I wanted to give it my best effort.”
“I didn’t—” I started, but what could I say? He was right.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “That was really unfair and judgmental.”
He nodded. “It was,” he said. “But I forgive you.”
“Really?” I looked up and was relieved to see sincerity.
He sighed. “I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t sting. I just like to think I have a lot more to offer than whether or not you can see my pecs through my shirt.”
I nodded. “Thank you for calling me out,” I said. “Most people don’t, and it’s not an excuse, but it has allowed me to get away with being an insensitive jerk for the vast majority of my life.”
He shrugged. “Not caring what other people think is hard, but it’s more important to me to make sure my daughter grows up not trying to achieve someone else’s idea of beauty. It can be very damaging.” He gave me a look that said I might do well taking his advice.
“Will you teach me?” I asked, shifting in my seat so I could look him in the eyes.
“To not be an insensitive jerk?” he asked, eyes twinkling.
“No.” I laughed. “Well, yes, but also, will you teach me how to play dodgeball?”
“Really?” he asked, his face now glowing with excitement.
It was my turn to shrug. “Maybe I will look stupid, but maybe it will also be fun. At the very least, we’ll save Kate and Ben money on the photographer.” I smirked.
“Yes!” He undid his seatbelt with the joy of a kid who had just been told he was going to Disneyland. “You won’t regret it.”
It turned out Luke was right. I had a blast playing dodgeball. After a brief period of panic because I didn’t know what I was doing, I relaxed into the game and started having fun. The balls were not the hard, piercing rubber I remembered from my childhood. They were foam and soft and didn’t leave a stinging bruise when they hit you smack in the thigh. I know this because it happened often.
Luke’s friends were all amazing and kind, cheering me on when I had a ball to throw, yelling out things like “Good try” and “You’ll get ’em next time” when I was only able to throw it about a foot in front of me. And Luke? Well, he was right. Not only could he play dodgeball, but he was exceptionally good at it. He ran and dove and threw and caught balls like he was born to play the game. It was so impressive that I got hit a couple of times because I couldn’t stop watching him.
By the end of the night, I was sweaty and exhausted and no better than when I started, but I felt great. I was buzzing with adrenaline, a high I hadn’t felt since I’d stopped drinking. I loved it.
“You played so great!” Luke cheered as I joined the group in the lobby where everyone was putting on their winter boots and coats.
“I didn’t, but thank you. You sure did though.” I looked up at him and smiled. “And you were right; it was a lot of fun.”
I wonder if his beard is soft or prickly.
Where on earth did that come from?I cleared my throat and bent over to slip on my boots, trying to hide my reddening face. What the hell? Was I having hot flashes already? That didn’t seem fair.
“Come back any time, Julie,” Kerry, the photographer, said as he passed us on his way to the door. “See you at the wedding!”
I straightened up and waved. “See you!”
“I’m glad you had fun,” Luke said as he held open the door.
“Me too. Thanks for encouraging me to try something new.” I ducked under his outstretched arm.
As we walked towards his truck, I wondered if I was getting soft in my old age. I was not usually one to do things I didn’t enjoy just to make another person happy. Unless that person was Kate or Ben. Usually, my own happiness was the only thing I was ever concerned with.
The weird thing was when Luke’s eyes had lit up, when excitement had replaced the pain I had caused, I had felt happier too. For the first time in a long time, I cared more about someone else’s feelings than I did about my own.
I wonder what changed.