24. Frannie
Sitting nextto Evan at the football game, my hand tucked into his, felt incredible. We’d attended games together before, but never as a couple. I wasn’t immune to the whispers behind our backs or the glances some of the busybodies in town cast our way, but none of that mattered. What was going on with me and Evan was our business, not theirs.
I supposed going from dating a Stewart to a Bishop had added fuel to the fire when it came to the rumor mill. If being out in public with me on his arm bothered Evan at all, he sure didn’t show it. Not only was tonight’s game special because it was the first time we were going out in public together, but it was also the homecoming game. It had been ten years since the team had made it to the sectional playoffs. Evan had been a captain that year, and the booster club had asked all the guys who’d been on the team to join them on the sideline during halftime for special recognition.
Homecoming in Beaver Bluff had always been a big deal. I’d always gone to the game to cheer on Evan, but had never been to the dance. Tomorrow night would be the first homecoming dance I’d attend, and that was only because I’d been asked to chaperone.
As the clock ticked down the final minute of the second quarter, he got up to make his way down to the field.
“You don’t have to stay here and watch this,” he said as he leaned over to give me a kiss.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He deserved the recognition, and I hoped being honored would give him a boost of confidence. When we’d talked about him not feeling good enough for me, it struck me that no matter how many games he won or missions he accomplished, he never felt like it was enough. I glanced back to where I’d noticed his mom and dad sitting a few rows up in the stands. Mr. Bishop had always been kind to me, but he expected a lot from his kids, especially the boys. Knowing his dad was watching might make Evan feel more seen. At least that’s what I was hoping would happen as he jogged down the steps of the bleachers and joined the other guys he’d played with back then at the entrance to the field.
Ruby slid into the spot he’d vacated. “Hey. How does it feel to come out as officially dating my brother?”
“Great overall. It’s a little awkward being back at school, though. Do you have any idea how many times I sat in these bleachers and did my homework while I waited for him to give me a ride home after school?” Those days were long past, but I could still remember Evan trying to make me smile by goofing off on the field.
“Isn’t it weird going from being such good friends to…” She bit down on her lip. “Don’t make me say it. It’s got to be weird though, right? At least a little?”
“You know what’s weird?” I asked.
She shook her head and leaned closer.
“I think it’s weird that it doesn’t feel weirder. Does that make sense?” When she didn’t reply, I tried to offer a better explanation. “We’ve known each other since we were kids and have been friends for most of our lives. That means there’s a level of comfort already there. I know exactly what I’m getting with Evan, the good and the bad, and he knows me inside and out, too.”
“Can we focus on the outside part, please?” Ruby cracked a smile.
I grinned back. “What I’m trying to say is, I thought it would be awkward moving from friends to… well, more than friends. But it’s not. It feels like everything just got better.”
“I hope he doesn’t mess it up. You’re good for him and I don’t want to see him lose you as a friend. Evan seems like he’s got it all together, but I’m not so sure he does.”
With everything still so new between us, the thought of it ending felt impossible. “No matter what happens, we’ll always be friends.”
The marching band had finished their routine, and the president of the booster club grabbed a mic and walked out to center field. He talked about the undefeated season the team from ten years ago had and introduced each player. I grabbed hold of Ruby’s arm, excited to see Evan walk out onto the field.
When his name was called, Evan jogged out to join the rest of his former teammates. Watching him from this far away, I was amazed that his limp had completely disappeared. He’d been telling me how much better he felt, but I hadn’t wanted to encourage him, since a part of me believed he’d be better off having the surgery he didn’t want to talk about.
Seeing him take strong, even strides almost brought tears to my eyes.
“He looks good, doesn’t he?” Ruby asked.
“He looks great.” If it had been Charice sitting next to me, I might have added a little more about just how delectable Evan looked standing out there on the field. Even though Ruby and I had always been friends, I wasn’t about to start sharing the intimate details of my relationship with her brother.
“Too bad he didn’t have that much pep in his step when the team went to State.” Mr. Bishop stood in the aisle next to us. “Maybe they would have pulled off the win instead of getting shut out that year.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that. Evidently, Ruby didn’t either, because she stared up at her dad with a frown on her face that might have made anyone else wither away.
“Well, it’s true.” Mr. Bishop shrugged like he expected us to agree with him.
“Last time I checked, football was a team sport,” I said, more aware than ever of how a comment here and there had piled up to make Evan feel lesser than he was. “You can’t blame one person for the outcome of an entire season.”
“Hey, what’s going on?” While I’d been trying to decide how to shut down Evan’s dad without creating a huge rift, Evan had returned. He stood behind his dad, looking so proud of himself. I wanted to stand up and kiss him right then and there.
“Dad was just being Dad,” Ruby said. She slid off of her seat so Evan could reclaim his spot. “You looked good out there.”
“Thanks.” Evan glanced from me to his dad and back again. “Everything okay here?”
“Sure is.” I smiled and patted the empty spot on the metal bleacher next to me.
“Maybe if the coach hadn’t coddled those boys.” Mr. Bishop wouldn’t drop it.
“What boys?” Evan asked.
I got up and reached for his hand. “I’m craving some popcorn. Want to come with me to the concession stand?”
“Sure. As soon as my dad tells me who he’s talking about.” He slid his arm around my shoulder and tugged me into his side. He’d looked happy when he came off the field. Now the tension in his body made his shoulders bunch. His teeth clenched, and a tiny muscle along his jaw ticked.
“Hey, Dad. I need to talk to you and Mom about something.” Ruby linked her arm with her dad’s, trying to gently redirect him back to his seat.
“Did you hear that?” I rubbed a hand over my stomach and gave Evan a smile. “If I don’t get something in my belly soon, you’re going to have to deal with a very hangry girlfriend.”
Evan shook his head. “Yeah, let’s go. See you around, Dad.”
I caught the quick apology in Ruby’s eyes as she led their dad away. Even Evan’s sister could recognize the way their dad’s offhand remarks cut him into pieces.
“I’m sorry about that.” We’d had to shift from arm-in-arm to holding hands as we made our way down the steps of the bleachers.
“Why should you be sorry? You’re the only reason I’m still smiling, Frannigan.”
I glanced back to see if he was joking. His lips split into a wide, overexaggerated grin.
“I guess I never realized how deep your dad’s comments could cut. I’m sorry he’s so focused on the negative and can’t see all the amazing things you do.” Thanks to my talented therapist, who I’d visited weekly while my mom was dying, I’d learned a lot about how the experiences of our past could shape the person we’d become. I was still figuring out my own issues, but it was easier to recognize the cycle in other people’s lives.
Evan tucked his thumb in his belt loop and shrugged off my concern. “Yeah, I’m used to it.”
He might downplay how much his dad’s comments hurt him, but knowing him, slights like that cut him to the core. “Well, I think you looked incredible out there. After ten years, you’re still the best-looking guy on the team.”
My effort at cheering him up earned me a deep chuckle. “You might need to get your eyes checked. Did you see Trowman out there? He was big in high school and he’s even bigger now. Says he’s been doing CrossFit five days a week. I think I might try it.”
I wasn’t about to question him, not after the way his dad had just dumped a steaming pile of poop on his accomplishment. But a part of me wondered if his leg could handle that kind of workout. I didn’t know much about CrossFit except for the maniacs I saw flipping huge truck tires around when I drove past the gym on the outskirts of town.
“What do you think? Want to do it with me?” His teasing mood had returned. It never took Evan very long to shake off his setbacks and keep moving forward.
“Can you imagine this body trying to do a dead lift?”
A spark of heat flashed through his eyes. “I can imagine that body doing all kinds of things.”
“Is that so?” I tried to play off his comment, but the idea of him imagining the types of things I was now imagining made me forget all about popcorn and wish we were headed home instead.
We reached the concession stand and stepped into the long line. At the slow pace it was moving, we’d probably miss most of the third quarter waiting for popcorn. Popcorn I didn’t even want.
“I think I’ve got popcorn at home.” Evan kept his eyes straight ahead like he was scanning the hand-printed menu taped above the concession window. “It’s the pop on the stove kind. Probably a lot healthier than the crap they’re serving here.”
“I bet you’ve got real butter too, not the butter-flavored oil stuff they drizzle on top.” It wasn’t difficult to figure out where this conversation was headed, and I was all for it.
“Butter and that superfine popcorn salt you like. I picked some up at the store the last time I went.” Evan glanced down at me, his brows knit together. “We’re already way ahead. I’d be surprised if this game didn’t turn into a massacre.”
“Evan?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want to head home and make popcorn there?” We could banter back and forth all night, but I chose to get right to the point.
His nose crinkled. “I don’t know, Frannie. If that’s what you want to do…”
I grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the parking lot, more than ready to chase the bad feelings leftover from our interaction with his dad far, far away.