“See,” Shirley says, “told you.”
“Now, if it makes you more comfortable,” I say, “I’ll stay at my place till you guys leave.”
“What?” Arnold and Zack say.
“If my staying here makes you uncomfortable, I will stay at my place.” I smile at him, then look at Zack. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” he says, throwing his napkin on the table. I put my hand on his knee.
“It’s not forever,” I tell him. “Besides, you snore.” I try to make light of the situation, but the stinging in my eyes hurts. “I’m going to go check on the boys. They are too quiet,” I say, getting up. I walk out of the room before I make a fool of myself and find the boys in the middle of the battle. “So who is winning?” I ask them, getting down on my knees. “How about we play two on one?” I say, grabbing a stick. Michael goes to Jack’s side, and they give each other high-fives.
They put the foam puck on the floor and are about to take a shot when Arnold comes into the room to watch. I try to pretend he isn’t here, but it’s easier said than done, and the little punks score off me. I point my stick at them. “I was going easy on you.” I laugh, and so do they, and I finally score a goal. I’m so excited I get up and dance a little.
“I need water,” I tell them and go to the kitchen, and I turn and see Arnold there.
“I think I owe you an apology.” He puts his hands in his pockets. “I came in here, and I didn’t give you the benefit of the doubt.”
“I—” I start to talk, but he puts his hand up.
“No,” he says, “all you’ve done since I came in was try to make sure that I knew it was okay to be here, and all I did was wait for the other shoe to drop.”
“I’m not Chantal,” I tell him, and he laughs.
“Oh, honey, I know you’re not. No way would she have sat there and cut a banana for Jack or ate the waffle with syrup, for that matter.” I smile now. “No way would she have gotten down on her knees and played mini sticks with two little boys.”
“I like doing all that,” I tell him.
“My son is finally smiling,” he starts. “He finally found someone who will stand by his side through thick and thin and not cower.”
“Every step that he will let me,” I tell him.
“That, sweetheart, is another reason I need to apologize to you.”
“Forgiven,” I tell him, looking down, and then Zack comes in and just looks at his father and then me. He comes over, standing next to me almost like he’s telling him that he’s on my side.
“You okay?” Zack asks me, and I just put my arm around his waist.
“Yeah, we were just talking about who is going to win tonight,” I tell him, smiling. “I, of course, said you, and your father agreed.”
We spend the rest of the day lounging on the couch till Zack gets up from the couch and puts his hand out for me. “Come with me,” he says, and I just smile, taking his hand as he walks upstairs to his bedroom.
I close the bedroom door and walk to the bed that I came up and made while he spoke with his father and mother. “Are you sure you want to come tonight?” he asks me.
“Do you not want me to come?” I ask him as he pushes me onto my back on the bed.
“Don’t ask stupid questions. It’s just that the press will probably be there”—he kisses my neck—“and I just don’t want you to be”—he kisses the other side of my neck—“on edge.”
“I was thinking”—I say, kissing his neck now while I talk—“that Jack and I”—I kiss his other side of his neck—“could wear matching Morrow shirts.”
“What?” he whispers, and I wrap my legs around his hips as I thrust my hips up. “You’ll wear my jersey?”
“Yeah,” I whisper as he rubs his covered cock up and down my pussy. “Do you want to maybe take a shower with me?”
I close my eyes. “We can’t do this. Your parents are downstairs.”
“Yes, but they are watching a movie,” he says into my neck. “It’ll just take five minutes.”
“Wow,” I say, laughing. “A whole five minutes.”
He laughs and then moves off me, pulling me off the bed and going to the bathroom where he has his way with me.
Michael, Jack, and I hold hands when we walk into the arena three hours later. Michael wears a Horton jersey, and Jack and I along with his parents all wear Morrow jerseys.
“I’m going to take the boys down to the glass so they can see the guys warm up.” I look over at Zack’s parents, who just look at me with a smile.