Page 81 of The Longshot

“Actually, Mum.” Gary opens up the boot of the car and reaches for Georgie’s gift. “Chelsie and I—uh… had plans tonight. I was only just stopping by briefly to see Georgie and give him his gift.”

“Are you sure?” Greg jumps in. “We’re making loads of food, and besides, we’d love to get to know you, Chelsie.”

Their keen and welcoming eyes are enough to draw me in as I look over to Gary. “I mean, we can totally do what we had planned another time,” I tell him. “I don’t mind staying, if that’s okay with you, of course?”

“Wilks!” A young boy comes rushing out of the house, his arms wide, beating Gary to a response.

“Georgie!” Gary embraces him in his arms, a place Georgie seamlessly disappears into as Gary squeezes him in tight. “Happy birthday, mate.” He ruffles his dusty brown hair. “Lookie here, I got you something!”

“Really?” Georgie's eyes are the bluest I’ve ever seen as he takes the gift bag from Gary's hand. “Thank you so much. Are you staying for supper?” Georgie reaches for his hand, a look of innocence and excitement in his eyes.

Gary winces, a response Georgie seemingly catches onto it. “Please, Wilks. Stay for supper with us, please, please, please!”

Gary looks back over at me for a final time. I nod, assuring him that I’m okay to stay—happy to stay.

“Only if you don’t eat all the food like last time,” Gary nudges, prompting Georgie to cheer in delight as he tugs him into the house.

“C’mon. I want to show you all my balloons.”

“Well, Chelsie.” Denise places a hand on my arm, guiding me to follow them into the house, “Are you ready to meet our wild family?”

“If they’re anything like your son,” I flash her a look. “Then yes… bring it on.”

TWENTY-ONE

W I L K S

“It made the most sense, you see.” Dad chows down on his supper whilst simultaneously explaining to Chelsie the unique way he and Mum came up with all six of our names. “My name starts with the letter ‘G’, so all the boys are just like me…”

“And my name starts with the letter ‘D’, so all the girls are just like me,” Mum happily finishes his sentence. The two of them are always notorious for that.

I can’t help but smile at their visibly proud faces, only my cheeks widen that much more when I take in the way that Chelsie’s got her hands adorably perched up on either side, listening with those big blue eyes full of intent.

I’m obsessed.

“I think that that’s so creative. Besides, it’s a subtle nod to each of you!” Chelsie beams from ear to ear. “You guys totally nailed it, by the way. Everyone’s names suit them so well, especially Gary’s.”

I raise a suspecting brow as I start to laugh. “Really?” I ask, leaning back into my chair. “In what way does Gary suit me?”

I’d never been a fan of it growing up. I won’t lie, it had always felt quite old-school, hence the adoption of ‘Wilks’. But everytime I hear Chelsie say it, suddenly, I can’t imagine myself being called anything different.

Chelsie shrugs. “I’m not sure. I can’t quite put my finger on it. You just… I don’t know… look like a Gary.”

A Gary.

Her Gary.

I swallow to resolve the escalating thought and raise my glass in their direction. “Good on ya, Mum and Dad,” I joke. “Cheers to Gary.”

“To Gary.” They smirk, joining in on the gesture before settling back into conversation.

Both of my parents were in their teens when they had me. I’m an accident baby; I have no shame in admitting that, but what can I say? Sometimes, the best things in life are… unexpected. At least that’s what I wrote in Mum's Mother's Day card a few months back.

Mum and Dad said they always knew they’d name me Gary, to yes, co-inside with my dad’s “G” theme, but the name also just so happened to be that of my grandad's. They say the firstborn always gets the family resemblance name, not to mention Granddad also just so happened to be a footballer.

Coincidence?

I think not.

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