Page 84 of The Longshot

And as Darcy’s face drops, so does my stomach.

I know I’ve not yet asked her formally, but if Chelsie and I aren’t a couple, then what are we?

The air in the room grows thick. There’s a reason why the elephant is ignored. It’s to avoid this feeling. This exact uncomfortable moment.

“Uh… how about we do gifts?” I propose, hopeful that that will brighten everyone’s spirits, including my own.

“Yes, gifts!” Oblivious to the tension, Georgie is immediately on board as he cheers out. “I want to open your gift first, Gary.” He pushes his dinner plate to the side and rushes to grab my gift from across the room.

Once he’s back, he tears away at the paper like a wild animal before crying out, “A new Crawfield jersey?! What the heck! This is the best gift ever!”

“Turn it around.” The words feel like deja vu as I instruct him. “Take a look at the back.”

He does as I request, jumping up and down in joy as he reads out what I had printed on the back. “It has my name on it?!” He eventually races to my side and pulls me into a tight hug.

“And the number twelve,” I clarify. “I thought, hey, maybe when you play for Crawfield one day, that could be your number. One after me, prodigy. What do you think?”

“Yes!” Georgie eagerly nods, prompting my parents to groan out in frustration. I don’t think either of them wants Georgie to play football, but he’s a natural, how can they deny him of his talents? I mean, after all, he’s had me to train him…

“I’m going to go and try it on!” he announces. “Be right back.” He sprints out of the room.

“Slow down, Georgie!” Mum shouts. “You’re going to?—”

There’s a crash that brings us all to a quiet.

“I’m okay…” Georgie winces, signifying that he’s unsurprisingly not okay.

“I’ll go check on him.” Dad’s used to the semantics by now as he exits the room and stomps his way up the stairs.

“I’m going to help clean up.” Daisy is next to stand up alongside my mum, who has already taken the liberty to clear off the table.

“I guess I should get started on dessert,” Dara offers, flashing Delilah a look to join her.

Destiny stands up, given that now it’s just Chelsie, Darcy, and I twiddling our thumbs as we awkwardly sit together.

“I’ll uh… help.”

Chelsie shifts beneath her chair, placing her handkerchief on the table. “Maybe I should, too?” Her question seems directed towards me.

“Sure.” I nod. “If you want.”

Nervously, she smiles before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving me to look down at Darcy for an explanation.

“Darce,” I whisper, pulling her onto my lap. “What the heck, kid? You just made things so awkward.”

When she pouts, I’m reminded that she’s only three. She doesn’t know any better. “I’m sorry, Gare-Bear,” she says in a downright adorable voice combined with the use of a nickname that’s criminal to be mad at. “I thought she was your girlfriend.”

I sigh, planting a kiss on her cheek. “Yeah, me too, kid.” I catch a glimpse of Chelsie in the kitchen, washing dishes beside my mum and sisters. “Me too.”

TWENTY-TWO

C H E L S I E

Chelsie, we’re sorry for the other night. We are. Please, let us make it up to you. We want to see you again before the vow renewal. Mum & Dad xx

“Hey, everything okay?” Gary asks as we pile back into his car. My mood has turned completely sour despite what must’ve just been the most incredible meet-the-parents in existence.

Gary’s family is amazing, his parents included, and it only makes me wish that my last visit with my own was just as pleasant…

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