Page 61 of Totally Opposed

“I guess I just want him to be…”

“Proud of you?”

His eyes get a little glassy, and right there it hits me how much he wants his grandfather’s approval. How much he wants to be seen by him, not just as he is but for what he does. He said Don is the reason he loves baseball in the first place, so I guess thinking he didn’t approve of how he’s playing hit harder than I realized.

“He pretty much raised us, so yeah. I want him to be proud of me. Of what I do.”

“I’m sure he is. And hey, you said yourself, he doesn’t understand because he hasn’t been to a game. Now we are getting him to come to one, we can show him just how amazing you are.”

“How amazing we are.”

“True, he will get to witness my amazing dance skills in this next sketch we’re opening with. How did that turn go again?” I ask, and Alan reaches behind him, takes my hands, and spins me twice before pulling me close and dipping me back. His face is so close, his smile so big, I lean up and kiss him.

“We can come back in a few minutes if you like,” Gramps says, and Alan breaks our kiss and lifts me to stand. Gramps is standing in the doorway of their building with Kelly, holding the bowling bag. I guess Don knows about us now.

“No, we’re ready to go,” Alan replies, rushing around to the driver’s side of the car to climb in. The lights out here are not that bright, but I still caught the red flush to his cheeks and smile on his lips before he turned away.

“You can take the front seat,” I offer, but Gramps shakes his head.

“The back is fine for me. Be able to put Precious on the seat beside me that way.”

“No problem,” I reply and open the back door for him to climb inside. Once he is settled, I close the door and Kelly wraps her arms around me.

“I don’t know how you two got together,” she whispers into my ear. “But I’m glad he found you.”

My smile is instant and wide.

“Thank you,” I reply, letting the warmth of her hug spread through me until I’m warm all over and Alan is winding down his window.

“You coming?”

“Yep, sorry,” I reply and start to pull away from Kelly. “Cheers for hosting,” I say, and she lets me go and shakes her head.

“Please. I provided the place, you did all the work. I do have the recipe now though, so at least Gramps won’t go hungry for a while.”

“Oh, the other meals.”

“I’ll pack them up and take them over to his place tomorrow. It was still a bit too hot to dish out,” she replies, and I nod.

“No worries. Umm, next time we’ll make Lancashire hot pot.”

“If it’s half as good as that shepherd’s pie, we’ll have all the guys begging to try it, too.”

“I don’t mind. I like cooking and I get to share my granny’s recipes. She’d get a kick out of that. I’ll have to tell her how much you all liked it next time I call home.”

“Thanks again,” Kelly says, and I climb in the front with Alan, and he drives us back to our apartment buildings. Gramps climbs out before we can get the door for him.

“I’m fine on my own,” he assures us and leaves to carry Precious inside before we can even get out of the car.

“Did you want to come up?” I ask, and Alan’s eyes glance to the alleyway between the buildings. The window of Don’s living room looks right across into my bedroom, and while I’ve been meaning to order some kind of blind that will let light and air in while blocking Don’s view into my room, I haven’t done it yet. But now I wish I had picked something up. Anything. “We probably can’t… you know, but I’d still like you to stay. I mean, if you want to.”

He smiles in the way that he does that lights up his eyes and it’s like the whole night sky is illuminated in them.

“I’d like that,” he says, closing the door of the car and clicking the lock before taking my hand in his. “Lead the way.”

***

I wake in his arms and it’s the best feeling in the world. I’m warm, and snuggled right up against him, wedged in like he’s the missing piece of the Ryan-shaped puzzle.

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