Page 50 of Sticking Out

Dani exhales loudly and turns toward me as I kill the ignition. “Here goes nothing.”

I give her a confident smile, although it defies what’s going on inside my gut. This whole situation is messed up and I hope what we have to say doesn’t cause any trouble. But we’re all adults who are simply adulting, and I do know her parents have always supported her decisions, and they were by her side for months after Alec, especially when I was away playing and couldn’t be there for her.

“Do you think they’ll like me?” I tease.

She laughs. “You know they love you.”

Their faces always lit up when I came over to hang with Dani back in high school, before Alec started dating her. That gives me pause. “Did they love Alec?”

Her hand stalls as she reaches for the door. “I…I assume they did.” She looks off into the distance, like she’s trying to drag memories from the back of her mind.

When she remains quiet, I open my door. “Okay, let’s go get this over with.”

We step from the car and she grabs the salad. The front door opens as we head up the walkway. “You didn’t have to bring anything,” her mom Beverly scolds, with a big smile on her face.

“It’s Dad’s favorite, so I think he might have something different to say.” Dani leans in and gives her mom a hug.

“Conner, it’s so good to see you.” Beverly throws her arms around me. “How’s your mom and dad? It’s been so long since we all had a family gathering. Maybe we can do something for the upcoming long weekend?”

Mom and Dad go to my games, but they don’t go out or socialize like they used to. The loss of a son will do that to you and that thought brings another pang of guilt. Alec is gone because of me.

“I’m sure they’d love that,” I agree around the lump in my throat.

“I saw Darcy at the grocery store last week.” She gives me a warm, motherly smile that holds so much sympathy and compassion. “She looks well.”

“I’ll talk to them about the long weekend.”

We follow her down the hall and into the kitchen, and outside I hear laughter. Rylee and Jared and the kids are obviously all here. For a brief moment, I consider what it will be like when Dani and I add a child to the mix. The house will be filled with so much love and happiness. I want that. Honestly, I’m sure a child would help fill my parents’ house with life and laughter, and they sure as hell could use that.

“You two head out. I’ll get us wine,” she says to Dani.

Out on the back deck, we’re greeted with smiles. “Hey, Conner,” Jared greets me.

“Let me get you a beer, son,” her dad Calvin says. He disappears into the house, just as Beverly comes out with two glasses of wine. She slides one to Dani and drops down into the chair.

Ava comes running up to Dani. “Aunt Dani, push me on the swing.”

“She will in a minute,” Rylee tells her. “Let her sit for a moment, she just got here.” Rylee pushes a chair out for Dani. “Sit, drink wine, and get me caught up on all the gossip.” She sighs and glances at her children, everything about her alluding to the fact that she doesn’t get out much anymore. “I miss gossip…” She stares at the wine as Dani takes a sip. “I miss wine.”

“What you have is better than gossip and wine,” Dani murmurs, a deep longing in her voice.

Rylee’s eyes go wide when she realizes what she said. “I’m sorry, Dani.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m not…anyway.” Dani waves her hand. “Let me figure out what gossip you missed.” She glances at me, and takes her bottom lip between her teeth.

Ava grumbles and blinks at me. I laugh at her antics. “How about I push you in a minute?”

“Fine.” She takes off down the stairs and joins her brother on the swing set.

“Any gossip you can think of, Conner?”

I wait a second, wanting her father here so we only have to announce it once. He comes out with a cold beer for me and hands it over. I take a much-needed drink of the cold liquid, and as I think about what to say, or how to say it, I realize action is better than words.

“Well…” I begin, and lean down and kiss Dani on the lips. Gasps sound around us and when I inch back and give Dani a small smile, she looks both horrified and amused. “How’s that for gossip?”

Rylee jumps from her seat. “Are you kidding me?” she starts clapping and jumping up and down. “I knew it. I knew it. And it’s about freaking time.” I note the way Beverly and Calvin are staring at their daughter carefully. “Wait.” Rylee stops clapping. “Is that gossip, or is that real?”

“We’re dating,” I tell them all. Silence ensues for a second which feels like an eternity, and I can only imagine—other than Rylee—they’re all trying to grasp the reality of this. I take another sip of beer as my throat dries.

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