Page 6 of Despite It All
I snort a laugh. “So, what’s the plan today, Banana?” I ask, using the childhood nickname she hates.
She rolls her eyes. “Um, I have a birthday party to go to. My friend's niece is turning four today. She loves art, so I got her some paints and art supplies.” Anna plops down at the kitchen table with her plate of pancakes that are now covered in whip cream and syrup. “You'remore than welcome to tag along or you can hang here. You could go explore. There’s not a ton in Aster Creek, but it’s a cute little town. The beach is a short drive too.”
Anna reaches for some strawberries again, going fast in case I try to pull them back again. “I will say, though, this town definitely has more football fans. Not many people here even know that you’re my brother so I don’t think you’ll have to worry about getting recognized. Plus, the Bennetts know how to throw a party, even if it’s a child’s birthday. They’re always great.”
I weigh my options. A kid’s party doesn’t really sound ideal, but I have no plans for this week. “I’ll go with you.”
“You’re sure?” Anna raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I came to spend time with you and I have nothing else going on. You said their parties are fun, so why not?”
“Okay, great. We’ll leave here in a couple hours. The party starts at eleven.”
I stand to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. “Drink?” I ask, and Anna shakes her head holding up her mug. “Alright. Hey, is there a gym in town that would let me do day passes or something?”
“Well there’s only one gym in town. I’ll warn you now, though… it’s a little lackluster. I’m sure you could ask for a day pass, but the guy who owns it is a dick. He’d probablymake you pay for the month. It’s not overly expensive so I’m sure it won’t break your pretty bank account.”
My laugh is muffled with a drink of water as I sit back down and reach for the bowl of strawberries. “No, I don’t imagine so. Paying for this house almost did.” Which is very much a lie, but it’s my brotherly duty to remind her.
Anna scoffs, and takes away my bowl. “Hey—”
“Buy your own, jackass,” Anna grumbles.
I roll my eyes. “I’m going to get ready. Will you text me the address for the gym?”
“I’ll go with you,” Anna mumbles with her mouth full. “A run sounds nice this morning. Just give me twenty minutes.”
I know Anna’s twenty minutes is really at least thirty. “I’m leaving in twenty, Anna.”
“It’s almost like I said twenty minutes,” she snarls then reaches for her mug.
I take the opportunity and steal the bowl of fruit. “Twenty minutes.”
“Jackass!”
So Anna’s “lack luster” comment was a big understatement. That gym was a shitshow. Equipment decades old, a smell that rivals the worst BO you could imagine, and I’m trying to block out the hundreds of health code violations from just walking in the door.
I do what I can and Anna doesn’t venture from the treadmill, not that I blame her, and we head back to Anna’s to get ready for the party.
We pull up to a small light blue house with white flowers in the windowsills. There are cars lined up in the front yard. For a four-year-old’s birthday party, this place looks packed. We hop out of the car and can hear the sound of kids screaming and laughing.
“Come on, it’s around back.” Anna motions for me to follow her.
When we round the corner, we’re met with not one but two bounce castles. A smaller one for jumping and a larger one that’s got a huge slide. Tables scattered about, all with pink balloon decorations pinned in the middle. Cornhole off to the side, and the smell of food on the grill in the air.
“Hey, Wav,” Anna says as a girl with long black hair buzzes by but stops in her tracks when she notices us.
“Ahh, Anna, you made it. Stevie will be so happy you’re here.” I’ll say the girl is pretty, and somethingabout her seems oddly familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it. “You must be J. I’m Waverley,” she says and holds out her hand.
I return her hand with a shake. “Hi, Jett, actually. Anna here likes to call me J to annoy me.”
“I had a hard time saying Jett as a baby, sue me,” Anna huffs. “J suits you better anyway.”
Waverley’s eyes go wide and her smile falters. “Jett?”
“Um, yeah.” Does she recognize me, maybe? Anna said no one here really watches baseball but it’s not uncommon for me to be recognized at random times.
Waverley’s now staring at me, not in a cleat chaser way but like I’m a puzzle she can’t figure out. Another woman with dark hair walks up with a baby on her hip. This girl also looks somewhat familiar? Sisters, I’m assuming, but why do they look familiar to me?
