Page 70 of Catching Our Moment
Aaron came running up. “Let me put my things away, and I will come over, Shaw. The pregame should start soon.”
I held open the door while Aaron raced in the house.
James continued, “What do you think you’re doing?” His posture and expression screamed indignation. “Guarding her or something? Is this another example of that savior complex you play out with her?”
“James, I don’t see how that is your—” Kelcie started.
I stepped forward with the smirkiest grin I could muster on my face. “You don’t have to worry about why I am around her—why I will always be around her.”
James’s step faltered at my innuendo. I knew that Kelcie had always maintained there was nothing between us, but I had no intention of giving him that impression—especially now.
“Yeah, well, I think I’ll just have a word or two with her before I go—in private, to discuss our son.”
Kelcie stepped forward, cutting off the conversation and giving me a pointed look. Then she tilted her head to the house as Aaron came bursting back into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of cinnamon rolls. “Come on! Let’s go.”
I dropped my head, not happy leaving her with this asshole. I wanted to be there for her, a united front. But right now, she needed me to distract Aaron from this conversation.
“A-man. Those smell incredible. Let’s get set up for the game.”
“Okay. Hey, what did TJ say? I told you. I told you Dallas’ defense wouldn’t hold.”
I pressed by James, guiding Aaron back to my front door. “You called it, my man.”
Once inside, Aaron made his way to my refrigerator and grabbed us both two flavored waters, tossing one to me. “Thanks. So, tell me about your weekend,” I asked.
Aaron shouted from behind the fridge door, “Well, I didn’t get to throw much, except when Uncle Mike went outside with me. He has an old shoulder injury, so it didn’t last long,” Aaron said. “But I figured we could do it when I got home.”
“Sure. Maybe tomorrow.”
Aaron gave me the latest predictions and stats he heard from the commentators this morning as I ushered him out the back to my side of the house. “Go get set up on the couch and turn on the television. I’ll be back in a moment. I’m going to grab some more of those cinnamon rolls.”
I paused at the door, seeing both James’s and Kelcie’s body language leaning more to argumentative rather than cordial.
“Shaw…if you want to go check on Mom, just go,” Aaron said from behind me. “I may not know much, but I know when my parents are about to fight. Dad was itching for one all the way down here.”
“He was? Why do you say that?”
“He was spouting off about all the reasons I shouldn’t be so hyper-focused on football. He says I should find other interests that are more in line with my strengths. When I asked him what he thought those were, he said I should explore until I found something else that interested me.” He picked at his fingers. “I said football interests me.” Aaron’s face fell, and he stared at his feet.
That son of a bitch.
“Can you go talk to him? I know he’s telling Mom all the reasons why I shouldn’t be able to play. He thinks I suck. Can you go tell him that I’m good at it?”
His words broke my heart. How could a man be so blind to his own child?
“Yeah, man. I got this.”
He nodded. I swung open the door and went inside, ready to be his proxy.
His parents were too wrapped up in their drama to notice I’d entered the arena.
“There is no way Aaron can play football. You shouldn’t be encouraging him?—”
“Why not? It’s great for his confidence.”
“You know why,” he said. “Stop making me the bad guy by pointing out the obvious.”
“He’s not five. He’s growing up, and he knows when he needs to back away for a break. He’s working with his therapist to identify what triggers him. God, James, he’s so happy and independent. You need to come watch?—”
