Page 91 of Who's Playing You
But that carefully laid out plan appeared to be well out the window by the looks of things.
Of course my mom spotted me first, “Nick!” she beamed at me. “And Nik! Oh my gosh, what a surprise,” she said as she approached both of us. “Nik, I didn’t think I’d get to see you, seeing as how you’re over in enemy territory,” she said to my brother from another mother before she started laughing.
Nik was quick to wrap my mom in a hug, “Aww, come on Mrs. Soba. Don’t joke with me like that. I thought you’d be up here wearing my jersey for a change.”
“Your next game, I certainly will, alright sweetheart?”
“Fair enough. Hey! It’s the big guy. How’s it hanging Mr. Soba?”
My dad came between my mom and Nik and wrapped him up in a big hug. “Geez, what am I? Chopped liver?” to which my mom began laughing and hugged me.
“Jealousy doesn’t suit you,” she simply stated, but I was barely listening because past her shoulder I saw Scottie being monopolized by Mr. and Mrs. Banks. After releasing me from her hug, my mom followed my line of sight and said, “Ah, yeah, so you might want to go and rescue her.” And then she gave me a knowing look.
As I approached the Bankses and Scottie, a look of pure relief flowed through Scottie’s entire body. As Mr. Banks saw me, “There he is! You ready for this, son?”
I gave him a curt nod, “Mr. Banks. Mrs. Banks. Yes sir, as ready as I’ll ever be. I’m confident in our team.”
“I guess we’ll see when ya lay it all out on that field, now won’t we? And Nick! Son, you’ve been holding out on us. You’ve been keeping this young lady all to yerself, which, if you ask my wife, is a crime against the whole art community - and probably humanity.”
“Oh, Atticus,” Mrs. Banks admonished him and gently swatted his big belly. “But also,” she began and gave me all her attention, “he’s a million percent right. This young woman is… why she’s amazing!”
I put my arm around Scottie and couldn’t help but grin. “I’m fully aware. I’m glad others see what I see. She’s the most amazing person.”
Mr. and Mrs. Banks continued to praise Scottie a few more times before I was able to steal her away and steer her towards where my parents and Nik had congregated.
“This must be the infamous Scottie!” Nik beamed at her once he saw us approach. He stepped forward and the fucker stole her from my arms, wrapping her up in not just a bear hug but literally picking her up off the ground.
As he put her down I was quick to scoop her back under my arm, my parents both just stood there, expectantly with eyebrows raised. “Mom, dad, this is Scottie. My girlfriend.”
“Oh man! I’m here for the meet-the-parents too?” Nik was gleefully doing a little dance. “Loving is going to be furious. I fucking love this. Maybe I should get him on FaceTime,” he mumbled as he went to grab for his phone but realized he was already suited up in his Warriors gear. Giving up the search for his phone he continued, “Go on, go on. Ignore me.”
I just gave him a long stare while my mother looked from Nik like she expected nothing else but for him to behave like this, before looking at Scottie again. Meanwhile, I felt Scottie shaking from nerves if I had to guess.
“You finally did it, huh?” my dad said.
Scottie, Nik and I all looked to my dad. “Did what?” I asked.
“Asked her out. Took ya long enough, geez,” he said while chuckling and looking to my mom.
“Seriously!” my mom replied while also letting out a laugh, Nik joining them now.
Scottie was shuffling from one foot to the other, uncertain of how this was all playing out. “I mean…” I began, totally not knowing how to respond.
But my mother being the saint she is, came to my rescue, “Scottie, since that first time you came home with Nat, this one here,” she said as she gestured to me, “was all goo-goo-ga-ga over you.”
“Mommm,” I began, but then realized that I didn’t care anymore if Scottie knew that I’d been pining for her for so long.
“Oh hush, you’re a grown man. You can own your actions. And ever since then, don’t think that we didn’t notice your crush on this beautiful, sweet and smart young lady.” Hearing this, Scottie visibly relaxed in my arms.
“Now come with me Scottie, you and I are going to catch up,” my mom began as she pulled Scottie from my arms. “Besides, don’t you two have a game to play?” she said as she raised her eyebrow at us.
Nik, ever the kiss-ass, “Yes, ma’am!”
“Good luck to both of you. Play smart, but above all, play safe. And have some fun, would ‘ya?”
With that, she stole Scottie away and dismissed us.
“You heard the lady, it’s time to play ball,” my dad said as he patted both of our shoulders and followed the girls over to a seating area by the window.
