Page 80 of Shutout
I shake my head. “On the contrary. I could die in a ditch and he wouldn’t notice.”
“Whoa, that sounds worse than if you called him foul names.”
“You asked.” I shrug, as if my heart wasn’t trying to race my dinner out of my throat. “Dad only cares for his second family.”
“That certainly makes for an awkward Thanksgiving.” He puts a paw on my shoulder and gives it one squeeze. “Sorry, bro.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Thanks, bro.”
“I’m here if you want to talk actual shit about them, but I admit I’m not the best with tears.”
I punch him on the shoulder. “Do I look like I’m about to start weeping?”
“There’s some shiny stuff on that corner of your eye.” He vaguely points at my face.
“Whatever, asshole.”
“Hey, should we get more fries?”
“Definitely.” I signal Barry and put another order.
From the corner of my eye, I observe my closest buddy in the team. His focus is back on the screen, even though we’re in intermission now. But there are no traces of pity on his face, or of disbelief that my hall-of-fame candidate father is anything but perfect. There’s still a ton of adrenaline coursing through my veins, but I didn’t die from opening up just a notch.
Liv will be so proud when I tell her.
I fish in my pocket for my cellphone. Her contact sits at the top of my list and I have to bite my lips so I don’t grin like a freaking clown from seeing it there. Just a few months ago, I didn’t think she’d speak to me ever again. And now we basically text every moment of the day and night when we’re not hanging out. I wanted to see her so badly yesterday, but I’mtrying to not crowd her. This is fine for now, though, I can just update her by text.
But just as I’m about to hit send on the simple question ofguess what I just did, I hear her voice right behind me.
“Hey, Brooklyn.”
I almost fall off my barstool with how fast I spin around. But there she is, along with one of her friends. Just in case, I rub my eyes to make sure it’s really her and not my mind playing tricks.
“Liv?”
She snorts. “Who else?”
I sweep a glance around O’Malley’s. It’s almost empty, with most people in campus still at home for the holidays.
“Let me just make sure you’re not a mirage,” I say, reaching out to pinch her cheek. It’s warm. Really warm. And red. But then she does the same, her fingers closing around my cheek hard.
“You guys have a really weird handshake,” Dane jokes beside me.
“Hi there,” Liv’s friend says to him. Still prisoner of Liv’s hold, I turn a bit to watch the action. Dane discreetly checks Mina out, and smiles widely.
“Hi Mina.”
Oh, they already know each other?
Wait, based on the way they’re looking at each other, I think they’re going to get to know each otherdeeplyvery soon.
Back to Liv, I say, “Unhand me, woman.”
“You first.”
“On the count of one… two…”
“One order of fries and two more ice teas,” the bartender says behind me. “You two, what’s it gonna be?”
