Page 15 of Wes
Chapter Six
Wes
“Hey, guys! How was your movie?” I ask the boys when I find them by the ice-cream shop.
“It was good, Coach!”
I watch them eyeball the different flavors. “Want some ice cream? My treat!”
We walk up to the counter and put in orders for three cones. I’m not sure how my body’s going to handle the sugar on top of the coffee from earlier, but I’d do it again to see my boy’s smile.
“Thanks!” they say, their voices muffled by the ice cream, and I nod.
“Let’s go to the bookstore. I want to grab something,” I tell them, and we take our time walking.
“Dad! Look, it’s Shorty and Yogi,” Reece says excitedly and hurries in the opposite direction of the store toward his friends.
I smile when I reach the boys. I’m enjoying how animated they’ve become as they share with each other the movies they just watched. Shorty’s eyes meet mine and round.
“Hey, Coach!”
“Hey, I see your mouth moves as fast as your legs when you’re excited,” I joke and watch his face redden.
Shorty clears his throat. “Yeah, I guess. It was a really good movie. The effects were awesome!”
I nod in understanding as Shorty’s phone rings. “I’ll give you boys a second to chat. Reece, I’m going to grab that book now.”
“’Kay, Dad!” Reece calls without looking at me. He continues talking about his movie, and I shake my head, amused.
I remember being their age and talking sports or even girls. Getting excited about a movie was something I don’t recall doing.
“Are you guys hanging out right here? I don’t want to go searching for you.”
Shorty hangs up his call and shoves his phone in his pocket, while the others look at each other before nodding.
“We’ll stay right here,” Reece says.
Yogi nods at Shorty’s phone. “She’s parked?”
“Yeah…”
“Damn, this means I’ll be home soon,” Yogi says as I turn and head toward the bookstore.
“Your mom is hot. Why wasn’t she at the game?”
I don’t catch the answer as I walk farther away. Chuckling to myself, I remember a time when I told my friend his mom was hot. He busted my lip good. There are just some things you don’t say to your friends. Talking about their moms and sisters definitely falls in that category, no matter how titillating they are.
Natalia… talk abouttitillating—smart, sassy, and gorgeous. Today went better than I could have hoped for.
I shove the last bit of cone in my mouth and wipe my hands clean. Retrieving my phone, I smile.
Wes: Thinking about you. Really enjoyed our coffee date.
As I put it back in my pocket, I ignore the little voice telling me it’s too soon to text her. I’ve seen and heard the boys talk about girls. So many games. I’m way too old for that shit. If you like a girl, tell her. Sitting around and toying only makes it easier for another to swoop in and steal.
I find the biography I’m looking for easily. Eager to return to Reece, I pay and head back, this time moving faster without ice cream distracting me. My phone goes off, and I smile when I find Natalia’s name beaming at me.
Nearing the boys, I slow my pace and unlock the phone.
