Page 31 of Well Played

“I guess that’s true.”

“I think my mom is going out on a date,” he suddenly announced.

I played dumb. “What makes you say that? I thought she was just meeting a friend.”

“I saw her putting on makeup and a pretty dress. It’s what girls do in the movies when they’re going out on a date.”

“Well, I think your mom deserves a night out whether it’s a date or not, right? She works hard to make sure you’re happy every day. She deserves some happiness, too.”

I stopped to take in my own words, which were a reminder that I really needed to stay out of Presley’s business. I regretted my conversation with her this morning. I should’ve never tried to make her feel guilty about going out with this dude just because he was Alex’s coach. That was a sad excuse to interfere. Why was I even doing it? It was messed up that I had a vested interest in whether or not she dated this guy.

I snapped myself out of my thoughts. “So what do you want to order tonight?”

“Is Iggy’s still around?” he asked.

“Yeah. How do you know about Iggy’s?”

“My dad told me about it the last time I saw him. He said he used to go there when he was my age. I haven’t asked Mom to take me there because I didn’t want to make her sad if I told her why I wanted to go.”

“Your mom can handle that. Just because your parents aren’t together anymore doesn’t mean they make each other sad.”

“I know. But I thought maybe it would make hermad. So I didn’t say anything.”

“Your dad and I both used to love Iggy’s, you know. They have the best fried chicken and biscuits—even better than the chicken your mom made the other night, which was really good, by the way.”

“Yeah. That’s what Dad said, that they have the best chicken. I wanna try it.”

“Iggy’s it is, then. I haven’t been there in ages.”

“Can we eat there?”

This town wasn’t very big. Without knowing where exactly Presley might end up tonight, I didn’t want to commit to taking Alex out where he could potentially spot her with the coach, so I made up a story.

“I was kind of looking forward to a night in. Is it okay if we just pick it up and bring it back here?”

He shrugged. “Yeah, okay.”

Presley interrupted us as she entered the room. “I just wanted to hug you before I leave, baby. I shouldn’t be gone too long.”

I felt my eyes widen. She wore a tiny black dress and high heels. She’d even put a flower barrette in her hair. It was a damn sexy look, and it made me all kinds of messed up inside to think of the message she’d be sending that guy.

“It’s no rush,” I managed to tell her. “We’re gonna have an early dinner and maybe watch a movie or something. Stay out all night if you want.”

“It shouldn’t bethatlate,” she said.

“Like I said, doesn’t matter if it is.”

She wrapped her hands around Alex’s. “Be a good boy for your uncle, okay?”

“Okay, Mom. Have a good time.”

“I will, baby. Thank you.”

Soon after she left, Alex and I drove to Iggy’s. He came inside with me as we fetched the paper bags filled with fried chicken, French fries, and biscuits. I told him about the time his father won a chicken-eating contest right out front and reminisced about the times we’d gone to Iggy’s with the whole family on a Friday night after our dad got off work. Friday nights were the only time we ever ate out. My mother always said she deserved a night off once a week, so we’d visit a different local place for dinner. In those days, I’d had no idea that my parents’ marriage was on the rocks. They divorced when we were much older. I got to at least enjoy my parents together for a while—unlike my nephew, who can’t remember his ever getting along, thanks to Tanner.

Back home, Alex and I set up a table out in the yard. It made me happy to see him scarfing down the Iggy’s food. There was something cool about watching another generation discover the things you’d enjoyed. I couldn’t figure out how it was fair that I was the one here enjoying this moment and not his father. But it was Tanner’s loss.

Taking a bite of my chicken, I decided to probe him a little. “Are you happy to be in Beaufort?”

---