Page 61 of Brews & Bartenders

“We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

“That was fast,” Gabriela says.

“I may have driven a bit above the speed limit.” Not that it’s something I like to admit. They’ll be driving soon enough and I don’t want them driving like that.

“I’m telling Mom.” Marisol scoots to the middle seat in the back.

Shrugging, I laugh. “Then I’ll tell her you got out of your seatbelt while the car is moving.”

Marisol is cackling next to me in the front seat. “You’re grown and threatening to tell on your baby sister. That’s hilarious.”

“I’m sure you’ll do something to make me snitch at some point.” That shuts her up fast. The football field is finally in view. Luckily there isn’t a huge crowd for the little league game, and I find a parking spot close to the bleachers.

The three of us climb out of the car, and I lock it once the doors are closed. I worry we’re too late until I see Caroline and her family about half way up the bleachers. But they aren’t the only ones. Nathan is sitting directly in front of her, and if I’m not mistaken, he’s leaning back until he’s almost touching her.

“Who’s that douche?” Marisol nods in Caroline’s area.

“David’s dad.”

She must hear the sneer in my voice, because she says, “That bad, huh?”

“Well, he’s nothing like our dad, that’s for sure.” Caroline waves to me, thinking I can’t see her. “Let’s go be in the most awkward situation I’ve ever known.”

“I can make it uncomfortable for him.” Gabi grins up at me.

“No, Mom would lose her shit if she found out we were anything but polite.” Both of them nod and follow me up the steps. I know I should be happy he’s here for David. It’d be nice if he was more stable in his life, but I can’t help this gut feeling I have about him. And it’s not good.

Caroline scoots over making room for me and my sisters. Nathan sits up straighter now that he realizes I’m behind him. He turns toward me, “Nice to see you again.”

“Likewise.” The smirk on his face is proof he’s lying. It also means he knows exactly what he was doing by being so close to Caroline. I’ve seen guys like him come into the bar time and time again. They’ll do anything to get under the skin of who they see as competition.

Normally, I’m not a jealous guy, but I have to keep reminding myself to keep my cool. I will not be the person who makes a scene at a kid’s football game.

“I see your sisters made it in one piece. I guess there wasn’t too much arguing?” She bumps into my side and holds out her hand for me to take.

I slide my hand into hers and laugh. “Not too much. But they are staying the night at my place so things could get interesting.”

“Do they do that often?”

“Not really, but they didn’t want to go back home after the game. Especially when I have to be over there tomorrow anyway.”

“They can stay the night with me and David if they want.” She leans her head on my shoulder, “We can make a night of it and watch movies, play games, and anything else we can think of.”

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

She laughs, “You didn’t ask. I offered.”

Nathan can hear our conversation and he stiffens at the familiarity between us. Well, screw him. “I’ll ask them and see what they say.”

Marisol leans over until she can see the both of us. “We’re literally right here. We can hear everything you’re saying.”

Gabriela pushes our sister back. “The answer is yes. We would love to stay with you tonight.”

“Then it’s settled,” Caroline adds matter of factly. “After the game, we’ll grab a pizza and pick a movie.”

“Yes,” they both whisper.

“David will be excited.” She’s talking as if her son’s dad isn’t sitting right in front of us. As if he won’t try to do something to screw this all up.

---