Page 96 of I Got You

“Hey, Matthews. Keep it down. This is a team sport,” a balding man yells from down in front.

“I don’t see much team action out there,” Cole shouts back calmly.

He runs his mouth further. “Maybe if your boy would settle down, someone else could have a chance.”

The ball is kicked out of bounds, and Hank picks it up. “Watch,” Maggie says, half standing and ignoring the asshole in front of us.

We all watch as Hank picks up the ball, and takes a few steps back before a forward flip, launching the ball long and far. We roar.

“That was awesome,” Sean says.

The loudmouth in the stands pops up. “Seriously, this isn’t the NFL. They’re just a bunch of kids. You need to tell that little show off to put a cap on it.”

I stand along with Mark, Sean, and Cole.

“You four sit down,” Maggie scolds, and we follow directions.

The guy laughs, and I know the four of us want to wipe that smug look off his face. “You all just think your name will carry you through life, and in the meantime, these kids suffer while you skate on by. It’s ridiculous.” He waves his hand and sits down.

Maggie’s posture goes rigid next to me, and then she pops up. Oh, shit. It’s a look I’ve seen before. I turn to Mark and Sean, unable to prevent my smile.

“Hey, pinhead,” Maggie calls, and he turns around to look. “Yeah, you.”

“Maggie,” I say quietly, but of course, she ignores me.

“Maybe if you’d get your head out of your butt, you’d see that the only reason you’re even sitting here is because our little show-off has carried this team on his shoulders the entire season. When you want to talk about hard work, dedication, and skill, someone might actually listen. Until then, close your yap and be grateful he brought the team this far, and your kid is getting to add the achievement to his applications.”

Some of the people around us laugh as she sits down. Mark whistles softly. “Maggie, remind me to always have you in my cheering section.”

“Don’t encourage her,” I say, even though there’s no way I’d let Maggie be in anyone's cheering section but mine.

Hank scores two more goals, but the asswipe down front keeps his mouth shut.

At home, we order pizza while Mark and Sean play video games with the boys, and Liv easily talks them into letting her paint their nails. During baths, I build a fire out on the patio, and we relax while Maggie gets the kids in bed.

“This is a little different since our last time together.” Sean’s messy red fingernails reflect the light of the fire as he tips his beer up to his lips.

“You think?” For me, everything is different.

“Maggie’s great,” Mark says, tossing his beer label into the fire. “She’s gorgeous, and I bet she has you running in circles.” He points to his head, and he has no idea. She’s been the best surprise of my life. “The kids are great, too, and you’re a natural. Who would’ve ever thought?”

“They’re all great.” It’s all I can come up with or am willing to admit out loud.

“So when are you going to finally admit this is more than an arrangement?” Sean takes another pull at his beer, staring at me over the end of his bottle.

I stare back. “There’s nothing to tell. Maggie’s great. She’s pretty much perfect, but you know I wasn’t made for this.”

He looks up at the sky. “Looks to me like you might’ve been made for exactly this. You seem to fit in well here, and you and Maggie seem tight.”

“Don’t read into things.” I need to change the subject.

We listen to the crackle of the fire in the cold night air, and then Mark adds his two cents.

“Don’t be an idiot. Make sure you don’t let a good thing slip through your fingers because you’re too busy denying what might be right in front of your face.”

There’s a pressure mounding in my chest with this serious relationship talk, and I need a release valve. “Are we talking about me, or are you reminiscing about Lex?”

Mark scoffs. “You know I pissed that away long ago. I was an idiot. Now, she’s getting married.”

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