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Warren clapped his hands together. “Great. Let’s play.”
Yes, let’s play. I took my turn while Bridget and Warren set up the screen on their side. Not to brag, but I rolled a strike. Okay, I was totally bragging. I turned around and gloated. “Yes!” I high-fived Sawyer on my victory march back.
“Don’t count me out yet.”
“I’ve already counted twice, and you’re totally coming out on the losing end. You might as well get ready to pay for the ice cream tonight.” That was our friendly wager for the evening.
He reached for his ball with a serious demeanor. “This is about more than my ice cream. This is about my dignity.”
“You must have checked that at the door.” I loved talking smack with him.
“Those are fighting words.” He pulled his ball up to his chest, determined to finally best me.
“Good luck.” I threw myself into one of the chairs at the electronic scoreboard. Warren was occupying the other chair. I admit I was a tad nervous to sit next to him, but his disarming smile put me at ease. And now that I was closer to him, I noticed his arms were buff and his polo shirt said King Steam and Sauna. Huh. Sawyer never mentioned his dad owning a business. It wasn’t surprising, considering he tried to never speak of him.
“Emma Loveless, you wouldn’t be the same girl who used to be the kicker for the Pine Fall Eagles now would you?”
“That would be me.”
“You were impressive. Best high school kicker I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m not sure about that, but I had fun doing it.”
“I could tell. And if memory serves me correctly, I think the night we watched you play you were made homecoming queen.”
That memory held dueling emotions for me. It was a happy memory. I was honored to have been chosen, but it was accentuated by the fact that no one had asked me to the dance. “You have a good memory.” I smiled. Though it probably wasn’t every day you saw a girl get crowned homecoming queen wearing a football uniform and pads.
“It’s not as good as it used to be, but I do remember telling Sawyer that night if he wanted to be happy, to choose a girl like you—a girl who wasn’t afraid to get dirty but knew how to stand tall and keep her crown on straight.”
Wow. I didn’t know what to say. It was a profound and flattering statement, but so depressing knowing that was never happening. I wanted to ask how Sawyer responded back then, but present him caught my attention with his victory dance by the ball return.
“Strike, baby.” He pointed at me.
“I’m still ahead by twenty points,” I taunted him while standing up. “Why don’t you take a seat while I go get a refill on my Dr. Pepper?”
Sawyer knew what I was doing. He looked between me and his dad, uncertainty flooding his eyes. I could understand the hurt and hesitation. With my eyes, I tried to convey that I was here for him and I believed in him. I knew he had it in him to forgive his dad.
Sawyer approached slowly, but he came, and that was the most important part.
“Do you want a bottle of water?” I asked him. He didn’t really believe in drinking his calories. No one was perfect.
“I’m good.”
“Yeah, you are.” I gave him a wink and left him to spend a few minutes with his dad.
“I’ll come with you.” Bridget finished tying her bowling shoes and stood.
This was going to be awkward hanging out with the mistress, but it was good of her to give father and son a few minutes alone.
Bridget and I walked to the snack bar with our hands in our pockets. I almost started whistling because I thought it would be funny, but instead my mouth took over and went with an embarrassing question. “So how long have you and Warren been together?” Smooth move, Emma. Way to serve up the elephant in the room on a crap platter.
Bridget’s kind brown eyes, while shocked, looked understanding. “I suppose Sawyer hasn’t said anything about me.”
“Not once.”
She nodded. “That makes sense.”
We each took a stool at the snack bar. “Dr. Pepper, please,” I ordered before turning my attention to a nervous Bridget. “I’m sorry I tossed that question out there. Sometimes my mouth and brain have a serious disconnect.”
She was nice enough to laugh. “I’ve been there, and I don’t blame you for being interested. You and Sawyer are obviously close, so it’s only natural.”
“He’s one of my best friends.”
“Friends, huh?”
“Yes, friends.”
She gave me a coy smile. “If you say so.”
I knew so.
She turned in her stool and looked at father and son trying to have a conversation. I did the same. Even from a distance you could tell it was uncomfortable. Sawyer was hardly looking at Warren and all Warren could do was look at his son in adoration.
