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“Well if you don’t mind, I’d like to try some.” He leaned a little farther in so he could see Kyle sitting on the couch. “You got the new Madden game on X-box?” he called to Kyle.
Kyle perked up. “Yeah, just got it.”
Mia’s mouth hung open. How did Tate know that was what they were going to play tonight? All she cared about was that Kyle didn’t look on the brink of depression anymore.
“I’ve been dying to play it,” Tate said.
“Well, you can come in and play if you want?” Kyle said, then glanced at Mia. “If that’s cool?”
“Of course!” she said and Tate stepped in. He took off his jacket, set it on the back of the chair and Kyle handed him the controller.
“I’ll bring you some dessert,” Mia said, super happiness bubbling through her.
“Thanks, Mia,” Kyle called and sat next to Tate on the couch.
Tate just glanced her way before they started playing and Mia’s chest was about to burst with how much she appreciated the man sitting in her living room right now.
“Thank you,” she mouthed to him and Tate just smiled and winked at her. Which did crazy things to her heart rate. She dished up the boys some dessert and set it on the coffee table in the living room.
They were both glued to the TV and slightly moving as if their bodies made a difference in how the game console controlled the players.
“Ah, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Tate said with a smile, pounding one of the keys on the controller.
“Yeah! Interception, baby!” Kyle yelled. When cheering erupted from the TV it looked like Kyle’s guy just got the ball and ran in for a digital touch down.
“Man, you’re even good at X-box football,” Tate said. “Alright, no more going easy on you, kid.”
Tate sat forward, elbows resting on his knees and controller in hand. He was concentrating and there was something about the way the Deputy looked like a regular guy just hanging out and enjoying the evening. And Kyle looked truly thrilled sitting next to him.
This was what guys did? Talk crap about video games, eat and play? Well whatever was the tradition, Kyle looked so happy. They both took millisecond breaks to take bites of their dessert as they flicked the buttons with their thumbs.
For the next half hour, Mia busied herself “straightening up” the apartment while stealing glances at the guys on her couch. Kyle needed this. Some guy time and Tate jumped in when he saw the situation.
Another knock came at the door and Mia rushed to open it. It was just past ten, but maybe one of Kyle’s friends finally showed up.
“Hi,” the kid said. He was a little shorter than Kyle and had a smaller frame and brown hair. “I’m Will Upton.”
“Of course, come in,” she said. The kid was nice and chatty.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said to Mia and shook her hand like a gentleman.
“It’s no problem at all.” She showed him to the living room and Kyle paused the game.
“Hey, man,” Will said. “Good evening, Deputy.”
Tate got up and handed Will the controller. “It’s Tatum tonight, kid.” He patted Will’s shoulder. “Good game tonight.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Here, take my spot.”
Will took the controller. “Oh sure, you’re leaving cuz you’re losing,” Kyle said to Tate.
“Damn right I am,” Tate said back and smiled. Will took his spot. Mia went into the kitchen and Tate followed.
“You don’t think Will is one of the boys giving Kyle a hard time do you?” she whispered.
“No, Will Upton is a good kid. He works over on Luke’s orchard in the summers and one of the most responsible seventeen year olds I know.”
