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Shit.Maybe I’m not good with kids anymore.
She’s thinking we’re devouring cartoon characters tonight. “But … but I love Nemo.”
Chloe shoots Trey a stern look. “Your brother is kidding, honey.” She slides crayons to her. “Now, show me how well you color.”
Chloe’s attention moves to entertaining her niece and taking her mind away from eating striped fish.
“You played a good game tonight,” I tell Trey.
He grins and perks up in his seat. “Thanks, dude. I’m hoping they move me up to varsity. It’d be awesome!”
“Kyle played varsity,” Chloe says, bumping my shoulder.
Whoa. Is this about to finish with a compliment or a smart-ass comment about jocks?
“Cool!” Trey says with wide eyes. “What position did you play?”
I scratch my neck. “Quarterback.”
“I bet you got laid all the time,” Trey comments.
“Seriously, Trey,” Chloe says, gesturing to Gloria.
He shrugs. “It’s the truth. Dudes on varsity get so many chicks, and considering there’s not much else going for me, I need all the help I can get.”
Chloe flinches next to me at the same time I frown.
“What does that mean?” she snaps.
Uh-oh.
Trey plays with the straw in his drink and looks down in shame when answering, “Come on, you know our family and where we live. Girls don’t want to date guys who come from the trailer park or ones with no money. So, if I make it to varsity, they’ll like me more.”
I open my mouth to assure him it’s not true, but a response coming from me isn’t appropriate. I hate he’s going through it, but I’ve never experienced that struggle. The best person to tell him not to look at himself that way and ensure it gets better is the woman sitting next to me—a woman who was raised in it, struggled with it, and then rose from it. Chloe is living evidence you can’t control the cards you’re dealt, but you can control how you play them.
Hurt and resentment are clear on her face, but her voice is soft when she speaks, “That’s not true.”
I wait for her to say more, but there’s nothing. Maybe it’s a sensitive subject for her. Shit,maybeis an understatement. I’ve talked to children who live there, and their lives aren’t pretty.
I point to Trey and decide to brighten the somber mood the best I can. “I’d suggest not pursuing a girl who dates you because you either made it to varsity or have money. She’s not the type who will end up being a good girlfriend.”
“Plus,” Chloe adds before Trey can reply, “I thought you were dating a girl from the neighborhood?”
He shrugs. “I was.”
“And?” she questions.
“She’s not …” He pauses to shake his head, as if he’s debating whether to continue. “People make fun of her. People make fun ofmefor hanging out with her.”
I look over at Chloe in fear for myself. Her attitude is sexy but can also be scary as hell. Her eyes are closed, and a mixture of pain and fury flashes across her face. Trey’s attention goes to his drink. He’s taking loud sips, realizing it’s better to keep his mouth shut sometimes.
“Let me guess,” Chloe finally snaps, and she peeks over at Gloria before continuing her ass-chewing. “Earmuffs, sweetie.”
Gloria drops her crayons and places her hands over her ears.
Chloe clears her throat, lubricating her impending lecture. “Let me guess; she’s called trailer trash for where she lives—side note, which is also whereyoulive—and for her parents being poor. She doesn’t own brand-name shoes or have the extra funds to go on class trips, so they sneer at her in disgust, as if she were scum beneath their shoes.” She focuses on him in disappointment. “Don’t you dare judge or hurtfully treat a girl—better yet,anyonefor that. Do you hear me?” She rests her elbows on the table, leans in, and lowers her voice. “Let me tell you something. I was that girl they’re teasing. Do it again, and I will ground you for so long; you’ll be eighty before you see a varsity jersey.”
Da-yum.
