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I do as she says and sit on the couch between Parker and Harvey, while mom goes to sit across from us in her usual chair.
The boys start to talk loudly with me in the middle as if I’m not even there, and I regret my seating choice immediately.
“How do you think the next game will go?” Parker asks Harvey, then takes a gulp from his glass of water.
“You tell me. You’re the sports expert,” Harvey retorts, loud and laid back. “I just play!”
I stand up and order Harvey to scoot over the very next instant. “You speak way too loud for my comfort. Does hockey affect your hearing?”
Both Harvey and Parker look at me as if I just sprouted wings. Then they exchange glances and start to laugh again as if sharing some inside joke.
“I hear just fine, lady,” Harvey says, tapping the couch by his side for me to sit. “Now please, relax. I promise I am a friendly guy.”
I end up choosing dad’s chair to sit in instead and am now sitting closer to mom. I cross my arms and pout, gritting my teeth hard enough to cut diamonds.
Now mom looks over at me, displeased and disappointed. Her ‘you will never find a man acting like this, Elsa’ expression says it all, and I just shake my head in protest.
“Harvey was telling us about the championship he’s playing, weren’t you, Harvey?” Mom continues the conversation, trying to act indifferent, but it’s clear as day that she’s hanging onto his every word.
“Oh yes!” Harvey takes a sip of water and speaks with enthusiasm. “It’s the conference finals for the Stanley Cup. If we get through these, then we’ll end up being one of the teams playing later for the Stanley Cup! It’ll be happening soon after my sister’s wedding.”
“Oh! Your sister is getting married? Send her my best wishes!” Mom says, taking over the conversation like none other. She tries to elbow me in the ribs but has no reach to actually do it.
Then she says in a loud whisper that can be heard by everyone, “Doesn’t that sound amazing, Elsa?”
I glare at my mom, appalled that she is trying to force me into this conversation, but not really surprised. If meddling in my life were an Olympic sport, my mom would win the gold every time.
“He does need company for it, actually,” Parker says, catching me off guard.
In confusion, I turn to stare at Parker, and I see Harvey nodding his head in agreement.
What the actual F is going on here?
“But I think it would be better if we talk more about this somewhere else…” Harvey points his thumb towards the front door.
I look at everyone present in the room, one by one, trying to understand what’s going on.
Mom is ecstatic.
Harvey and Parker are staring at me with an expectant look on their face, as if I hold the key to some treasure box.
Again, I’m deeply confused and narrow my eyes at them, waiting for an explanation, but none is forthcoming.
I take a deep breath, then close my eyes before turning to look at Harvey. “You’re inviting me to go somewhere with you right now?” I ask him in pure disbelief.
“Parker would come with us, too!” he says. “Look, I know you have questions, but I promise we’ll explain everything.”
“Um…” I don’t know Harvey at all and so far, I don’t like him, but I trust my brother enough to hear them both out.
Plus, Iamcurious.
As if I need any more incentive, mom adds, “It’s not like you have anything else to do, honey…”
“What about opening and going through the three dozen boxes in the basement?” I try to joke.
“I’ll start going through them for you, and you can finish them later!” She taps my hand as a form of encouragement. “Now go. You’re losing daylight!”
Like two peas in a pod, Harvey and Parker begin to laugh in unison again and stand, ready to leave.
