Rowan laughs, and I catch the Uber driver looking at me in the rearview mirror. This will make a great story for him if he recognizes us.
“Tickets for the bus are bought.” Rowan holds up his phone and it glows in the dimness of the car.
“Man, you’re really on top of your game since you became a dad. He’s schooling you now, Daddy.” Tweetie tries to turn and look at Henry but can’t unwedge himself.
Henry flicks Tweetie’s ear with his finger. “You’re just sucking up because someone else is doing all the work.”
“Is that what you say to Jade?” Tweetie says.
He flicks Tweetie’s ear again.
“Shit, man, my earlobe is, like, the one part of my body that isn’t aching right now,” he says.
Thankfully for all of us but Rowan, the driver pulls up to the Greyhound station.
“I can finally feel my legs again,” I say, stretching when I get out of the vehicle. I’m still tight from the game.
“I’ll meet you guys there. I’m going to grab a bite.” Tweetie starts toward the food court area.
“The fuck you are. You’ll miss the bus.” Henry grabs Tweetie’s sleeve, tugging him in the direction we need to go. “And Pinkie, fuck, stretch on the bus.”
“There’s the Daddy we all know and love,” Rowan says, leading the pack of us to whatever terminal we’re leaving out of.
“It smells so good.” Tweetie looks longingly toward the food court.
“I think I have a cramp in my thigh.” I limp along behind.
“You guys are worse than Bodhi.” Henry pushes Tweetie to make sure he’s in front of Henry, then waits for me so he’s bringing up the rear like the responsible parent.
“They’re shutting the doors!” Rowan shouts, sprinting down the concrete walkway. “Hold up!” He waves at the driver.
Tweetie follows him, and I try to go faster, but fuck, my thigh cramp intensifies and I stumble. Henry grabs me by the back of my sweatshirt and keeps me on my feet.
“Thanks, Daddy,” I say in a little kid voice.
“Fuck off,” he replies.
We make it to the bus, thanks to Rowan. When we climb up the stairs, I’m assaulted with the god-awful smell of someone’s food. We find seats—not together, but our rows are around one another. The minute I sit down, I pull out my AirPods and FaceTime Eloise.
“Where are you?” she asks.
I texted her earlier about the delay, but I really want to see her and talk to her. She’s been dodging talking about the doctor’s appointment this morning, saying we’ll discuss it when I gethome. Now that my arrival has been delayed, I’d like her to tell me a little more.
“On a bus,” I say.
“Jade said something about that.” She excuses herself from the room.
“Is that Hayes? Easton?” I ask, seeing them lift their hands as she leaves.
“I’m disappointed, son. You let a goal in!” Easton shouts, and the others laugh.
“We’re just about to leave. Everyone was having one last drink.”
A drink in the back room of Peeper’s sounds like a dream right now.
She walks down the hall and into Ruby’s office, where she sits in the chair across from the desk. “So you guys are taking a bus home?”
“Yep,” I say, thankful it was an option.
