Again, I’m worried I’ve been neglecting our relationship, but he understands how busy I am when the NFL games come around. He understands how important it is to me. Or rather, my father.
As I step inside, a warm comfort envelops me. This place, filled with memories of the day I marched in with a point to prove, is engrained in me. It might seem like it would trigger some old feelings, but surprisingly, it doesn't. Emmanuel has a soothing quality—his bright smile always makes me feel safe.
“Nathan, if I’d known you were coming, I would have cleaned the place!” he hollers.
The ground is covered in cardboard boxes, and wine is stacked in every corner.
“Let me help you.”
Emmanuel’s children lend a hand with the store, but for the most part, he runs it alone. He’s not getting any younger, though, and I’m worried that one day, he’ll blow his back out lifting the heavy boxes.
“No, no.” He rushes over and snatches the box from my grip. “NFL stars do not work for free.”
I chuckle. “They do when they consider the store owner to be family.”
My remark is enough to shut Emmanuel up, and he mutters to himself humorously and shakes his head, working alongside me in silence.
I need this, though. I need to feel like I’m giving back to the man who offered me an escape from my childhood. Who cared enough to listen to a flustered and troubled kid. Who actuallywantedto help me, although he didn't know me.
He’s an inspiration to me. I want to be more like him.
Help people.
People I don’t know.
Like the day Mae strolled in here, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Paying for an expensive bottle of wine and owning up to someone’s mistake was never in the cards, but it’s very clear that where Mae is concerned, all logic flies out the window.
“We miss you!” Poppy says to the screen of her phone as she waves, and a beaming Mae sits beside her. My sister begged me to let her and Mae use my large flat-screen TV to watch a new gag-worthy rom-com film.
But am I going to watch it with them just as an excuse to spend more time with Mae? Probably.
According to Poppy, screen size and quality matter, and watching the film on her pea-sized television wouldn't do it justice.
But if my sister wants something, I usually give it to her. What sort of big brother would say no to the puppy dog eyes?
I never let anyone come to my house except Poppy, Bennett, and Evan. It’s mine—my space, my refuge. There’s something about it that feels sacred. Like it’s my space to breathe. A no-judgement zone.
But when Poppy asked if Mae could come over, mentally, I didn’t hesitate. However, I had to make it look like I wasn’t sure just to keep up the narrative that Mae and I are professional.
Except we’re not. Because there was nothing professional about the way my cock swelled for her as we locked lips, our hands exploring each other down in that basement.
But I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
“I miss you girls too!” I instantly recognise the voice on the phone as Sophia.
“How’s the Maldives?” Mae asks, voice giddy with excitement, and I can’t help but watch her from the kitchen before I tear my eyes away and begin to prep my whole chicken for cooking.
“So amazing!” Sophia responds, and I hear both girls make a collectiveOoohnoise as I assume Sophia shows them her surroundings through the video call. “Oh, I saw your performance the other day! Watched it online. Great work. Super proud of you.”
I can see the pride on Mae’s face. She didn’t just do the team justice, she danced her ass off on that field. To say I’d been mesmerised would be an understatement.
“Everyone was so impressed,” Poppy says before bombarding Sophia with questions about what the weather is like over in the Maldives.
No one was as impressed with Mae that day as me, though. She looked so sure of herself out there. So confident. So happy.
She looked like she belonged.
