“Don’t think I am.” Evan puffed up, hands on his hips. “Not sure why you think you have to point it out, though.”
“Ev.” I wrapped my hand around his wrist.
“Nah, it’s all good.” He smiled at me. “Don’t need to be special to him, do I?”
I kissed his cheek, because I knew what he wasn’t saying in front of the asshat. That he was special to me, and that’s all he really cared about.
Still, he walked the younger team over to the team area and sat with them until the rest of the games for that round were over. The Darren twins left them alone.
For a few minutes, I watched as Evan chatted with them about the game they were watching, answering questions and even inspecting the handle of one of their brooms.
“He’s a good guy,” someone said from behind me in a voice low and close.
I startled, turning to find Channing standing almost inside my personal space. “He’s the best,” I agreed.
Channing’s smile did unexpected things to my nerve endings, and for a second, all I could do was blink at him. “I like that you say that right out loud,” he practically crooned at me. “Says something about you.” Then he walked away.
I stared after him, wondering what it said about me, exactly, that I didn’t hesitate to agree that my boyfriend was an amazing guy. Feeling eyes on me, I looked up to see Evan watching me, speculation all over his face.
I hurried over to sit next to him. “Hey.”
“What was that about?”
“He was happy you stood up for the kids.”
Evan chuckled. “They aren’t kids.”
“Well. A couple of them literally are. Anyway, Channing thought it was good of you.”
“That I took a side against his own teammates?”
We both looked over to where Channing was talking to the twins, his face grim, theirs downright angry. Next to their waif-like planes and shaggy hair, his height and sleek black locks, half wept up in an elastic made him look like a panther cornering a couple of mangy wolves.
“What do you think he’s saying to them?” Evan asked.
“Does it matter? If they’re not tight, better for us, right?”
One of the young players leaned out so he could see me past Evan. “Let them duke it out. Can’t play a tight game if you’re not a tight team. Gives you guys the advantage in the final.”
“You say that like it’s a done deal. We might not face them in the final.”
The kid scoffed. “Of course you will. Who here is going to beat either of you?”
I appreciated his confidence in us, but I wasn’t about to count any eggs until they hatched. Or whatever.
We played two more games, winning by comfortable margins. In between our games, we watched the young team play, encouraging them along. They weren’t winning, but their third game was going well and they seemed to be enjoying the day.
“They have potential,” Shaw said at one point, between stones.
Our last game had been a quick one, and the boys were on their last end, so we found a good vantage point where we could watch.
“Potential for humiliation,” one of the Darrens muttered as he passed.
“Dude, you are not supposed to be walking back and forth here,” Shaw reminded him. “Take a seat.”
“Whatever. Not like a little distraction is going to make a difference with these guys.”
“That guy is an absolute dick,” Shaw whispered.
