I’m almost suspicious of the friendly reception when we walk up to the entrance of the Camellia High football field. I lead Daisy past the ticket booth, nodding politely to some of the familiar faces we cross as we make our way toward the bleachers.
“Hey, Doc,” Ethan calls out, making me cringe. I never told Daisy about his little blackmailing scheme, and I’d been doing my best to avoid him. “Hey, Miss Daisy,” he adds as he approaches.
I clear my throat and offer an awkward fist bump. “Good luck out there, kid.”
“Thanks. I was actually coming over to see if you’d gotten the chance to deliver that message we spoke about before.” His gaze locks onto mine, even as his pulls his helmet down, and Daisy looks on curiously.
“Uh, no. Not yet.”
“Why not?” he demands.
“Haven’t had the opportunity. Been busy doing grown-man shit,” I retort, and Daisy nudges me.
“No time like the present, right?” He tilts his head to gesture behind him as JD and Blake strut down the sideline together. I consider fulfilling my end of our agreement for a second, jogging over to offer an apology for the way I acted at my sister’s wedding reception and even for all of the times I was a jerk to both of them before that.
Then I glance around at all the witnesses surrounding us. It can wait.
“I’ll get around to it when I’m ready,” I say gruffly.
Ethan snickers. “Sure hope you’re ready soon. I’d hate for?—”
“Don’t worry about me. Just have yourself a good game, two-three.” I tap the top of his helmet, and he narrows his eyes at me one more time before he gives me a short nod and jogs off.
“What’s that about?” Daisy asks.
“Guy stuff,” I reply as I urge Daisy forward, and I watch as my sister bounds down the bleachers with one of the twins in her arms.
Tenley’s already leaning over the railing with a baby strapped to her chest while JD effortlessly pulls himself up the metal stands to give her a kiss. Blake repeats the same moves, except he hops up to straddle the railing as he greets both babies, since Tenley’s mom has come down with the other twin. All it takes is a subtle tilt of his head for Loren to grab him by the shirt and shove her tongue down his throat.
I scoff, though they at least have the decency to break it up after a few seconds, unlike JD and Tenley, who are still whispering to one another and squashing poor baby Jake each time they lean in for another kiss. For some reason, I can’t look away, though. I continue watching, reading Blake’s lips as he says, “I love you.” Loren says something back that shifts his expression to something smug, and I’m grateful I can’t make out her words.
Blake leans over and plants a kiss on Mrs. T’s cheek, then swings his leg back over the railing to hop down, dragging JD along with him, to Tenley’s dismay. JD smiles and waves to his mother-in-law before he joins Blake and the other coaches.
“Aren’t they adorable?” Daisy asks wistfully, bringing me back.
I grunt. “It just seems so … unnecessary.”
She frowns. “I think it’s nice. Why should they hide their affection in public? It’s not like they’re being inappropriate.”
“I beg to differ,” I return with a sneer.
“You’re such a fuddy-duddy,” she mumbles, pulling my arm toward the bleachers.
“I’m a fuddy-duddy because I don’t do public make out sessions?” I ask sarcastically.
“At this point, I’d be surprised if you didanymake out sessions,” she retorts bitterly, and I take a second to think about what it signifies.
“Right. Well, I’m not exactly in a position to go out looking for a casual hookup at the moment,” I say after a while, calling her bluff.
She sighs. “I know, Landry. I meant that it’s okay for you to be happy for your sister. Isn’t that what we all want for our siblings? For them to find their soulmates, then fall in love and get married, have babies, and live happily ever after?”
I frown as she continues hauling me up the stairs. Loren smiles when she sees me, though her face doesn’t light up the way it did for Blake a minute ago, and she lifts Charley’s pudgy hand to wave at me. My heart admittedly softens as Daisy squeals with delight and waves back, but I tug her to a stop before she can take the next step.
“Is that what you think we all need to be happy?” I ask her abruptly.
She hesitates before she answers, and I’m afraid I’ve upset her for a second. “I’m sure that looks different for everyone,” she begins. “But, yeah, some form of true love and acceptance is required, I think, whether it’s from a spouse or a child or even a community.”
“And what about Rosemary? She’ll never be married.” I’m referring to one of her sisters who joined a religious community a few years ago and seems to be happily living out her life as a nun in training.
