She’s coming overnow.Which means I need to empty my house.
“Tru, Wade.” I stand from my couch, remote in hand, and switch the TV off. “This was fun. Time to go.”
“Hey,” Tru whines, pointing to my now-darkened TV. “But it’s only halftime.”
“Ah, well, it’s been a boring game.” I pull my young friend to his feet and motion for Wade to get up, too.
“Boring? The Rovers are up two to one.” Wade points to the television.
“You can watch the rest at your place. Come on.” I clap my hands. “Let’s go. Time to move.”
“But—” Tru starts, however, I’m not about to let him finish.
“I need to…adult.”
“Adult?” twenty-year-old Wade says.
“Yes, adult. You’ll understand what I mean one day.” And then I walk to the front door of my apartment and open it wide. If I’m lucky, I’ll have a minute to clean up after the pair. And I’ll want to let Fur Ball out of the bedroom. She’s a quiet littlething. The guys still don’t know she exists. She didn’t even whine when I put her in the kennel. She just curled up and went to sleep. But Maggie will want to see her. If I’m being honest, I’ve been waiting to make this introduction.
Wade speaks, interrupting my thoughts. “But you invited us over?—”
“Finally,” Tru adds.
“And now your invitation has run out. Thanks for coming. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Hold up,” Tru says. “You have a girl coming over. Don’t you?”
“Yes.” I shove both hands into my pants pockets. “I do.”
Wade snickers. “You could have said so.”
“But I didn’t. Now let’s move on.”
Wade huffs and shakes his head. “We’re going. We’re going.”
“Geez,” Tru mutters. “That’s the last time I watch a game at Cruz’s place.”
I hold the door as they walk through, and that’s when Maggie and Wyatt walk up. I didn’t realize her nephew was coming—but I don’t mind. “Hi,” I say, my heart fluttering at the sight of her. Guess I won’t get a chance to clean up. That’s okay, Wyatt can finish off Tru’s and Wade’s snacks.
“Wait,” Wade says, looking back at me. “Maggie, the ref, is the girl coming over?” He bobs his head from me to Maggie.
Tru grunts. “I thought you said she wasn’t a woman, but an official?”
“I’m pretty sure she’s both.” Wyatt walks over, standing between the pair.
Maggie coughs out a small laugh, standing next to my open front door. “I’m not here as a woman or a ref. Just a friend.”
“You’re Tru Kelley.” Wyatt stares up at Tru. “Number nine. Forward.”
Tru’s scowl slips and he smiles down at the kid. “That’s right.”
“You missed that goal last week when the goalie was way out of the box. My aunt Maggie never would have missed that.”
And with that, Tru’s grin falters.
“Okay,” Maggie says, blowing out a puff of pent-up air. “Let’s get you inside, buddy.” With both of her hands on Wyatt’s back, she walks the little boy into my apartment.
“My laces were untied,” Tru says. “I tripped. I—” Tru’s head falls and Wade wraps one arm around his back.
