“Sorry! Sorry. I better go clean off.”
“We’ll see you at home,” Mom said. Despite my sweatiness, she pulled me down to kiss my messy forehead. Dad did too. He held on to my neck and said, “Really, Darius. We’re so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I held his eyes, and he smiled and nodded at me.
He wasn’t back to normal yet, but he was getting better. The bags under his eyes had shrunk, small gray crescents instead of giant blue saucers.
“Love you,” I said.
“Love you, son,” he said back.
At the corner of the stands, Chip was talking to Trent, who was bouncing Evie on his lap.
I knew he was her uncle, but it was still deeply disturbing to see firsthand.
Next to them, a woman with light brown skin and dark wavy hair pulled Chip in for a hug.
Was that Chip’s mom?
Suddenly Evie’s complexion made sense.
I always thought Chip’s mom was white. I always thought Chip was white too. I didn’t realize he was Fractional like me.
I don’t know why finding that out made me so happy.
(I knew why that made me happy.)
Chip waved me over.
“Darius,” he said, “this is my mom. Sofia.”
“Hi,” I said. “Thank you for all the Gatorades.”
Sofia’s laugh was like a waterfall. She grinned at me.
She had her son’s grin.
“Thanks for keeping Cyprian out of trouble.”
“Sure.”
From Trent’s lap, Evie waved at me. I waved back and avoided Trent’s eyes.
“I better go get my stuff,” I said. “Nice meeting you.”
“Don’t be a stranger. Come for empanadas sometime. We’ve got more Gatorades.”
“Thanks.”
I was nearly off the field when I heard someone behind me.
“Where’s your boy toy, Dairy Queen?”
I shook my head and kept walking, but Trent jogged into my field of view. He must’ve passed Evie off.
“Hey. Which one of you is which?”
