The Doctor nods and goes back to eating.I force down a couple of mouthfuls to avoid drawing too much attention to myself.
“I heard from Riley earlier,” Chris says.“She called to check on the baby; she calls all the time.I told her to relax and not to worry, but she needs to hear it.”
“Jamie is just fine,” Ryan replies.“The whole family is here for her, maybe even a few too many,” he adds, glancing at the Doctor.
“He’s always here; Jamie’s presence doesn’t change that,” Evan says.
“That’s true,” Ryan agrees.
“Same old, same old,” Chris scoffs.
The Doctor doesn’t react to Ryan’s provocation and continues eating in silence.I don’t know whether this is meant to piss Ryan off even more or is simply politeness.What’s certain is that he must have excellent self-control.Who knows whether he can maintain the same level of control in every situation?
“Next Sunday, I’m playing,” Evan cuts into my thoughts.
“What?”Ryan snaps.
“They’re putting me on the pitch.”
“Oh my God,” Chris jumps to her feet and immediately wraps her arms around her son’s neck.
“Please don’t start.I’m not even on from the whistle.”
“I don’t care.My son is playing, and I’ll be there cheering for you, even if it’s only for five minutes.”
“We will all be there,” the Doctor says.
“Here we go again,” Ryan mutters.
“What do you want, O’Connor?”The Doctor finally reveals his true colours.“This is about my son, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Ah, there’s the Doctor’s weak spot — I knew he had one.No one is that perfect.
Fuck.
Did I just imply the Doctor is perfect?
“Please, can you not do this?”Chris steps between them.“This is an important moment, and we’ll all be there.No bullshit.Are we clear?”
“Crystal clear,” Ryan replies, still glaring at the Doctor.
“You can count on it,” he says, taking a sip of water.
Wow, what a fucking night!That’s what it’s like to have a family, especially one as fucked-up as this.
“At this point,” Evan says, “you’re coming too, right?”
“Me?”
“Of course he’s coming.You don’t want to miss Evan’s first game,” Ryan adds.
“I don’t know if I can.Maybe I have something…”
“New fling?”Ryan teases.
“What?I didn’t say that.”
“Like I don’t know you.”Ryan laughs.
