“Evan is at that age, and Ryan is more like a mate.That’s why they’re so close and get on so well together.”
“A mate, you say?”
“You know what I mean.You’re his dad.”
I smile at Chris and take a sip of the beer I left on the kitchen counter.
“He wants you at the game too.”
“So he can take the piss out of me for not understanding anything.”
“Evan wants you there; it’s just not easy for him to admit it.He’s almost eighteen, Martin.”
“Yeah.He’s a man now.”
“And he’s great.”
“All thanks to you.”
“Not just me,” Chris says, giving my hand a squeeze.
“I did very little.”
“You’ve always been there for him, for us.”
I sigh.
“So you’ll come, won’t you?”
“Of course I will.”
“Jamie will be there too.”Chris takes the bottle from me and drinks.“I saw you two…”
“No way.”
“What?”
“Don’t start with me.I know these games better than you.”
“I’m not saying anything.”
“No, but I know you’re thinking.With that curious, nosy head of yours, you’re picturing a fairy-tale ending for the family’s loser.”
“Are you talking about losers?”Evan slips into the kitchen.
“We weren’t talking about anything,” I respond.
“There was something weird between you two,” Chris says.
“Between Dad and Jamie?”Evan asks as he opens the fridge and grabs a soda.
“What?No!”
“See?Your son noticed it too.”
“That’s because you two are alike”, I say
“Because we’re both good at figuring things out,” Evan replies, taking a few sips.“So…”
