"Sure," she says.
Dex walks over to Bobby and lowers his voice.
"He's gone," Dex says.
Bobby glances toward me.
"Completely," he replies.
Colby joins them.
"About time," he says.
I pretend not to hear them.
Which is difficult because they're terrible at whispering.
The game dissolves into complete pandemonium after that.
Kids start tackling each other.
Dex attempts a trick shot and falls over a cooler.
Someone turns the music louder.
Maddie runs past me chasing Daisy again.
"Daddy watch this!"
"I'm watching," I say.
Natalie walks over with two drinks.
She hands me one.
Our fingers brush.
Neither of us pulls away right away.
"You seem happy," she says.
"I am," I say.
We stand there for a moment watching the yard.
Maddie is laughing with the other kids.
Daisy is rolling in the grass.
My teammates are arguing about whether Dex tripped over the cooler or nose-dived for a beer.
"I didn't trip," Dex insists loudly.
"You wiped out," Colby replies.
The back gate swings open before Dex can argue.
"Food delivery," Bryce announces, walking in with two pizza boxes.
