The grumbles started, making me laugh. I knew they’d be in for another round.
Getting to my feet, I held my hand out for Colin. Pulling him up, I kissed him on the cheek, then turned to our friends. “Alright guys, let’s go watch Portland disassemble Seattle. We’ll be playing them soon.”
“Are we going to eat?” Lennox asked, getting to his feet.
“Of course,” Colin grinned. “Jellied eel and Vegemite for everyone!”
Groans and curses escaped from them, but we had no intention of serving that. Steaks, chicken, and burgers were on the menu, with every imaginable side.
Colin and Lucas set up the portable outdoor screen and connected it to the TV in the house, while Lennox and I manned the grill. The smell was heavenly.
Everyone spread out on lounge chairs after taking a dip in the pool. We constructed a buffet by the back door so everyone could have whatever they wanted.
When they all had their food, we sat back and commented on the game as Alex Hayes and the Portland Pirates disassembled the Seattle Senators.
At the end of the evening, we showered before falling into bed, exhausted from a day that had made Colin so very happy. I wanted more days like that with him. But as our season came closer to an end, so did our time together.
“I have a question,” Colin said as we shopped for a turkey the week before Thanksgiving. “What exactly is a giblet, and why do you make gravy with it?”
When I told him we were making Thanksgiving dinner instead of ordering from a restaurant, Colin turned to Pinterest to find some traditional fare. I tried to be very broad in mydescription, hoping that would satisfy his curiosity. I should have known better.
“Giblets are the edible internal organs of the bird.”
He turned his nose up. “Like what? Please don’t say the stomach or balls. Do turkeys have balls like that? The only giblets I like are yours.”
I laughed. “Not those organs, and I have no idea. I guess they would have to? Anyway, it’s typically the heart and the gizzard.”
He pretended to gag, so I patted him on the back. “It’s okay. We’re not making any. We’ll just use the drippings from the pan.”
He eyed me lasciviously. “What’s dripping in the pan?”
I sighed and put my arm around his shoulders, trying to remind myself that Colin had no concept of the American holiday. “It’s the juices released from the turkey while it cooks. I promise you’ll enjoy everything. Without giblets.”
He slipped his arm around my waist, then squeezed my ass cheek. “But I like your giblets.”
“Those you can have.”
Coach had given us Thursday and Friday off to enjoy the holiday before our Sunday game. We wouldn’t see my parents until Christmas, so we were on our own for this one.
On Thanksgiving Day, we got up and had coffee before taking Bella out for a run. Colin started going with me and found he enjoyed the early morning exercise that usually ended with us back in bed before breakfast.
He made avocado toast and an egg white omelet for us while I turned on the parade.
“I don’t understand this holiday, but I’m here for the food,” he said as we watched the people in New York shiver in the cold.
“It’s okay. Just enjoy the day off and all the delicious things you get to try.”
He smiled. “Yeah? Like what?”
“Dressing.”
“Dressing what?” he asked, obviously confused.
“It’s the same thing as stuffing, but it’s not in the bird. It’s baked in a pan.”
Colin blinked at me. “I’m sorry. I’m not comprehending any of this.”
“It’s okay. I’ll explain it all.”
