“Call your shots,” Tommy said.
“And don’t fucking die,” Carson said, pulling his fake gun up.
We started off rocky, but then the guys started communicating and the magic started to happen. We played the game for forty minutes, passing the third stage. They wanted to play for longer, but my knee was killing me so I left them with another game card. They joked around and for the first time, I saw Parker smiling and I hoped he would start hanging out with the team more. It would make him better and I knew he wanted to be drafted. He was a great player, but he wouldn’t get anywhere if he wasn't a team player. I just hoped I would get to see him playing in a big arena.
25
forest
Asmall Christmas Town was built close to the center of town. It had a few buildings and the shopping center was decorated to match. There was also a Santa with elves who were available to take pictures in the middle of everything. It looked like a winter wonderland and if I wasn’t feeling so out of control, I think I might actually have been excited to go with Sam and Jude.
The parking was atrocious, putting me in an even worse mood, having to park close to the doctor’s office Atlas worked at. I got out of my truck to the rumble of a motorcycle, and I looked around as I walked to the crosswalk. The bike was sleek and the rider was looking to the left. At first, I thought it was Colt, but then I realized Atlas, Theo, Colt, and Nova were on the other side of the walkway and Little Sol was asking the rider to rev the engine with her hands.
He did it and she squealed, excitedly. The rider waved before driving off quickly. Sol noticed me, waving at me too. The bike sounded amazing as I crossed the street to catch up with Theo and his family.
“Forest!” Sol yelled, as she jumped up to greet me and I caught her.
“Luzita,” I said, giving her a hug.
“Forest, you have to try the hot chocolate; it is amazing,” Sol said, pulling on me as I said hello to everyone.
“Sol, slow down,” Nova scolded.
“It’s fine,” I said, as I let Sol drag me to the village.
I let her infectious mood infiltrate my own somber mood in an attempt to try to forget everything that had been plaguing me.
“Are you meeting Uncle Jude and Webby here?” she asked, as we waited for her family to catch up.
“Yeah, they should be here soon,” I said, looking around for them.
Lately I had been nervous to see them after Walker called for an update that I didn’t have for him. I felt extra nervous to see them, since I was leaning more towards taking the job. I had been here for almost a year and that was usually the moment I bounced because any longer and the ties I made usually kept me in place. And that was unacceptable. The job was a blessing in disguise because I didn’t know if I’d have the guts to leave on my own.
“Hey, handsome.” Arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Hey,” I said, putting my hand over theirs.
“Webby!” Sol let go of my hand to say hello to Webber.
He picked her up and gave her a quick turn.
“How ya doing, munchkin?” he asked, putting her down.
“Great, I’m ready for the?—”
“Hot chocolate!” Webber finished her sentence.
They got so excited as Theo’s family caught up to us and I followed them into the village, looking for Jude once more.
“He texted he was running late,” Webber said, leaning against me.
I nodded, following them as we made our first stop for hot chocolate, but I got mine spiked.
Theo’s family talked about their plans for Christmas as Sol told all of us her Christmas wish list. Webber pulled out his phone, writing several ideas for her and I loved that he always gave her presents, but made sure he paid attention to her wants and needs. Webber would be a great dad one day. I wondered if he wanted kids. It wasn't a question I had asked because it meant that I would be thinking about a future, our future. At this point, I didn't know if I was trying to fool myself or them.
My chest tightened and I took a sip of my drink to dispel the melancholy I had been feeling. This is why I didn’t get attached. Heartache followed me, it was an old friend, the reason I didn’t linger anywhere for too long. I knew better.
“Hey, what's going on?” Webber asked, pulling me towards him.
