Page 3 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

At twenty-four, I became a full-time parent. As Vivi’s godfather and with the legal wishes in my brother’s will, it wasn’t contested by anyone on our side of the family, which is just my uncle or his sisters-in-law, who weren’t that involved with them anyway. Not that I ever would have said no; Vivi was the light to my brother’s life, and in front of God at St. Timothy’s Cathedral and all their friends, I vowed to be there for her for every moment needed, so that’s what I’m doing. Especially since he can’t be now.

“I’m making a chicken noodle soup in the slow cooker. Lots of vegetables and a salad. Maybe some peanut butter bread or cheese toast for her, too.”

“Sounds delicious.” He grins. “I’ll be there at six.” He whips me once with his towel and walks off toward the locker room.

I follow, shaking my head.

“When are you going to start contributing to the food bill?” I call after him. It’s become a running joke that I repeatedly ask him. He eats with us at least five nights a week before heading out to wherever or with whoever.

“I’m not.” He laughs as he strips off his shirt.

“Bro, I’ve seen you eat. You should definitely be contributing,” Sully chimes in. He’s just come from the cold tub, so his skin is red, and my junk shrivels at the thought of having to sit in it.

Sully is a defensive captain. He’s our lead defensive tackle and shares that spot with Miles, our middle linebacker. Sully is quite possibly the nicest guy I know, and instead of just sticking to his side of the team, he goes out of his way to be friends with us all.

“Sully, you’re one to talk. We’ve all seen what you put down at that Brazilian steak house you took us to earlier in the season,” Tyler fires back. Sometimes I feel bad for the steak house. Considering it’s unlimited food, it’s become our go-to spot, and we can put down some food. But word has gotten out that we can be seen there, so I’d like to think we’ve increased business for them, too, as fans always show up just hoping for a sighting or an interaction.

“I’m not arguing that. Linemen eat differently,” he says, dropping his towel and his wet shorts to put on dry clothes. “I’m just saying, buy your own food for a change or contribute. Jonah is taking care of our girl, and you’re freeloading.” He winks at me.

As much as he’s a nice guy, he’s also an instigator.

Tyler scoffs. “It’s not freeloading if he invites me over.”

Sully looks at me. “Did you invite him over?”

“Nope,” I answer, stripping out of my wet clothes and wrapping a towel around me.

Tyler’s jaw drops as he looks at me. “Bro, why are you doing me dirty like this?”

I chuckle. He’s so easy to rile up.

“Just saying.” I shrug. “Maybe one night I’d like to come home to a home-cooked meal, too.”

Tyler studies me for a moment and then looks back at Sully, who’s stepping into a pair of joggers. “Fine. Point made. Once a week, I’ll bring dinner to your house for the three of us.”

“Now we’re talking,” Sully says, grinning.

“I said the three of us. You’re not invited,” Tyler tells him while scowling, and Sully laughs. It’s one of those laughs when you can’t help but smile and want to laugh too.

“We’ll see,” he taunts, wiggling his brows.

After Vivi came to live with me and the prepared meals from my teammates' spouses stopped arriving, I had to learn how to cook. Like really cook. Sure, I knew how to use a blender and a grill, smoothies and chicken all day long, but to no one’s surprise, that is not the diet of a five-year-old girl. I’d also convinced myself that if I was giving her good, solid, healthy meals, her emotional recovery would waver toward the better side. But so far, her shine is still the same—as dull as the day we finally said goodbye to Boston.

It took three weeks to have the funeral, pack up their belongings, and sell the house. Three weeks to make it seem as if my brother, the best person I’d ever known, never existed, and three weeks for Vivi’s personality to close in on itself. Where she was always a curious, bubbly, and happy child, she’s now composed, quiet, and in many ways emotionless. Even after all of the therapy, which is still ongoing, and fun activities, I keep waiting for her to snap out of it or finally have that emotional break, but so far, she hasn’t.

“I’m thinking of taking the boat out this weekend. You and Vivi wanna go?” Tyler asks as he grabs his bag from his locker and pulls on a clean shirt. Instead of showering, I know he’s going to head home to drop off his car and then go for a run down Bayshore Boulevard. I swear he loves fresh air and the water more than anyone I’ve ever met, and it’s the perfect time of the year in Tampa for that.

“No big plans?” I tease.

His dark brown eyes connect with mine, and he gives me this look that says I’m crazy. I can’t help but crack up while moving my bag to the chair in front of my locker.

Tyler doesn’t do serious, and he’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that spending excessive time with someone gives false hope. Hope he wants no part of. He loved a girl all through college, but that didn’t work out. Now he’s so casual there’s almost no point to his social life, and as for me, I don’t have one at all. Not that I need one. Right now, I’m where I’m supposed to be.

“The only plans I want are sweeping my little sweetheart away on the boat to go see if we can find some dolphins.”

I smile at him. “I’m sure she’ll love it. Count us in.”

Vivi might be mine, but Tyler has made himself a steady constant in her life too, and I will forever be grateful to him for that.