“Right,” she agreed.
“So, Ransom, your dad tells me you have a Monday night game next week?” Ethan didn’t get my attention, not immediately. My eyes seemed compelled to stay on that beautiful face, but she blinked, glancing at her man and my father and took a step back before I nodded at Ethan.
“Yeah, against the Broncos. Home.” Dad seemed a little tense, but still smiled at Ethan when he looked between me and my father. “I tried to get him to come down to watch it…”
“I have a job, keika kane and other…things upcoming,” Dad interrupted me. “But I’ll be watching. Your mom invited the CPU coaches and their wives to watch.” I thought he mumbled something about Mom hating having to watch me play—she didn’t like seeing me get hurt when it happened—but Dad’s voice was too muted for me to understand.
It didn’t matter anyway. Ethan’s excited tone drew my attention away from my father. “Here?” Ethan asked, making Aly frown at him. When Dad nodded, the lawyer lost his cool a little and the fanboy showed up in full force. He didn’t bother hiding his eagerness, kept nodding at my father, grin huge and ridiculous, moving on the balls of his feet like he couldn’t contain his excitement. “I’d love to watch a game with you, Kona, if you’ve got room for one more.”
“Ethan…” Aly started, getting only the smallest glance of attention from her fiancé.
“He doesn’t mind, do you, Kona?” The man smiled between Aly, who wilted, embarrassed, and my father who looked to the side, at me and back to the patio as though he searched for someone to get him out of this awkward mess. “It’ll be fun. And, you know, I think the next time the Dolphins play the Steamers, I can get you and Keira tickets. We have a box at the stadium.”
It took effort to keep my mouth shut. Ethan wasn’t thinking, didn’t realize my folks didn’t need some lawyer working deals to get them tickets. Kona was a former Super Bowl-winning lineman, two times over. My mom was a Grammy-winning songwriter and producer. They had connections, but Ethan was a fan, an eager damn fan, and Aly’s new man. I wouldn’t embarrass him or do any correcting. Still, I can’t say I didn’t enjoy what an ass he was making of himself. Didn’t particularly like watching Aly squirm or seeing the tension work itself over my father’s face, but that little smug asshole inside my head was happy Ethan didn’t come off as the slick fucker he always seemed to be.
When Dad’s eye twitched, I tried to play off the awkwardness. “It’s cool. No need to go out of your way, Ethan. Maybe…”
“Keiki kane, it’s fine,” Dad interrupted, patting the lawyer’s shoulder with a grin on his face. “You’re Aly’s man, Ethan. Of course you’re welcome to join us.”
Moving my gaze between the three of them, I kept quiet, taking in the grin Ethan shared with my father and the way Aly’s blinked, as though she couldn’t believe Kona would say that. It had been a strain, with the attitude Dad had given her after she left me and Miami, and though he was civil to her, he was also always a little cold. Recovering, Aly faced me, hugging me with her most of her body not touching mine. I didn’t like the distance.
“We have to go, Ransom.” She stepped back, grabbing Ethan’s hand when he came to her side. “He’s got a plane to catch and I’ve got competition numbers to choreograph.” Ethan shook my hand, tapping my shoulder once, but I mostly kept my eyes directed at Aly and the odd way she clung to her man, how she avoided my touch and my father’s attention.
“Thanks for coming,” I told her, grazing her arm before she dragged Ethan away.
“Be safe,” she threw over her shoulder and followed Ethan away from me, from our home and the place where she belonged. I managed, at least, to keep my chest from cracking in two as I watched her walk away.
Mortar on my skin
Brick-By-Brick
Walled me in
Until
You chip away
The dust.
I crumble
Until
Nothing keeps me hidden.
Eight