Oz picks the boy up and all the kids applaud. Chevy comes up on the other side so that they both carry his weight. Chevy, Oz and the massive crowd of kids begin a victory lap.
“He’s good with kids.” Eli crouches next to me.
“What?” It’s like he started in the middle of the conversation instead of the beginning.
“Oz is good with kids. Always has been.” He gestures to the wheelchair a little farther down. “Especially the ones with disabilities. He has a patience and gentleness most men don’t. That’s why Brian’s parents are here. Oz includes him in the game.”
Brian must be the child with the braces.
“What’s wrong with Brian?” I ask.
“Cerebral palsy.”
“Oh.” Oh.
“How’s it been?” Eli asks.
“Good.” I watch the party on the field, wishing that I was part of the celebration. “How was your business stuff?”
“Good,” he answers.
Eli’s been gone for two weeks and it’s odd seeing him, but it shouldn’t be. This is his hometown, not mine. I’ve settled into a weird but comfortable routine with Oz and Olivia and have even gotten used to Eli texting me to confirm I haven’t dashed back to Florida yet.
In the parking lot a herd of guys in black leather vests hang out near a gaggle of motorcycles. “Do you ever travel alone?”
“Yeah,” he says. “But you and I have a shopping date and I’ll feel better doing it with some backup. What do you think of heading to Nashville and letting me buy you some clothes that don’t encourage me to tear the eyes out of every man here?”
I laugh and it surprises me. By the way Eli’s grin grows it must have surprised him, as well. I pick at the grass in front of me. “Isn’t Louisville closer?”
“Nashville’s a hell of a town. There’s a bar on the strip that serves a great pulled pork sandwich.”
I detest pork, but Eli means well so I keep my food preferences to myself. “You don’t have to do that, you know. I get that when you visit Florida shopping is a way to fill the time together, but I’m here so you don’t have to spend money on me.”
Eli pulls at his earlobe. “I haven’t been much of a man in your life and taking you shopping doesn’t make up for not being there, but I want to do this for you.”
As I sort through the grass, I spot some clover and pretend I’m interested in it. I don’t know what to say or do. Eli entered my life seven years ago and never has he said anything so real and raw. It freaks me out and creates an ache I don’t understand.
Why couldn’t he have said that seven years ago? Or maybe seventeen years ago or whenever my mom was on the verge of leaving?
“Hate to admit it, but I’ve spent a good portion of your life wondering what to buy you for Christmas or your birthday, but I never get you anything because I don’t know you well enough to purchase anything that would mean shit. So this, taking you shopping, it’s all I have to give and I’d appreciate it if you’d let me do it.”
I peek at him out of the corner of my eye and the expectation on his face absolutely hurts. “Okay.”
His good mood seems to return. “Okay.”
“Hey, Eli.” Oz approaches us and both Eli and I stand. They share a fist bump and Oz and I share a loaded glance that causes my skin to tingle.
“I’m going to take some of the crew I left behind and go to Nashville with Emily for the night,” says Eli. “We’ll be back tomorrow.”
I pop my mouth open to protest an overnight trip, but Eli’s already shaking his head. “You agreed.”
I shut my mouth. I did, but not to him spending money on a hotel room.
Oz spins the football in his hands as his eyes flicker between us. “Do you want me in on this?”
“No. You can take a few days off.”
Chevy calls Oz’s name and Oz tosses the football to me. “Stay here, will you, Emily? I need to ask you something.”
Oz walks off without waiting for my response and I expect the two of them to head over to the two girls circling near us like the little vultures they are. He talked to them during halftime and I’m going to pretend that every single second of those five minutes didn’t bother me.
I roll the football, trying to figure out why he gave it to me and why he asked me to stay. Eli raises an eyebrow and it’s freaky because I did, too. I force mine down, wondering if Eli noticed. Eli excuses himself to discuss plans with someone in the parking lot.
“Hey!” Violet’s red hair is pulled up and little wisps frame her face.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“You see that?” She points to a guy on the football field across from ours. He’s tall, has blond hair, is broad-shouldered and, after hanging out with the Terror for the past week, appears very, very normal.
“Yeah?”
“That’s Jared and he’s going to be my ride tonight.” The way she emphasized ride makes my cheeks blush. “Have you considered my offer? Jared has a friend.”
She waggles her eyebrows at friend and I have to clear my throat so I can breathe.
Violet and I talk on the phone. She digs for info on my life in Florida and fills me in on her adventures in Snowflake, which includes a lot of parties with a lot of people who sound a million times more dangerous than anything I’ve experienced while being at Olivia’s.