Page 35 of For the Win

* * *

As Janey and I leave,standing on the sidewalk outside the restaurant while I unlock my bike, I say, “I hope that was okay that we joined them.”

“Sure!They’re all really nice.It’s fun meeting new people.”

“Oh good.”

“Small world, though, that you just went out with Harrison and then meet up with his sister.”

“I know.I wasn’t sure what to say about that.”

“Are you going to see him again?I feel like you want to.”

“I do.”

She squeezes my hand, her silky black hair blowing in the breeze off the ocean.“You need to do what you’re comfortable with.”

“Thanks.”We hug and then I set off for home on my bike.

Taj is out when I get there.I toss my bag onto my bed and pull out my phone.Then I sit on the couch and stare at Harrison’s name and number.

9

HARRISON

Sunday.Day off.We had a home game Friday night and played in Long Beach last night.Last night’s game was another Beach Barn Battle.I know a lot of the fam was there watching again—Mom and Dad and Théo, Everly and Ash, and Matthew and his wife, Aline.I played against JP again, Mark coaching, obviously.

We lost, sadly.A loss against the Eagles is always painful, but especially for me, with my whole family watching.

Mom has texted all of us—me, Asher, Noah, and Everly—and said she wants to get together, so I’m getting ready to head over to Mom and Dad’s place for lunch.I’m dreading what we’re going to talk about.I know if it was good news Mom would have just told us all.

Ash and I drive together again in his car.He parks on the street in front of the house we grew up in—a big, Spanish-style, two-story house not far from the arena in Santa Monica.Ash and I climb out of his Mazda and saunter up the brick sidewalk to the front door.

I don’t know about Ash—we didn’t talk a whole lot on the way over here—but my stomach is a churning mess.I’m trying to act cool and unconcerned, like a manly man would.But that’s bullshit, because I’m terrified.

I’m a twenty-six-year-old man and I’m terrified that my dad is dying.

I feel like a child again and I hate it.

We enter without knocking and step into the cool interior, out of the bright sun.“Hello!”I call.The house is quiet.Maybe they’re out back on the patio.

Mom appears from the kitchen.“Who’s that?Hi, boys.”She smiles but it’s not a happy smile.“Noah isn’t here yet.Everly and Dad are out by the pool.Come on out.”

We make our way through the house and out the patio doors.The sun sparkles on the turquoise pool, surrounded by paving stones and an immaculate green lawn.Palm trees, shrubs, and flowers line the perimeter of the yard.Dad used to pay a gardener to look after everything, but now he just has someone cut the grass and he looks after the flowers himself.How long will he be able to do that?

Everly’s face looks as stiff as mine feels, though she’s smiling too.Mom has drinks out here and pours us glasses of lemonade.Ash and I take a seat on the wicker chairs arranged around a coffee table.Dad’s on the big sectional.

I study his face.Is it my imagination, or does he suddenly look older?

Christ, this is awful.I’m afraid I’m going to puke.I rub my mouth.“Yard looks great, Dad.”

He nods.“Yeah.Look at that hibiscus...isn’t it amazing?”

I don’t know what a hibiscus is, but I agree.

“Hey Harrison, guess who I had dinner and drinks with the other day?”Everly says.

I sip my lemonade, hoping my stomach behaves.“Who?”

---