Page 58 of The Apple Tree

“You have plans after the game,” I said and immediately turned to approach the players as they finished warming up.

We won.

I didn’t like how Drew looked at Eve, but the kid could light it up on the field. He threw two touchdowns, passed for one, and ran it in for another from the five-yard line.

After a post-game celebration in the locker room, I left the players to take their showers and stepped into the hallway, where their girlfriends were waiting for them.

Eve was on the floor with her back against the wall, legs outstretched, while Josh slept hugged to her with his cheek on her shoulder.

I gave her an apologetic smile and took him from her. “Sorry. That can’t be comfortable.”

She stood. “It’s fine. I’m not an old man like you.”

“Twenty-eight is old, huh?” I pushed through the door to the parking lot and held it open with my backside while she stepped out in front of me.

“Erin and my other friends left because I said I had plans. I wish I knew what they were,” she said, following me.

I unlocked my truck and lifted him into the back seat. He stirred while I fastened his seat belt, and then he collapsed onto his side, returning to sleep.

I pulled a twenty from my wallet and handed it to her. “Pick up something greasy.”

She chuckled, taking the money. “Such as?”

“Surprise me.”

“Anything for Josh?”

“He’s down for the night. I’ll be lucky to get him to go to the bathroom and wrangle him out of clothes and into pajamas.”

“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit. Crack open a cold one for me.”

I grinned, climbing into the truck. “Root beer?”

“Minus the root,” she called, walking to her car.

When I got home, Josh was as helpful as a rag doll, but he peed, mainly in the toilet and a little on the floor for me to clean up. Pajamas weren’t worth the effort, so I tucked him in with just his Micky Mouse underwear.

By the time I drank half a beer and turned on the news, Eve came through the front door with a Taco John’s bag.

“I was totally expecting pizza,” I said, taking the bag from her.

She dug the change out of her pocket and deposited it on the kitchen table before joining me on the sofa. I pulled the tacos and Potato Olés out of the bag and set them on the coffee table.

“If you wanted pizza, then you should have said pizza,” she wrinkled her nose at me.

“I’m kidding. You did good.”

She grabbed my beer, and before I could stop her or protest, she took several big gulps.

I frowned, reclaiming the can. It was easy to compare her to Melinda, but she reminded me more of myself at her age. Fred was the perfect child, always following God’s and our parents’ rules. I, on the other hand, had a knack for finding trouble.I wasn’t a leader or a follower, but I rarely passed up the opportunity to have a good time, even when Melinda tried to talk sense into me.

“Good game, by the way,” she said, unwrapping a taco.

“Your quarterback friend lived up to the hype.”

Eve stared at the TV and nodded while slowly chewing. “He’s good,” she mumbled.

“Did Josh give you any trouble?” I popped a Potato Olé into my mouth before unwrapping a taco.

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