Page 30 of Fall With Me
“It’s not the same.”
“I know. If I could fix it for you, I would.” The crappiest part is this isn’t the first or the last time we’ll go through this. I want to go back to last night when I teased Chloe. When I wasn’t a dad. Just a dude joking around with a girl.
Finn sniffles and slithers toward me. I’ll deal with all the tantrums and talking back from Finn in exchange for the pain of Willow leaving Finn to go away. Instead, we get to deal with both. I sit up, pulling him onto my lap as soon as he’s cleared the bed frame.
Kissing the top of his head, I say, “I’m sorry, Finn. It’s not fair, and it sucks. I’ll take videos to send to your mom so she can see you, if you want?”
He nods against my chest.
“Should we headout then?”
My phone buzzes from my back jeans pocket. Pulling it out, I look at who’s calling. Chloe’s name flashes across the screen.
Tapping the green button, I put the call on speaker. “Hey, Chloe.”
“Hi. I think I’m in the wrong place. I can’t find you.”
“We had a slight delay this morning.” I squeeze Finn, letting him know I’m not mad at him. “We’re not at the field yet. Do you see the Broncos playing?”
“Yeah. They’re on the twenty yard line about to score a goal.”
“Finn?” It’s a one-word question implying so much more than just saying his name. Is he up for going? Would he rather stay home? I’ll support whatever he chooses, but I really want him to go to his game. Not because I paid for him to attend, but I want him to realize he can do hard things, especially when it’s the last thing he wants to do.
He’s strong. He’ll get through this despite my yearning that he doesn’t have to.
“We’re coming, Chloe!” Finn scrambles off my lap, pulling my arm to help me stand.
Chuckling, I say, “You heard him. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“I’ll save you a spot on the sidelines.”
Relief washes through me. “See you in a few.”
Chapter 14
Chloe
Some kids’ parents haven’t moved on from their own glory days, and it shows. I’ve never seen so much yelling from the sidelines. My goodness, these children aren’t trying out for the NFL. Cut them some slack, you crazies!
To counteract the harsh screaming from the two dads sitting a few seats down from me, I cheer exuberantly after every play. People might think I’m the one with a few screws loose, but I can’t sit here and do nothing. It’s against my nature.
The current quarterback for Finn’s team hands the ball to a kid to his left. The running back sprints, dodging players as he goes. I wouldn’t say his teammates are purposely blocking for him, but he manages to find every open spot. Everyone on this side of the field is screaming in excitement. “Go, go, go!”
The ref blows the whistle, his arms shooting straight in the air. “Touchdown!”
Finn’s not here yet, but these kids are now my team. Jumping out of my chair, I shout, “Woo-hoo! Way to go Broncos!”
A shoulder barrels into my mid-back, throwing me off balance. I wrap my arms behind me to hold on to Finn as he vigorously hugs me, managing to catch both of us before we crash into the grass.
“Chloe!”
Turning around, I grin at him. “You made it! Your team is doing awesome, but you know what?” Placing my hands on my knees, I bend forward until I’m eye level with Finn. “They really need your help.” I’m not sure what happened this morning, but from Dawson’s tone when I called, it wasn’t good.
“I’m going to tell my coach I’m here.”
“Good plan.”
He runs toward the team bench at full speed.
