Page 67 of Broken Play
The women are in the kitchen, and Sutton is teaching Paulina how to set a table. "Where are the serving dishes?" Sutton asks as she and Birdie open every cabinet.
I must look like a deer in headlights. "I just thought we would eat out of the bags."
"G, your mom would be ashamed," Dad says firmly.
"Dad, I've been on my own for over a decade. I eat out of takeout bags or throw a steak on the grill and put it on a plate. I don't have dinner parties."
J.D. says, "You're having one now, and Paulina has set a beautiful table."
Sutton pops up from behind the cabinets under the island. "Found them." She holds two bowls up in triumph. "And here's a platter for the brisket."
"Honestly, I didn't know Noelle bought those. I need to think twice about giving her my credit card."
My family agrees wholeheartedly as Birdie and J.D. start putting the food into dishes and placing them on the table. When I sit down beside Paulina, I notice there are Armadillo napkin holders as well as Armadillo glasses. "Okay, who is the smarty-pants?"
"J.D. and I think it's time you realize who you play for. Ijust thought you needed a few reminders." A sly smile slides across Sutton's face, and her eyes glimmer in the sunlight shining through the patio doors.
My pulse kicks up a notch at how relaxed she is in this environment, because even though this is supposed to be a business meeting, it's intimate, with only six of us. And I love that gentle curve to her lips when she's teasing me but has to quickly look away for fear of being found out. The light catches her hair, which is down. At work, she often has it in a tight ponytail, the way she wears it on the court. I call it her work hairdo. But right now, she's wearing the kind of smile that hides a challenge, making it impossible for me to look away.
Dad must see me staring and clears his throat. "So, what's this about Parker? You know I'm not happy with him. If he wanted to quit, he should have talked to us before. O'Ryans don't quit on their team."
The room quiets except for knives cutting brisket or a fork clanging against the plates. "Dad, did he tell you that his girlfriend cheated on him?"
"Yep, finally, but that's no excuse."
"Oh, it's an excuse. If it were me and I had to skate next to the guy who did that to me, I promise you, I would leave that team. It would be a toxic environment."
"Well, you and J.D. cared more about football than girls."
Birdie jumps in. "Oh, I think they cared about girls, just not one girl. Parker is sensitive."
"Dad, you need to understand that Parker, Noelle, and Witt didn't have the same time growing up as J.D. and I did. We had a mom for most of our younger years. We already had an identity."
My dad pushes back from the table and wanders around the slate island. "I did the best I could."
"We know you did, and maybe if G and I weren't selfish, we would have stayed home to help raise them." J.D. walks over to him.
Paulina's eyes are wide, and I realize that talking about not having a mom is affecting her. So, I say, "How about some peach pie?"
Sutton asks Paulina to help her slice the pie while J.D. and I talk to Dad.
Sometimes I forget how hard raising five kids without a wife by his side must have been. I didn't make anything better by acting out after Mom passed away. Everything I did was a cry for help, but he chalked it up to my being a teenage boy.
The three of us sit back down at the table and gather ourselves.
Sutton receives a multitude of appreciation. It's the best peach pie I've ever had. Okay, maybe it's because Sutton made it from scratch, but it's still delicious. Birdie takes Paulina down to the man cave to find some rubber bands we can use to play flag football while we talk about Parker.
Sutton leads the conversation. "J.D. and Greyson suggested Parker work with the Armadillos since he can't join your roster this late. It's a good way for him to see what it takes to play football at a higher level. Since he got a full hockey scholarship, I know he's dedicated. After checking with HR and the NCAA, the only way for this to work without affecting his eligibility is through a college internship."
Our dad taps his fork against his empty plate. "The kidloves hockey, and I hate the fact that a girl fucked up his mind. He never loved football like he did hockey. I always loved that I could finish my game and then hop on a plane to watch him play hockey at ten at night."
"There's one way to find out. Enroll him at LaGrange with you. He can do the internship with the Armadillos and learn from us in a professional setting. He can witness J.D. being an asshole to me and Coach Stricker correcting my mistakes. Being a college or pro athlete isn't for the faint of heart."
J.D. adds, "The hard part will be if Parker isn't good enough to play for you. Do you even want him to play for you? You never offered either of us a scholarship."
"That's because you both were too good for my team. You both shone on your own. I just don't know if I can coach my kid. I did when you all were little, before I became a head coach, but Parker has a much different personality than you two." He looks at Sutton. "What will he be able to do for the internship?"
"He could work in the office for half a day and be on the field or in player meetings the rest of the day. He can work with our scout team and condition, but no hitting. He plays wide receiver, right?"
