Page 86 of Broken Play
"Who knows? He says I'm not his keeper."
Noelle comes off as a spark plug, but she's very sensitive with a heart that could pump enough blood for all of us. "Maybe that relationship has run its course."
"What do you know about relationships?" she jokes, bumping my shoulder with a little less fervor than usual.
J.D. walks into the kitchen, followed by Dad, Parker, and Witt. Sutton didn't seem keen on the idea of telling my family, so I hope she shows up.
"Texas Twinkies... must be a special occasion." Dad picks one up before they've even been heated.
"Just wanted to do something nice for my family."
Dad nods, but I think he's suspicious.
I had a family-owned restaurant, The Dry Spoon, cater our meal—except for the Texas Twinkies. My mom used to pick up their food for us after games. When the doorbell rings, two delivery men arrive with the food, and Suttonappears behind them, hesitating. I grab the bags and tip the delivery guys.
With my hands full, I stretch my neck to kiss her cheek. "Everything will be fine."
"Pfft. Easy for you to say. It's not your vagina that could be plastered on the internet. I bet they don't say two words about you, but I'll be the slut of the league."
"They'll wonder why you're with my ugly mug. Ready to face the firing squad?"
"Do I have a choice? J.D. will be livid."
Something tells me he's not.
She follows me inside, and Noelle attacks her. "I'm so glad you're here. Birdie has a concert in New Orleans, and I hate being the only woman. Sometimes I want to talk about something other than football."
"Happy to be invited. Your brother benched your other brother, so... there may be lots of fireworks," she says to Noelle and risks a glance at me. "What's that smell?"
"Do you like Twinkies?" I ask and can't help but smile, knowing she's probably never had one.
"I don't know."
"You've never had a real Twinkie? God, before every practice in high school, I had a Twinkie and a Mountain Dew."
She laughs half-heartedly. "Nutritionists at the academy would never, ever let me eat processed food. We were lucky to get ice cream occasionally."
"That's taking sports too seriously," Noelle says, twisting her mouth to the side. "Well, these are healthy. Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese, garlic, and beef brisket, wrapped in bacon, and drizzled with barbecue sauce over the top."
I show Sutton the baking sheet, and she licks her lips as she says, "Yum."
"Dad, J.D., can you set the table?"
Sutton chimes in, "I'll do it." She goes directly to the cabinet that holds the plates, and everyone notices that she knows her way around. The chatter stops.
"Dad, will you grab the twelve-pack of soda from the basement? I have tea and water in the fridge too."
My family settles at the table after filling our plates from the taco bar at The Dry Spoon and the homemade Twinkies. Sutton takes a bite of the Texas Twinkie and moans like she's never had anything so tasty. I promise she has, because she's moaned like that for me.
"Delicious."
She may have even uttered the same word.
"Thanks. Our mom loved them. She always made them as a treat when we had friends over."
A deep laugh rumbles out of J.D. "Yeah, do you remember Stevie Oakes? He asked if he could come over every week. He either had the hots for Mom or he really loved these Twinkies."
"I do," I say, taking a deep breath. "Well, I wanted everyone to be here so I could tell you that..."
