Page 88 of Player
I catch up to him, confused. "What boyfriend are you talking about?"
He freezes, his hand on the doorknob, not turning around. "Bradley. "
"Bradley isn't my boyfriend," I inform him, almost too shocked to not realize how ridiculous this is getting. "He's my brother!"
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PLAYER
Dixie's wordshang in the air, and I stand frozen as I process the implications of what she just told me.
"Are you leaving already?"
Dixie's mother's voice interrupts our exchange. I turn to her, still so shocked that I actually speak politely. "I didn't want to intrude on your family meal."
Her kindness shines through in her eyes, the same as Dixie's. "But you're not intruding at all! There's plenty of food for everyone. Join us."
I glance at Dixie who hasn't reacted. She pulls herself together, and gives me an eye roll and a little sigh. "You drove all this way, you should stay."
We stand there, staring at each other.
"Well, that's settled!" her mother says enthusiastically. "Come, I'll get you set up at the table."
Dixie gives me one last inscrutable look before entering the room, and I follow them. Conversations stop the moment I set foot in the dining room. The whole family seems to have gathered. I should feel uncomfortable meeting all of them, but I don't.
"Who is this young man?" asks an elderly woman. Her gaze scrutinizes me, and I feel like she's looking into my soul.
"One of my dorm neighbors, Grandma," Dixie informs her. "His name is Player."
"What a strange name," her grandmother replies. "Your parents weren't very inspired."
"Mom!" interjects a man sitting beside her.
He addresses me, sounding contrite. "I'm Zachary, Dixie's father. Welcome to our home."
Dixie's mother places a chair at the table and motions for me to sit down. I take off my jacket, drape it over the back of the chair before sitting down, noting that Bradley isn't here.
Dixie is seated across from me on the other side of the table. She's flanked by two girls who look so alike they could be mistaken for each other. I realize they're twins. They give me pointed looks that leave no doubt they find me attractive, but I couldn't care less. There's only one woman at this table who interests me, and right now, she's doing everything she can to ignore me.
The conversations resume and all I can do is devour Dixie with my eyes while she talks with the people sitting next to her.
"Would you like some sweet potato mash?" asks the girl to my right, passing me a dish.
"Yes, thank you."
I help myself as she strikes up a conversation. "I'm Venus, Dixie's cousin. It's rare to have friends at our table, you know."
She seems younger than me, and I respond half-heartedly, which doesn't seem to discourage her at all. I catch curious glances directed my way from the men in the family, but I don't take offense. I'm a stranger to them, and besides, I'm used to occupying this position. I'm even a stranger to my own father.
My jaw tightens when I think of him. To hell with him!After the month I've just had, I'm ready to not see him for the next four years.
"Don't you miss your family?" my young neighbor asks as if reading my thoughts.
"Not really, no." A shocked expression crosses her face, and I feel compelled to clarify, "Not everyone has loving parents, you know."
She nods, with a serious expression. The dishes keep coming, and I have to admit the cooking is really good. I help myself to another serving of roasted turkey.
"At least he has a good appetite," the grandmother suddenly remarks.
