Page 16 of A Layperry's Heart
Oh.
He enjoyed that I was dominant despite our size difference. Okay, that’s good to know and something I’ll keep in mind as we continue to spend time together. I have no idea where this relationship is going, or if it’s a relationship at all, but the more I get to know Gendry the more I want to see this through to the very end.
“Come on,” I say, grabbing his wrist. “My cousins are over here and if we keep them waiting, they’ll start cat-calling.”
“What does a cat have to do with playing football?”
“I mean, they’ll start teasing us and making kissing noises.”
Gendry startles. “Kissing noises? After I hit you to the ground? Do you often bring giant aliens who push you down to meet your cousins?”
I squeeze his wrist, smiling up at him. “Nope. You’re the first. I hope you feel special.”
“I do,” he says seriously. “You make me feel very special.”
I open my mouth to respond but before I can, Carlos is jumping into the conversation.
“Aldo!” Carlos calls out, making us both look up. “You’re the last one to arrive. Not that any of us are surprised.”
There are chuckles all around. I shake my head, letting out a snort as I walk over to the group waiting for us. Carlos, Benny, Miguel, Hector, Sal, and Marcus are all here. They’ve brought a few friends along with Benny and Hector’s partners. Perfect numbers for a six on six match.
“Thanks for waiting for us,” I say, clasping Carlos on the shoulder and giving it a squeeze.
“Of course. We couldn’t start without you.”
“And why is that?”
“We were curious about who your mysterious extra player was,” Sal says with a grin, his eyes darting between Gendry and I. “The wait was worth it.”
I rub the back of my neck before pulling my bag off my shoulder. I turn towards Gendry, waving a hand in front of him. “Everyone, this is Gendry. He’s my neighbor and I promised I would take him to a proper football match,” I explain. “Please go easy on him. He’s never played before.”
“Nice to meet you,” Carlos says with a wave. “I’m Carlos.” Then he points everyone out including Page and Michelle, Benny and Hector’s partners.
As the introductions are happening, I walk over to the picnic table near the field. “Hey, Carmen,” I say in greeting to my niece. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you at one of these things.”
Carmen lets out a little sigh. My niece is 14 years old and knee deep in all the worst parts of being a teenager. Carmen is Benny’s daughter. He had her when he was just 18. I feel way too young to have a teenage niece but here we are.
“My boyfriend broke up with me and Papi didn’t want me at home alone wallowing in self pity.”
“Your Papi is very wise.” Then I wince. “Well, he is now. Don’t ask me about when he was your age.”
Carmen giggles. “I’ll keep score.” Then she looks over at Gendry, her cheeks pinkening. “Is that your boyfriend? He’s sobig, Aldo!”
“Dios mío, Carmen! Don’t talk like that!” I walk away, leaving my niece a mess of giggles as I go. I’m happy that frown has faded and I’ve given her a moment of joy even if it means it’s at my own expense.
I run onto the field, joining the guys already out here warming up. I kick the ball a few times, do a few stretches, and then run over to Gendry, pulling him onto the field.
“Enough chatting,” I tell him with a laugh. “I brought you here to play. Come on.”
“They can’t understand me,” he says softly. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
I frown, completely forgetting that Gendry doesn’t speak English. I make a mental note to stick around so I can help translate for my cousins.
“Don’t let the ball touch your hands. Don’t use your body against other people too much, especially because you’re so much bigger than most of us,” I explain with a grin.
“Speak for yourself,” Hector calls out, slapping his belly.
“I saidmostof us!”
