Page 65 of Enough
Before the start of last quarter, Mike steps over to me and asks if he can speak to me in private. I watch Gwen purse her lips, and I know she’s holding herself back.
I hand Kay the blanket and inch over to where Mike has led me away from listening ears.
“What?”
“I just want to talk. It’s been a while. How are you?”
I laugh to myself. I know exactly why he wants to talk to me, and it isn’t to catch up. “Nothing’s going on between us, Mike. Not that it’s any of your business.”
Mike acts shocked. “I wasn’t asking—”
“Oh please, Mike. I’m not stupid. I’ve seen the way you’ve been staring between Nick and me the whole game. Did you notice your daughter score three goals?”
“I wasn’t staring. I just noticed he seems to be more focused on you than on the team.”
I roll my eyes and cross my arms. Not only because I’m cold but because this conversation is pissing me off. “What do you want, Mike?”
“Like I said, I just wanted to see how you are.”
“I’m fine. Thanks.” As I turn to move toward Kay andGwen, he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him. The force of his pull causes me to crash into his chest. He pulls me inward, and I push away. I lift my eyes to the field and see Nick regarding me. His eyes narrow and his expression darkens.
“I was thinking you and I should have dinner sometime. You know, to talk about the kids.”
I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, why does that surprise you?”
I see the way he’s gazing at me, and I’ve seen it before. He couldn’t possibly be flirting, could he? “Will Krista be joining us?” I ask, more to make a point rather than because I care.
“Krista and I are taking a little break.” He sighs. He seems beaten and downtrodden.
“I’m… I’m sorry.” My eyebrows furrow, and for some reason I reach out to touch his arm. He places his hand on mine and I immediately recoil. My eyes search for Nick, but I no longer see him near the bench.
“Anyway, I just wanted to catch up on things. It’s been a while since we really talked.”
I sigh and hear the whistle to announce the beginning of fourth period. Still no sign of Nick on the field. Marlow’s coach is clapping and directing the kids into their places. I refocus on Mike as he lingers on my words.
“Listen…” And as I say the word I hate to hear, the irony of the situation has me elated inside. It was a lifetime ago that he told me to “listen,” and now I have the control. “I know things are weird between you and Krista and that you saw something between Nick and me, and now your panties are in a bunch…”
Mike crosses his arms and shifts his posture. His tongue plunges against the inside of his cheek. It seems the irony is not lost on him.
“…And you think now you’ll turn to me. But I’m not available to you, Mike. If there’s a problem we need to discuss with the kids, shoot me a text or call me. That’s as far as I’m willing to go to meet you on anything.”
He huffs in frustration, and before I get sucked into his drama, I rotate and walk away.
I stomp my way back to my seat. Gwen and Kay open the blankets for me to climb back into my warm spot, and I search for Marlow on the field. Once I find her, my eyes hunt for Nick. I don’t see him.
“He’s over there.” Gwen points. “He’s walking from behind the goal back to the bench.”
I spend the last period alternating between watching Marlow and watching Nick. He doesn’t even glance in my direction for the rest of the game, and I feel a slight amount of concern. I also have an overwhelming need to clarify to him what he might have seen between Mike and me. I don’t know why I care so much what he thinks, but I do. I notice him on his phone. He seems to be texting someone. I feel a sudden pang of jealousy.
After the game, Marlow shakes hands with the opposing team and the parents cross the field to the bench to hear Coach Dawson’s comments. I’m not the first to reach Nick. There’s a mom ogling him and flirting up a storm. I glare at her as if she’s my competition. She’s wearing knee-high boots. I’m wearing Chucks. She wearing tight jeans tucked into her boots, and I’m in my yoga pants. I almost feel bad about myself, but then I consider how much more comfortable I probably am,and I feel better. I focus my eyes on the coach as he talks about the next practice and how proud he is of the team. I try not to listen to the woman talking to Nick, but I can’t help myself.
“You’ve really helped Johnny so much. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”
“It’s my pleasure. He’s a great kid.”
She touches his bicep as she says, “Well, if you think ofanythingI can do to repay you, just let me know.”
