American Bad Boy(34)
Chris nods silently and watches the track in front of us.
“But then, I saw some veterans who also lost limbs in the war. I saw some who had moved on and learned how to live again and I saw some who didn’t. Let me tell you, the guys that didn’t, well, they may have only lost a leg or an arm or something, but then they let the anger about it take the rest of them.” I look over at Chris, he’s still watching the track but I can tell he’s listening to every word.
“They were still living and breathing, but they might as well have had tombstones hanging around their necks where their dog tags used to be. They let that anger kill them inside. So, I did my physio and trained and followed your mother’s program here,” I look up as we’re approaching Lauren on the bench and smile her way. My heart speeds up again when she returns it.
“And now look at me. I’m kicking a nine-year-old’s butt in a foot race.” I grin at him.
He laughs and I hope my message got through. “Well, I don’t know about that. But you did win. Barely.” He smiles back.
As we close in on the bench, Lauren stands up to meet us. “What happened out there? I thought you were gonna win at first,” she puts an arm around her son’s shoulders and gives him a quick squeeze.
“Ahhh, he just got lucky,” Chris brushes her off, but shoots his mom a grin.
Lauren looks so happy for once. It’s radiating from her.
“That’s not what it looked like from here,” she points at the bench.
“He almost had me. Honestly, I had to really dig deep to push past him,” I come to Chris’s rescue. I don’t want him leaving here with a bruised ego.
“See?” He looks up at Lauren, vindicated.
“Hey, Chris,” I sit down on the bench to change my blade to my regular prosthetic. “I’d like to talk to you about something, if you don’t mind.” The kid sits down beside me on the bench as Lauren stands a few feet away.
“What’s that?”
“Well, since you’re the man of your house, I was hoping to talk to you about taking your mom on a date.” I watch as his eyebrows shoot skyward. Hopefully the word “date” doesn’t upset him.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, see the thing is, I have these tickets to the Buffaloes game this Saturday and I was wondering if you’d mind if I took her out. I mean, if you’re interested, I have an extra couple tickets. You could come as our chaperone, if you want?”
“To the Buffaloes game?”
“Yeah, I’ve even got a ticket that you can bring a friend with, if you want.”
Chris’s face looks like he just got the best birthday and Christmas gift all rolled into one.
“Yeah! That would be awesome!” He jumps up, springing toward Lauren.
“Mom! Can we go? Can we?” He jumps from foot to foot and Lauren giggles.
“Yeah, we can go,” she agrees and Chris gives a whoop, pumping his fist in the air. “But that extra ticket is going to go to Chelsea,” she interrupts his dance. “You’re still in trouble, so you won’t be bringing any of your friends,” she adds sternly.
“Ok, ok. But we can go, right?” He looks over at her and she nods back. “Thanks, Captain America! I mean, Mack,” Chris smiles at me.
“No problem, kid.”
With my blade changed we all head back to the hospital, but now Chris is practically bounding back to the front doors, leaving us in his dust.
“Hey, thanks a lot. I really appreciate it.” Lauren gives my hand a quick squeeze and between that and her smile, it’s all the thanks I need.
“I told you I’d help,” I nod toward Chris.
“You’re a man of your word,” she looks at the ground, biting her perfect lip. God, I want to kiss her.
“Always,” I answer. “So, uh, about the game on Saturday?”
“Yeah?” She looks up.
“What time do you wanna come pick me up?” I smirk.
Lauren laughs and it’s an easy, happy sound that reminds me of a dream.
A dream come true.
19
Lauren
2014
“Woo! Go Buffaloes!” Chelsea screams with her hands cupped around her mouth like a bullhorn. The team can probably hear her, too. When Mack said he had tickets to the game, I didn’t think he meant for seats that are practically on the field. We’re sitting so close that we can not only hear every word of the coach cursing out his boys, but we can smell the gum he keeps snapping as he anxiously watches the plays.
Chris and Chelsea are on their tip-toes, even though there’s no one in front of them to block their view. I’ve never seen them so excited! I knew my son loved football, but didn’t realize that Chelsea was such a fan. With two minutes left in the game, they’re watching the field, unblinking, so they don’t miss a second.