“Hey, squirt,” I said. That was my childhood nickname for him, but I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get away with it for much longer. Definitely not outside the house, anyway. “You ready?”
As we piled into my mom’s car I felt amazingly better having spoken to her about Nate. Talking with my parents always had that same effect. They’d give me much needed perspective and I’d walk away feeling settled and strong. My heart ached wishing that Nate had had the same support growing up.
Chapter Twenty-four
Jessie
The first quarter had already begun as we climbed through the crowded stands. Cameron and his friend Ryan were bouncing with excitement, and as I took in all the die-hard sports nuts in the home team’s cheering section, I realized that college games didn’t look much different than high school games. The stands were larger, had more rows, but the fans were probably the same.
“Sit wherever you can find a spot for all of us,” I yelled up to my brother who had looked back at my mom and me questioningly. He went about halfway up the stands and then began scooting past people to get to the middle of one of the rows. As I made my way over people’s legs, I immediately spotted Nate in the seats below and froze. Shit.
He was sitting with what looked like his parents and a pretty blond girl. My stomach plummeted immediately. Had he brought that girl with him to his brother’s game? I looked behind me at my mother, considering going back, and while I was contemplating my next move, this big guy began to make impatient noises because apparently I was blocking his girlfriend’s view. Right at that moment Nate turned to see what the commotion was behind him and his eyes zeroed in on me.
His lips parted in shock as if this was the last place he’d ever think to see me. Tell me about it. I forced my legs to keep sidestepping down the row until we were directly behind him. Awkward with a capital A.
The pretty blond girl next to him turned as well and looked me up and down. It could have very well been my colorful hair and tattoos, because I got that stank-eye often. Or it could have been curiosity about whom Nate, who was clearly there with her, was staring at.
But hold on a minute, Nate didn’t date. Was this a setup his parents had arranged? The girl certainly fit the bill.
Hi, Blue,” Nate said, his voice tentative, his eyes skating over to my brother and his friend, possibly recalling our earlier conversation. “I see you made it to a game.”
“Hey, Square,” I said, to set a level playing field. Then I grimaced. Was I trying to make the girl think I knew Nate better than she did? I didn’t do that kind of thing so I quickly pulled my shit together. “My brother wanted to come today since the Panthers will be going on the road next week.”
He nodded and then repositioned himself so that he could face me better in his seat.
“Nate,” I said, leaning over and catching my mom’s eyes, which widened in response. “This is my mom, my brother, Cameron, and his friend, Ryan.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Walters.” Nate gave a half wave to my mom and then to my brother and friend. Nate’s mom, dad, and date all turned to stare at us. His mom wore a half smile, his father a half glare.
“Hey, Cam,” I said, getting my brother’s attention. “Nate’s brother, Luke, is a linebacker for the Panthers.”
Cameron’s wide eyes drifted to the players’ bench and back to Nate. “You’re Luke Connors’s brother? He’s a beast. Right, Ryan?”
“Totally,” his friend said. “That’s my position, too.”
Nate’s mother now wore a shocked expression, probably because I seemed to know some information about her family. His dad’s eyes were drawn together in confusion and the girl next to Nate had something that looked like pride on her face. What the hell?
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Nate’s father as my stomach pitched and rolled knowing that he’d taken out his anger and whatever the hell else on this family.
Mr. Connors was a large man, easily over six feet tall. He could effortlessly snap Nate’s mother’s small frame in two. Yet here this family sat, looking normal and mostly comfortable, hiding behind all of that history. I guess you just never knew a person.
I saw a flash of distress course through Nate’s eyes as his gaze followed mine to his father. I shook my head at him, telling him in my own way not to worry, that I wouldn’t betray his trust.
I got now why people tried to keep such ugliness hidden. Because I wanted to spit in Mr. Connors’s face as he regarded me with distaste, probably thinking I wasn’t good enough for his son. That maybe only blond privileged Barbies were.