The One & Only(90)

“Hey. You’re a sculptor, huh? That’s cool,” I said, shaking his hand, always grateful for new blood. “Welcome to Walker.”

“Lion has a kid,” Miller announced, seemingly mystified, as if he’d told me that Lion was once a conjoined twin.

Lion caught it, too, laughing. “Yeah. Crazy, huh?”

“Forgive him. Miller can’t imagine responsibility greater than getting the mail,” I said.

“Shit. I forgot to get the mail again!” Miller said.

Lion laughed and said, “Well, I couldn’t imagine it either … I just found out about him four years ago. His mother never told me she was pregnant.”

“Wow. How old is he now?”

“Ten.”

“Damn. You’re kidding me,” I said, grateful, not for the first time, to be a woman. It was the one bit of news that could never be sprung on you.

“Nope. But it’s all cool now. Charlie’s a great kid.”

I nodded, telling him he needed to bring his son to a Walker football game.

“And a Cowboys game,” Miller said, grinning, as Michelle returned from the bathroom. Within seconds, he was working her over, cracking her up.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” I said, now buzzed.

“Yeah. But she’s a freethinker,” Miller said with a wink. “She’d love Michelle here. If you get my drift.”

I rolled my eyes and muttered, “Pig.”

“How’s your boyfriend? You two engaged yet? I heard you’re meeting his parents.”

“I am meeting his parents. But, no, we’re not engaged,” I said, thinking it was the worst part about living in a small town—word traveled fast. About everything.

“Your dad coming in?” Miller asked.

I nodded. “He’s here already. I’m avoiding him as we speak.”

“Maybe Ryan’s going to ask him for your hand.”

“You’re an idiot,” I said.

He playfully slapped my ass and said, “You love it.”

I punched his shoulder as hard as I could but recognized that I wasn’t as offended as I probably should have been. He was harmless—always had been.

“Ow!” Miller yelled, then turned to Lion and Michelle and said, “Shea dumped me for Ryan. But it’s all good. I get it. I’d dump me for Ryan, too. I mean, gym teacher—or pro quarterback?”

Michelle laughed, and I could tell she was into him.

“We broke up because you’re an idiot. End of story.” I smiled, and he grinned back at me.

“It’s cool,” he said. “I’m not really the marrying kind.”

Michelle got into the fray after that, trying to psychoanalyze him and, thereby, all bachelors, while I ordered shots of Jack—with beers for chasers. It occurred to me as I started a tab that it wasn’t the wisest decision to tie one on the night before meeting my boyfriend’s parents, but I was already impaired enough to come up with a handful of rationalizations.

So I kept going, drinking, laughing, playing pool, even dancing, feeling merrier by the minute, full of goodwill toward all, even background players and characters two degrees removed. We all had Walker in common, in one way or another, a point I made over a boisterous, heartfelt toast.

“Do you realize,” I began, feeling much more profound than the words that escaped my lips, “that we all either come from this town or now live in this town?”

“Whoa,” Miller said, mocking me. “That is quite an observation. Since we’re all getting shitfaced in this shit box of a town.”

“It’s not a shit box,” I said. “It’s about to be the home of the best team in college football coached by the most amazing, incredible …”

“Aw, please!” Miller shouted over me. “Here we go again!”

“What?” I said, wobbling a little as I looked up at him.

“The hero worship. Fuck. It never ends.”

“Shut up,” I said.

But Miller was as drunk as I was and kept shouting, pontificating to his audience. “Coach Carr! That’s who she’s really in love with. Not me. Not Ryan. But Coach Cliiiiive Carr.”

Michelle gave Miller an incredulous snort and said, “That’s Lucy’s dad. Her best friend’s dad.”

“So?”

“He’s way too old for her,” Michelle added.

“Shea doesn’t mind,” Miller said, shaking his head. Then he pointed at me and said, “See? Look at her. Look at her face.”

Whatever had been on my face, I instantly changed to an exaggerated scowl.

“She’s in love with Lucy’s old man. Always has been. Always will be. I saw them in here one night together.” He looked at me and said, “You gonna deny that?”