Ransom’s face relaxes and he looks down at the table, that Luka half-grin of his warming Kona’s chest. “The fact that you’d walk away from a camp that you liked or won’t be handed something just because of who your parents are says a lot about who you are, Ransom.” His boy waves him off and Kona is surprised to see that same quick blush Keira never could hide moving up his son’s face. “Even if I end up there, coaching, whatever happens, you’ll still have to do the work. You’ll have to train harder, work harder than anyone else. I’m sorry that it’s the way it is. I’m sorry that people are going to treat you differently, but those are just the assholes that don’t know you.” Kona leans across the table, grazes Ransom’s arm so the boy will look at him. “Anyone that meets you, takes the time to find out who you are, will see that you don’t expect a free ride. They’ll know what an exceptional kid you are and they’ll respect you.” Kona pauses, lowers his voice. “God knows I do.”
“Damn, Kona, don’t get all soft on me.” Ransom laughs, slapping his shoulder. “Your shadow is huge, man, but I’m happy to walk in it.”
Kona takes Ransom by the back of the neck, pulling him close. It’s not quite a hug, but a little touch of expression that he hopes tells Ransom he loves him. “Buddy, my shadow will be nothing to the one that follows you. I have zero doubts.”
To his left, Kona hears Keira sniffle and both he and Ransom turn toward her, eyes wide as they see the tears leaking from her eyes. And then, just like that, the awkwardness passes as Ransom and Kona both laugh at her.
“Oh shut up.” She gets up from the table, throws her napkin at them before she brings her half eaten plate to the sink. “You’re both assholes.”
“Come on, Mom, don’t get pissy.” Ransom leaves the table and stands behind Keira, kissing the top of her head. “You are such a girl sometimes.” He ducks away from Keira’s elbow and pulls his phone out of his pocket when his text alert chimes. “Oh shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Keira pulls a dish rag from the counter to dry her hands and looks up at Ransom as Kona clears the table.
“Um, nothing.” He looks again between his parents and Kona recognizes the smirk. He’s noticed his son giving Keira that look over the past few weeks when he was trying to butter her up. But he’d never given it to Kona. Not until this moment. “Hey, man, you think I can check out a little early? I mean, I know you wanted us to watch that movie and everything…”
“It’s cool. I’ve got that meeting in the morning, so I wasn’t planning on staying up too late anyway.” Kona nods to his phone. “What’s up?”
“Emily has an extra ticket to Jazz Fest. They’re on the way to see Frank Ocean.”
“The redhead?” Kona smiles at the way Ransom tries not to bounces on his feet. She was a pretty girl. He’s not surprised by his son’s poorly-contained excitement.
“When did this happen?” Keira asks, leaning against the sink. “I thought you two were just friends.”
“We are. I mean… sorta.” His attention returns to his phone when another message sounds and the smile on his son’s face becomes ridiculous. “So, can I go? They’re gonna pick me up in like ten minutes.”
“Ransom, you don’t know the city.” Keira gets a strange wrinkle between her eyes and Kona blinks at her. He’d never seen her look at their son that way. “Emily is a nice girl but I don’t anything about her or who you’ll be with.”
“Mom…”
“Come on, the boy’s sixteen and it’s not late.” Kona tries to keep his voice light, easy. He doesn’t know if he is overstepping his bounds with her, but, he figures, Ransom is his kid too. He should have a say in what he does. “He’ll be back soon enough and then you can head back to Mandeville when the concert’s over, Wildcat.”
“Would stop calling me that?” She says to him, head turning in his direction.
“Sixteen years, sweetheart and you’re still asking? You know I won’t.” Kona fails at keeping the laugh out of his tone. This is Keira deflecting, Keira trying to distract the attention so she’ll win an argument. Some things never change. Kona rolls his eyes, touches her arm to make her look at him, generally curious where all this worry is coming from. “What’s the problem? He’s a good kid and I’m sure he’s not gonna get mixed up in something stupid. Besides, you can’t tell me he hasn’t been to a concert before, not with the industry you work in.”