Page 9 of Pour Timing
“Don’t tell him that, he’s going to want to play now.”
Danny burst out laughing. “You don’t want him playing football?”
“Not if it leads him down the path I went.”
“Why are you being so morbid? Looks to me like you only put on a few extra pounds. And you’re a little uglier than you were as a kid, but some chicks find that endearing.” He laughs and I punch his arm.
“No women for me. My number one priority is Liam and a close second is this winery now.”
I cringe as I see the smirk spread across his face and know I’m in for it. “I heard you’re hosting a wedding there soon.”
The kids start to file out of the doors and I look for Liam, hating that I’m even talking about this again, but I dismiss it the best I can and say, “Yeah it should be fun.”
“I’m not sure I’d call hosting my ex-girlfriend's wedding fun.”
It’s fucking not.
I groan. “Come on man, that was almost fifteen years ago.”
“Yeah but here you both are, and to be honest, the guy she’s with is a real douchebag.”
I cross my arms, giving him a sideways glance but still watching the kids file out the door. “You know him?”
Danny nods. “He’s not from around here. I heard his family owns a big company in the city. He settled for Starlight Bay, but he seems more like a corporate city guy than one who can fit into a small town like ours.” He guffaws. “Plus, the guy has two first names. It’s fucking weird.”
“What’s his name?”
“Patrick Scott. My grandpa always said never to trust a guy who doesn’t have a real last name.”
I give him a quick jab with my elbow. “Says the guy with the perfect OnlyFans handle.”
“Just saying. I always listen to my elders.”
“Hm.” I make a noise in the back of my throat. “He didn’t show up for the wedding planning appointment we had last week.”
“I’m not surprised. He hasn’t been around much lately. He’s taking over his father’s business, and rumor has it he wants to move to the city.”
My lips turn down in a frown. “I can’t imagine her ever leaving Starlight Bay.”
“The only time she left was the first semester you guys went to college. She’s been here ever since.”
I remember that time clearly, and I know it was my fault that we drifted apart. We talked about trying to make it work, but deep down, I knew I couldn’t give her what she deserved. Not while trying to juggle football with the pressure of being a boyfriend. So we just kind of died out. No big fight, no dramatic ending. She said she’d wait for me, but I had big plans to make it in the NFL and never thought twice about Starlight Bay again. What a joke. Everyone but me knew I wasn’t good enough. I should’ve tried harder, for her, for us. I should’ve at least stayed in touch. Before anything else, we were friends, and I let that slip away too. When football took over my life, and later when the NFL didn’t pan out and I started coaching, I barely gave Starlight Bay a second thought. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t on my mind. She was. Every day, in some way, I missed her.
“Dad!” my son yells as he spots me and comes running over. He throws his bag on the ground and wraps himself around my waist, and all is right in the world again. He's the best thing that ever came out of a marriage that should never have been.
I kneel down to his level. “Hey, bud! I missed you. How was your first day?”
“It was really cool. We played basketball at lunch. I got to pour the slime into the volcano in science class, and I found out my teacher went to school with you!” He looks back at Danny and the two of them bump fists.
“Well, don’t listen to half the things he says unless he tells you to do homework, always do your homework.” My son nods with urgency and Danny breaks into a smile at my request.
“You guys get out of here. Let’s catch up this weekend. All the bars are still the same so it will be like you never left.”
“Yeah I saw Big Chowder was still open and packed with patrons the night that we drove in.”
“I’ll give you a call. I saw your number on Liam’s contact list.”
“Perfect. Come on, bud. Let’s go.” I shake Danny’s hand then grab Liam’s backpack and we make our way to the truck. I think maybe being back here isn’t so bad after all, if I can just get over the fact that she’s getting married.
