HOME FROM THE GAME, Iflick on SportsCenter and watch the recap of today’s games. I smile as I watch the highlights of the Diamondbacks beatdown on the Giants, but the commentators show us no love, expecting us to fall on the losing side tomorrow night.
A car’s headlights flash through the curtains, and when the engine cuts followed by the slam of a few doors, I know my girl is home. I mute the volume and grab the empty beer bottle from the coffee table to drop in the kitchen recycling. The front door opens and as I turn, Evie staggers inside, loses her balance, and knocks into the wall.
“Shit. Fuck. Shit,” she says before she pulls herself upright and steadies her balance using my sister’s shoulder.
I walk toward her, catching Kate’s exhausted expression from behind the open doorway.
“Honey, we’re home!” Kate sing songs and Evie lifts her head. Maybe a little too quickly, because when she catches sight of me she grins a loopy smile, staggers out of Carly’s arm, and falls flat on her ass.
“Oh, God, what’s going on here?” I chuckle and crouch down at her side.
She grabs my face between both hands and I can practically taste the liquor from her breath. “I love you so damn much. You know that, right? You know I love you more than anyone,” she gushes and then glances up at her best friend. “Sorry, Kate.”
“No apologies needed,” Kate says to her, and then to me, “She’s fucking toast.”
“Yeah, I can see that. Had yourself some fun tonight, baby?” Evie rarely drinks, so I’ve only seen her like this a handful of times. It’s fucking adorable.
“We had fun. Didn’t we Kate? Carly?” Her silly smile fades and in place her brows pinch together, the lines between them showing so much concern when she tries to hold my gaze. “But there were dicks. Two giant banana dicks. But I didn’t put them in my mouth. I’m so sorry, baby.”
It’s so difficult not to laugh and I lift my brow at Kate. “What’s she ...”
“Strippers,” she states matter of factly and then kisses the top of Evie’s head. “Later, bestie.” Kate waddles outside and disappears into the waiting car.
Before Carly escapes too, I shoot a hard glare at my sister but she just raises her hands. “What? Not my call. I had nothing to do with that.”
“No, you didn’t.” Evie nods. Her frown disappears and her eyes widen. She grabs the front of my shirt and tugs. “Babe. Babe, Carly saved me by keepin’ my glass full all night. All night, she did. Thank you, Carly.”
“Yeah, thanks so much, Carly.” I roll my eyes.
“That’s my cue. ’Night, brother. ’Night, Evie. Fun party.”
“So fun. Fun. Fun. Fun. But tell Kate no more banana dicks. I don’t even like bananas.” Evie purses her lips together and her eyes flutter shut, though she fights to keep them open.
Carly chuckles under her breath. “I’ll tell her. Goodnight.”
I stand and lock the door before helping Evie off the floor. I settle her on the couch while I collect aspirin and water from the kitchen.
“Why is the couch moving, babe?”
I almost laugh when I come back to find her face pressed against the center cushion, like a Leaning Rower of Pisa that leaned too far. “I think that’s you.”
“I’m not moving. I can’t even pick up my hands.” She attempts to lift them both, but one is stuck beneath her body. “Ah, fuck.”
I kneel down and brush the hair from her face. “I think you need to sleep, my love.”
Her eyes drift closed and she speaks into the furniture. “Sleep sounds good. I’ll sleep here.”
I stand, pocket the water bottle and pills, and scoop her off the couch. “I’ve got you.”
“My knight in shining basketball shorts.” She grins into my chest. I love her. A knight is exactly how she makes me feel.
“I’ll always be a knight for you.”
“But will you really?” Her gaze sobers enough to pull into a serious frown.
“Always. I promise.” Setting her at the edge of the bed, I hand her the pills and water, wait until both are gone, and tuck her into bed once I have her change into an old T-shirt. Her head falls against the pillow with closed eyes and I think she’s out for the count, but before I flick off the light to join her in bed, she whispers some rubbish about not being a cheating bastard. It’s hard to not chuckle.
I slide under the covers and my hand finds its way to the skin along her hip, where my name is inked for eternity. Invisible to me now, but knowing it’s there eases my heartbeat until I drift off to sleep.
