We were having a group trip a couple hours north in a few weeks after qualifying for the semi-finals and everyone was excited. For young teens, staying in a hotel with a bunch of your friends overnight was a huge deal, even if there would be parents there to chaperone.
And just as I thought of it, Michael's dad Carl approached me from the parking lot with a sheet in hand.
He came to watch almost every one of our team practices, so I assumed that he was planning on joining us before he even stopped in front of me, offering the form.
“Hey man, I'll be joining as a chaperone.”
“Nice,” I said, clapping his hand in response.
“How were the boys today?” he asked.
“Good as usual,” I answered. “Michael was in top form.”
He grunted in response.
“Would have liked to come watch but had to work late.”
“Yeah? Where do you work?” I asked curiously.
“At the Orson Metal Works Factory,” he said and just the mention of Kamran's workplace made my heart seize up.
“You're kidding,” I said.
It shouldn't have been a big surprise. A lot of people in town worked in the factories. The city was packed with them, but it still felt like God was giving me a big poke in the side, just to punish me for the stupid shit that I'd done with a married man.
“Been working there for fifteen years,” he said and that piqued my interest even more.
“You look a bit young for that,” I said, looking him over. Then again, he had a fourteen your old son, so maybe he was older than he looked.
He gave me a small smile.
“I am,” he said simply. “Had Michael young. Needed to step up early, be a good dad. All that.”
I nodded, looking him over again because I couldn't help myself this time.
He was a nice guy, maybe a bit gruff, but he was always around to support his son. Something about him reminded me of Kamran, even though they looked nothing alike. Maybe it was just the rare green eyes. Whatever it was, looking at him made me kind of sad. It was too much of a reminder.
“Right, well, it'll be good to have you there,” I said.
I patted his shoulder, ready to head out once all the kids were gone.
My eyes went out to the parking lot where most of them were already being picked up, and I froze as my gaze zeroed in on an all too familiar man.
Kamran was leaning against the side of his car, arms crossed, watching me from a distance.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
“What's wrong?” Carl asked, at my side.
I glanced at him, remembering that he was still there.
“Nothing. Excuse me.”
My feet carried me away—toward Kamran. Halfway there I stopped, because surely small talk with one of the parents was better than facing whatever the hell Kamran wanted now.
The last time he'd shown up unexpectedly I'd done something I really shouldn't have done, and it had ended with Kamran running. I'd thought our friendship was over. That I wouldn't be seeing him again, and yet there he was. It was kind of like seeing a ghost. I didn't know what to expect. Was it friendly or there to terrorize my ass?
I forced myself to keep moving, letting my feet carry me all the way to where Kamran was still standing, watching me.
