I'm Not in Love

“Listen, you guys, I’m gonna get some pizza, and I really hate to eat alone.” This is true—I eat alone a lot, and it’s never much fun. In a lower tone, I add, “Tristan, like I told you, I’m pretty much made of money, so lunch is on me. I really want to do this.”

“Well, uh…” I can see Tristan weighing and measuring his decision. He isn’t the sort of person to take advantage of a friend. Even one who claims to be made of money.

“It’s pizza, not a lobster dinner,” I remind him. I feel like a lobbyist… and still, I don’t care.

“Then, okay.” He smiles, and I want to kiss him but kissing in a park is against the rules he set and the laws I live by.

“Woot! Woot!” Jared shouts.

“Woot for Emmie… and woot for yummy pizza!” Wendy joins in.

“W-woot… but… but Uncle Tris, I’m gonna need you to cut mine up into pieces, seein’ as this is my pizza eatin’ hand.” Tommy waves the hand with the bandaged thumb.

“That won’t be a problem at all, Tommy. Now give me a second—I’ve gotta call Tara to let her know the plan.” He takes a few steps so he’s out of earshot.

“Coach, can we bring some pizza home for Mommy?” Tommy asks, tugging on my shirt.

“We’ll get her whatever kind she likes,” I assure him.

Jared wrinkles his nose. “She likes yucky veggies on her pizza.”

“Veggie pizza it is… for your mom. We can have pepperoni.” Still carrying Wendy, I walk toward the parking lot by the soccer field. “Come on, let’s head to my SUV.”

“Tommy, like, wait until you get a load of Coach Remi’s wheels!” Jared races off to my Range Rover with his little brother at his heels. “You won’t believe your eyes!”