“Well, I’d like to watch a bunch of boys running around. I also want to see what options are available besides soccer.”
“Reed, you’re ridiculous. I can’t believe you still don’t like soccer. Please tell me you have a better reason than what I think.”
“Nope, still the reason.”
“You don’t want Davis to play because I dated a soccer player my sophomore year in college? Isn’t that a bit ridiculous?”
“Not to me, he was a dick and I hated that you had classes with him after we started dating. He still looked at you like he wanted to fu—, I mean f-u-c-k you.” I smile at my save.
“Well, get over it. Davis will be devastated if he doesn’t get to play with Miles.”
“Honestly, Ari, is there a football camp?”
“I’m not sure. You can look into it.”
We drive up to the fields and kids are everywhere. I grab the ball cap out of my pocket and pull it down over my face.
“Mama, can I go pway?”
“Sweetie, let’s go get the paperwork and then you can play.”
“You go get it, I’ll watch him.” I tell her hoping she’ll trust me.
She looks between us, and then nods her head and walks towards the tent set up. Davis runs right into the mix of boys on the field. I watch with amusement as they chase and tackle each other. Yeah, I’m definitely going to encourage football.
Ari’s laugh fills the air and I look over to see her talking to a man that is standing entirely too close. He puts his hand on her arm and she continues to smile at him. My heart races and I want to go over a rip his hands off her. She sees me watching and her smile fades. Her eyes go to Davis and back to me.
She says something to the bastard and walks over.
“What’s wrong?”
“Who’s the fucker you were talking to?”
“Miles’s father.”
“He touched you. Does he do that often?”
“What are you talking about?”
“He puts his hands on you. I’m wondering how often that happens.”
“I didn’t notice, so I guess not often. Why are you acting like a jerk?”
I sigh and throw my head back to the sky. “I don’t know. I didn’t like what I saw.”
Her eyes dart around before she glares at me.
“Listen to me closely, Reed, I’ve been more than accommodating with your plea to get to know our son. I’m usually super-protective of him, and I’m trying to figure out a way to do this delicately without confusing him. If I haven’t made it clear yet, I’ll do it now. You want to know Davis and find a place in his life, fine, but don’t you dare question me.”
“Question you? That man was practically drooling. Didn’t you notice?”
“Get a grip, our kids are friends. And if you’re in this for the long haul, you’re going to meet him soon.”
“Not likely.” I sneer.
“Really, Reed? Miles is Davis’s best friend. You don’t want to know his father and where our child may be spending time outside my home? I personally prefer to know the people I let my kid around than act like a jealous asshole!”
Fuck! She’s right. My dad would be disappointed in my behavior. I’m thinking about Ari and not Davis.
“Okay, I am jealous, but I agree with you. I need to meet him. I’m sorry.”
“Really?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yeah, my dad knew every person involved in my sports life. They were either friends or social acquaintances. It was easy for me to have a support system when my dad built those alliances. I want that for Davis.”
She looks at me for a few seconds with soft eyes. I told her how much my dad meant to me before he died. He was my biggest fan and when I made it to the NFL; I tattooed a tribute to him on my upper thigh. He and Ari are the ones I thought of most when I accepted the team jersey onstage in New York.
“That’s a start.”
“What do you mean that’s a start?”
“I mean once he figures out who you are, we’ll be inundated with questions and people asking about you.”
“Shit, Ari, do you think I’m going to bring in a circus?”
“Not sure, but here’s our chance to see. Travis, Miles’s dad, is on his way over here. Even with your hat, he’ll know who you are, and there’s no hiding Davis is yours.”
I look over my left shoulder and see Travis staring at me with uneasy eyes. He makes his way to us slowly but doesn’t stop to stand by me. He moves to Ari’s right side and stands close, not saying a thing. I can tell she is uncomfortable with the silence because she starts to fidget.
My mind races because we haven’t discussed how we are going to tell Davis I’m his dad, and yet I want to scream it right now. This Travis guy is sending off serious vibes and I need to take control of the situation.