Page 221 of Just for the Cameras
“Oh, you know.” She smiles cutely. “How to handle a broody defensive end who used to scowl more than smile.”
“You know, he is smiling a little bit more. It’s a little freaky,” Huttonsays. “Don’t know what to do when he’s flashing his teeth all the time.”
I glare at my friend, who laughs.
“Ah, there it is, the murderous expression I’ve come to love.”
Ignoring him, I say, “So you two know each other?”
“We do,” Maple says. She turns to Scarlett. “I guess I kind of forgot that you were married to a football player. You don’t really talk about it.”
“Oof, can’t hear that enough,” Hutton says, hand to chest. “My wife not talking about me feels really good.”
Scarlett rolls her eyes. “Please, you get enough attention.”
“Not from the right person.” He snags his arm around her waist and kisses her neck. She leans into him for a moment before pulling away but keeps close as she slides her arm around his waist as well.
“Okay, so we are both dense, didn’t put everything together, and are now here with someone we know. Looks like it all worked out.”
“You know the other wives,” Hutton says.
Scarlett scoffs. “I know them, but that doesn’t mean I like them.” She winks. “I like Maple. She takes care of flamingos, and now that she’s here, we can get to know each other better. I’ve only ever really seen her in passing, so this is exciting. I can hear all about the flamingo keeper who has put a smile on our nasty friend’s face.”
“Nasty?” I ask.
“Well, you know…you don’t have the best bedside manner.”
“She’s right.” Hutton claps me on the shoulder. “You’re kind of a dick.”
Maple kisses my shoulder and smiles up at me. “But he’s my nasty dick.”
“Can you not call me that?” I ask as everyone laughs.
“She’s a keeper if she’s claiming you as her nasty dick.” Hutton chuckles. “Shit, I should have that put on a jersey for you. Instead of your last name, it will just say Nasty Dick with your number.”
“Ooh, maybe that’s the jersey I can wear at your first game,” Maple says, looking far too excited about it.
“You’re not wearing ‘nasty dick’ on your back.”
“I don’t know, has a bit of pizzazz to it,” Scarlett says with a shake of her shoulders. “And the chants.” She cups her hands over her mouth and says, “Bury their heads, nasty dick. Bury them.”
“Okay.” I take a step back. “If this is how it’s going to be, I think I’m going to go talk to someone else.”
“Great,” Scarlett says, looping her arm through Maple’s. “We will just take this little gem with us and get to know her better. Have fun.”
Scarlett waves, and before I can stop her, she directs Maple toward a high-top table where they both take a seat.
“Well, that idea backfired,” Hutton says as I keep my eyes on Maple and how she so effortlessly fits right in with Scarlett.
“Yeah…it did,” I say absentmindedly as a lightness fills my chest.
I’ve been to several of these kickoff party dinners. I’ve stayed for no more than an hour and made an appearance just to make it seem like I’m a team player, but I’ve gone home alone, annoyed and irritated that I had to go in the first place.
But this year…it’s different.
Because I have Maple.
And she brings light to the dark life I’ve been living. She makes thecolors around me brighter, the heaviness in my chest weightless,and makes me think of a future rather than just the day-to-day grind.
