Page 132 of Totally Laced Up
"Sure," she says.
Dex walks over to Bobby and lowers his voice.
"He's gone," Dex says.
Bobby glances toward me.
"Completely," he replies.
Colby joins them.
"About time," he says.
I pretend not to hear them.
Which is difficult because they're terrible at whispering.
The game dissolves into complete pandemonium after that.
Kids start tackling each other.
Dex attempts a trick shot and falls over a cooler.
Someone turns the music louder.
Maddie runs past me chasing Daisy again.
"Daddy watch this!"
"I'm watching," I say.
Natalie walks over with two drinks.
She hands me one.
Our fingers brush.
Neither of us pulls away right away.
"You seem happy," she says.
"I am," I say.
We stand there for a moment watching the yard.
Maddie is laughing with the other kids.
Daisy is rolling in the grass.
My teammates are arguing about whether Dex tripped over the cooler or nose-dived for a beer.
"I didn't trip," Dex insists loudly.
"You wiped out," Colby replies.
The back gate swings open before Dex can argue.
"Food delivery," Bryce announces, walking in with two pizza boxes.
