“We’ll have to teach you,” Ryan chimed in, leaning forward in his chair. “He punted the ball to the other team because his team didn’t get the ball ten yards. They have four down to move the ball ten yards. They had three and only made it two yards. That yellow line that keeps appearing on the field? It’s for TV viewers to see where the ten-yard point is.”
“Oh okay…” I nodded, but I had a dozen more questions. “What’s a down?”
Ryan didn’t seem to mind explaining the game to me. In fact, I had the impression that he liked talking about it. He told me about everything happening on the screen and answered all of my questions.
I glanced over at Bones at one point, who hadn’t spoken in a while, and saw he’d been watching the two of us instead of the game with an affectionate smile on his face.
I tucked away four whole pieces of pizza. It felt like I’d eaten a lot, but Bones polished off a whole pizza by himself. Talk about a big appetite.
The game lasted much longer than I would have guessed and the afternoon stretched on as I got more and more into it. At one point, a running back for the Dolphins was handed the ball by the quarterback and took off running, weaving his way through the defensive players on the other team with amazing grace, and streaking toward the end zone.
We were all three on our feet, shouting at the television as if the man could hear us. Ryan jumped up and down while Bones clenched his fists at his sides. When the man crossed that white line seconds before a player from the other team tackled him to the ground, I felt an exhilarating adrenaline rush and cheered louder than either of the men with me, despite the fact that they were both diehard fans.
I finally understood why people got so into this. It was a heady feeling to root for a team as they scored.
When we sat back down, Bones reached over and took a hold of my hand, interlocking our fingers.
I didn’t know if he’d want to show affection in front of Ryan, but it looked like he didn’t care. I relaxed into my seat and enjoyed the connection between us.
Ryan grabbed the cookies out of the kitchen, bringing the whole jar into the living room.
I grabbed one for myself. “You’re a hell of a baker,” I told Bones, making him laugh.
The Dolphins won and I decided I would watch the next game too, even if I was by myself. Ryan had explained the rules well enough that I was sure I could follow what was happening.
He told me about the football season so far, filling me in on how the team had done over the last five weeks and what it meant. As he was talking, Bones’ phone rang.
When he answered it, I knew something was wrong within seconds. The relaxed, happy expression slipped away from his face and he excused himself to the other room to talk.
Ryan either didn’t notice or decided not to worry about it as we kept talking, but I felt like I couldn’t completely focus on the conversation anymore. I was too distracted.
When Bones came back into the room, he was grinding his teeth together. “God damn it,” he snarled, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “That was Coyote. I’ve got him watching the casino today. There was yet another person caught dealing coke.”
“Were they arrested?”
“Yes, but that’s not the point,” he snapped. My expression must have told him he was being an asshole because he ran a hand over his closely trimmed hair and sighed. “Sorry, I’m just pissed. They don’t know when to quit!”
I felt like there was more to it and I was determined to find out what was bothering him so much. The casino was my work after all, so that made it my business. I was angry about it too, but I didn’t take it personally the way he seemed to be.
“That sucks, dad,” Ryan said, standing and stretching. “I think I’m going to go to Dustin’s house. I haven’t hung out with him in a while. Is that cool?”
Bones looked at Ryan for a long moment but nodded. “Walk straight there. No running off again,” he said.
Again?
“I won’t,” Ryan said, and there was no levity between them now.
Once Ryan walked out the door, I turned to Bones. “You know, I brought my new convertible, I could give him a ride wherever he’s going,” I offered.
“Don’t worry about it. Dustin lives a block away, and he’s one of Ryan’s friends that I approve of. I just needed to remind him of an incident that happened a few days ago. He heard me fighting with his mom on the phone and left. I couldn’t find him for hours.”
“Oh my god, that must have been terrifying.”
“You have no idea. I was losing my mind.”
“Speaking of losing your mind, what was with that reaction to the coke dealer at the casino?”
“What?” Bones had been bent over the coffee table, gathering up the empty paper plates and the cardboard circles he’d served the pizza on, but he straightened at my question.