“Babe,” Marnie grunts.
“I’m only asking what we both want to know.” Lisa peers up at Marnie while leaning over her lap and the look they share makes it clear they are a couple. “He never brings a woman to these things.”
“Oh my God.” Marnie giggles and turns to me. Her cheeks are pink and her eyes sparkle. “I’m so sorry about her.”
“Eva went to Immaculate with me,” Zebb explains. “We ran into each other at O’Malley’s the other night. During that reunion.”
The reunion where I didn’t reunite with anyone other than him.
“Ah,” Lisa hums before sitting upright on the other side of Marnie.
“Coffee? Hot chocolate?” Zebb asks me.
“I’d love a coffee,” Lisa blurts.
“He wasn’t asking you.” Marnie laughs again.
“Well, as long as he’s going. Coffee. Yes, cream and sugar. You know how I like it, handsome.” Lisa winks at me as I watch her give her order.
“Ignore her,” Marnie mutters. “I’ll take a coffee as well.”
“I’d love a hot chocolate.” It’s probably going to be watery with all the chocolate lumped at the bottom, but something warm does sound good.
“I can’t carry four drinks,” Zebb states, glancing back at Lisa.
“Fine. I’ll come with you.”
Marnie’s mouth falls open as Lisa stands. Facing one another, Lisa looks down at Marnie. “Get all the deets while I’m gone.” She slides by me and meets Zebb on the stairs.
He shakes his head and points at his sister. “Behave.”
Marnie grumbles. “I’m always good.”
We watch as the two clamber down the metal steps.
“She wasn’t wrong. Zebb never brings anyone to these games.” Marnie’s voice is soft, defending her woman while offering some truth about her brother.
“I’m not certain if this is an accusation, like I’m intruding on something sacred, or I should feel honored.” I laugh to dispel the anxiety.
Marnie shifts, facing me with doe-like eyes, wide and worried. “Oh gosh. That wasn’t an insult. We’re just . . . surprised. Zebb talked about you all through Thanksgiving.”
“He did?” I sound like an eager teenager but the tension in my shoulders lessens. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other. This isn’t really my scene.” I point toward the field.
“Well, this is Zebb’s church, so get ready to worship football for two hours.” Marnie laughs again, the sound light and easy. “I’m a teacher, so I understand athletics can mean a lot to some people. Zebb always had focus. Brock is just a madman.” She points at her eldest brother who is still pacing the fence near the sideline. “Zebb will need to rein Brock in and bring him up here or he’ll torture Nick. He’s one ofthosedads.”
“Those dads?” I wasn’t an athlete in high school or ever, so I don’t know what she means.
“The kind who scream and yell, commentating on the coaching, cussing out their own kid or other players on the sideline. More than once Zebb told Brock if he didn’t knock it off, he’d physically remove him. Our nephew is grateful.” Marnie softly smiles and glances down at her lap. “Brock is just jealous of the life Zebb once had, you know. He lives vicariously through Nick and wants him to follow in Zebb’s footsteps.”
“That’s a lot of pressure on a kid.”
“We know. That is Zebb and I know. Zebb felt like he had to do well for our family. He wanted to provide for everyone when it wasn’t his responsibility.”
My gaze shifts to the concession stand where Zebb waits in line, people leaning in to chat with him.
“Everywhere he goes people want to relive his glory days, but he’ll say his best life is now.” Marnie shakes her head, glancing in the same direction as me.
I’m still processing all these snippets as to who Zebb is now when Marnie changes the subject. “So what do you do?”