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“Thanks…I guess.” We get out of the car and I wait anxiously for Ben while Annoth stands behind me, studying the map of the soccer complex. When he comes back out, smiling casually, I can tell he’s putting on a front. He walks up and puts his hands on my shoulders, standing so close that I’m enveloped by the warm, subtle scene of Old Spice.

“We aren’t going to talk about it now,” he tells me firmly. “We’re going to get you through this soccer game, and then we’ll talk about it another time, and I’ll tell you everything. Both of you. I promise.”

I take a deep breath as his eyes flicker around my face. Suddenly, I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to see my family right now. Not because of the video, but because of Ben. I want to put my arms around him and apologize—for doubting him, for being cruel to him, for the church, for people, for everything. I just want to go somewhere, be alone with him, and find out how the hell he has this kind of strength, because I’ve never met anyone like him. I’ve nevermet anyone so unfailingly optimistic and gentle and open-hearted, and I just want to understand.

But all I can say is, “It’s a deal.”

Annoth comes over and links her arm through Ben’s, giving him a dazzling smile that he returns. We walk up the little hill together, and stop to survey the small crowd around the soccer field. There, in the middle, is Molly, standing next to my mom, while Dad chases Molly’s 4-year-old twin girls, Trinity and Taryn, around in the grass behind them. Her other two kids, 9-year-old Thomas and 7-year-old Tucker, must be at the playground nearby. Mol is carefully working Tabby’s dirty blonde hair into a ponytail. Before she can secure it, Tabby spots me and squeals, then tears across the field, cleats throwing up clots of grass in her wake.

24

Annoth

“Uncle Teddy! You’re here!”the young girl cries,launching herself into Theo’s arms from an impressive distance. He spins her around, then pulls her into a tight hug.

“Hey, Tabs,” he murmurs. “I’m here.”

Two women approach us, both of whom I recognize from the photographs in Theo’s apartment. His mother, Bethany, with her straight brown hair streaked through with gray and face the same shape as Theo’s. They share a smile too. Molly is tiny—shorter than I imagined her to be—but looks fierce. Her brown hair is shorter now than in most of her photographs, hanging in loose curls to her chin, and she wears a spectacular frown. Two identical little girls with messy, dark blonde pigtails bounce over to us as well, followed by a tall, broad-chested man with neat silver hair and a deeply-lined face. I am not easily intimidated, but John Keating seems like the type of man who could see straight through me, and I tense up. Ben squeezes my arm. I want to take his hand, but I remember that we are supposed to be only friends and not lovers.

“The prodigal son returns,” says Molly, pulling Theo into a one-armed hug while she tries to wrangle one of the small girls with the other hand.

“You look like you’ve been sleeping on the streets, Teddy, honestly,” says Theo’s mother, reaching up to touch his hair.

“Oh, he looks fine,” says John quietly. I notice he only shakes Theo’s hand, rather than embracing, and imagine this might be what Theo meant by ‘old-school’.

“Tired, though, and underfed,” Bethany continues. “Donottell me that my son stopped cooking and sleeping as soon as his girlfriend left.”

“Beth,” says John, giving a small shake of his head. She shrugs and wraps her arms around Theo.

“I’m fine, Mom,” he assures her. “Just…working through it on my own, you know?”

“Got a new job yet?” John asks, and Molly smacks his arm. I like her already.

“Daddy! Give him a break!”

“Nah, I haven’t found one yet,” Theo tells his father, swinging one of the little girls up into his arms and flipping her upside down. “Figured I’d take some time and see what it feels like to be you: retired and bored.” John smiles at this and picks up the other girl, flipping her too until both children are giggling madly.

“Teddy,” says Molly with a pointed look at me and Ben. I can tell he is anxious about introducing us, and Ben grips my arm again, reminding me to smile and act human.

Theo runs a hand anxiously through his hair. “Ah, yeah. Family, this is Ben. I had to get a roommate after Ros moved out, and he was also nice enough to give me a ride today so I wouldn’t miss Tabby’s game.” John takes a step forward and puts his hand out. Without hesitation, Ben shakes it and gives him a winning smile.

“Ben de la Cruz. It’s so nice to meet the people Theo’s always talking about,” he says in a much more formal voice than he normally uses. “This is my good friend, Annika. She’s here from Sweden checking out the university for grad school.”

“Hello,” I say quietly.

“Well, it’s very nice to meet both of you,” Bethany says, putting her hand out too. Ben takes it and actually kisses it, causing her to turn an impressive shade of scarlet. John merely raisesan eyebrow. Uncertain if this is standard human behavior or not, I just continue to smile sweetly at everyone.

“I’ve gotta go play now, Uncle Teddy!” Tabby cheers. “Are you and your friends gonna watch the whole game?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he tells her. “Go kick some ass!”

“Theodore!” Bethany snaps, but then she turns her attention back to me and Ben. “So, how do you and Teddy know each other?”

“Mutual friends,” Ben tells her. “My old roommate finally got married, so I had to move, and Theo’s friends hooked us up.”

“How convenient!” Bethany says as we all walk back toward the field. “And what do you do for work, Ben?” Theo becomes tense as he waits for the answer. We did not discuss this part of our ruse, but as usual, Ben has a story ready.

“I work with nonprofits and youth camps doing some counseling, and some sports coaching,” he says. The ease with which he lies appears to unsettle Theo, who clears his throat and looks away.