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“I do not think they are playing by the same rules,” I tell Theo, nodding to the field where Tabitha is still playing.

“They definitely aren’t,” he chuckles.

“What exactlyarethe rules? I would like to learn.”

“Uh…well, you can’t touch the ball with your hands, and you can’t…intentionally hurt people. There’s more, but I can’t remember everything.”

“And the losing team is sacrificed?”

“What?” Theo laughs, even though my question is serious. “Sacrificed?”

I furrow my brow, trying to tell if he is mocking me, but it seems he is not, and I let out a loud sigh. “I was told…many things that are not true about humanity, about your world.”

“Is that why you’re trying something new?” he asks quietly. “Because you realized that we aren’t all deserving of eternal torment and Hellfire?” I look up at him, and the strange heat of our connection jumps between our bodies. At least, I imagined it was our connection, but now I realize that it is similar to what I feel with Ben, and my confusion only deepens.

“Perhaps,” I murmur. “Perhaps I am still…working things out, and I do not wish to do anything that could make me regretful. I am told it is not a pleasant sensation.”

He watches me closely for a moment, then looks back to where Ben is playing with the children and says, “‘Hell is yourself, and the only redemption is when a person puts himself aside to feel deeply for another person’.”

“Is this a quote from your…holy scriptures?” I ask with a grimace.

“No,” Theo snorts. “It’s Tennessee Williams. He uh…he was a writer.”

“You will have to explain it to me later,” I say, since his mother is calling us back over to the sidelines of Tabitha’s game, which is nearly over.

“I will,” Theo promises.

25

Theo

While Mom interrogates Benand ‘Annika’, I go stand next to Molly on the sidelines and watch Tabby get into a huddle with her teammates.

“You seem better,” Molly says quietly. I look down and realize that shedoesn’tlook better than the last time I saw her. She looks exhausted, and guilt threatens to drag me down again. Normally, I’m there to help her out. Driving the kids to games or practices, taking the boys fishing with Dad while Mom takes the twins, just so Molly can spend time with Tabby. I’ve been letting them all down.

“I’m sorry, Mol,” I say in barely more than a whisper. “I haven’t been there for you lately.”

She toys with her necklace and watches the game start. “You’ve had a lot going on,” is all she says.

Understatement of the century.I glance over at Ben, who’s speaking animatedly to my parents, and Annoth, who’s observing the game with a rather quizzical look on her face.

“Yeah, but you and the kids…you’re more important than my drama,” I tell Molly.

“Have you talked to Ros at all? Vi told me about hernew job and her new place…”

“She came by yesterday, actually, to get the cats.”

“And?”

“We didn’t talk about it. She’s set on her path and…I’m set on mine. No reason for hard feelings.” I shrug, but Molly reaches up and puts her hand on the tattoo covering my upper arm.

“Teddy,” she says gently, but I shrug away from her.

“I promise I’m alright, Mol. Just need to start the moving on process.”

“Yes, how’sthatgoing?” she asks, raising her eyebrows and glancing at Ben. He’s actually making my Dad laugh now. A miracle, honestly.

“It’s not like that,” I say, a little too quickly.