Page 61 of Not How I Saw That Going

Thelastfewdayshave been tortuous, and the lush green scenery of the soccer fields is a nice change from the countless charred buildings and crumpled cars I’ve been spending my time with.

Lyndi and Crew aren’t here yet. But my parents are.

They are out in the dirt, in the wild? And without a golden shovel in their hands prepared to break ground on a new project. They look as out of place as a cruise ship in the middle of a desert.

“What are they doing here?” I ask my sister.

She sighs and rubs her forehead. “They wanted to come. I had no clue they were serious.”

“Serious is an understatement.” Their lawn chairs are akin to a patio lounge set. There’s no way they would have gotten them here without… I glance at the parking lot. Yep, there’s Ronaldo. I bite back the urge to laugh as my mom pulls out a hat with a net. She looks like a very dignified beekeeper.

“Would you hate me if I left now before they see me?” I ask.

Collins turns, piercing me with her green eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”

And that is one too many pregnant sisters I’ve ticked off today. “Gotcha.”

“Get over there and keep them occupied so they don’t tell me how to coach.” She blows her whistle right in my ear and I cringe.

I don’t think they’d dare.

I scan the small soccer crowd again for Lyndi, but a quick glance confirms she isn’t there. I have nothing left to delay the inevitable.

“Hello, Mother,” I address the couple who are acting like royalty at a public park.

“Ward, darling.” My mother waves her hand excitedly so she doesn’t have to stand. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”

“I always watch the girls play,” I say.

“What about your girlfriend?” Mom looks around. “I don’t see her anywhere.”

Is that hope in her voice?

“She’s…coming.” I think. “Are you wearing an ascot, Dad?”

“Yes.” Dad proudly tugs on it. “They’re taking over the business world. I’ll get you one when you come work for me.”

That escalated quickly.

I grind my teeth together to keep from saying something I’ll regret. Something like “I don’t want to be a part of your business. I don’t care about the money. There are more important things in life.” I know how those conversations will end. The same way they always do, with my parents telling me I’m wasting my life and me resolving to never engage with them again.

“I’d like you to come down to the office on Thursday. I’ve got some things in the works I want to show you,” Dad says. He’s a good businessman. He doesn’t give anyone the opportunity to say no. Instead, he commands them to do his will.

“I work Thursday.” Not a lie.

“Friday will do,” Dad says, unfazed.

“That’s enough business talk for now,” Mom chides. “We will have plenty of time to discuss it after the gala,” she says as if that’s that.

“Mmm.” I mutter through tight lips and turn toward the game which has finally started. Thank goodness. It’s grown hotter than the Middle East out here.

“Don’t forget about dinner on Sunday,” Mom says, adjusting the net around her face. “We’d love to see your girlfriend there, if she’s still around.”

Great. Sunday. Another thing I need a fake girlfriend for.

Should I just skip right to the apology and bring Lyndi pizza? I almost smile just thinking about her love of food. If I dated her for real, I might go broke apologizing for all the times I’m wrong.

I make myself stay by my parents for a few minutes into the game, but they aren’t a talkative bunch, unless the topics include my future wife or a position in the family business. So I find myself pacing the small field until I end up next to Collins.