Page 99 of The Wrong Game

“I mean, I’m thirty and I feel the same,” Zach chimed in, raising his hand not intertwined with mine.

Micah high-fived that hand before they both sat back, satisfied grins on their faces. I just shook my head.

“It’s afootballgame,” I argued. “That’s what you should be excited for.”

“Oh, and I am,” Micah said. He kicked his feet up on the seat in front of him with a casual shrug. “I’m stoked to watch the Bears whoop up on some Jets’ ass. I justalsowould like to get a peek at some other ass. Preferably that of a hot blonde.”

My mouth popped open at his language, but Zach just laughed out loud, nudging his little brother.

“What, got something against brunettes now, little bro?”

“No way. I just know no other brunette could compete with the chick sitting beside you right now, and you know I hate losing. Gotta keep my eyes open for a hot blonde if I want a chance here.”

Micah grinned at me then, and it was a grin so close to Zach’s that my mouth just fell open wider. They were like teacher and student, except I wasn’t sure who had taught who, and I felt like I was back at that first game with Zach and his cheesy lines.

And that’s how the rest of the game went.

Zach and Micah were like two cocky peas in a modest pod, and I had front row tickets to the show. They bantered back and forth, laughing and ragging on each other between plays as we watched the Bears take a comfortable lead over the Jets. By half-time, all the nerves I’d had were completely gone, replaced instead by so much laughter my sides were aching from the strain.

“I’m going to go get us a couple beers and some food,” Zach announced at half-time, popping up out of his seat. “Hot dog, ketchup and cheese?” he asked me.

“Ew,” Micah said, pressing a hand to his chest like he was personally offended. “What the hell is that?”

“Don’t even ask,” Zach said. “Trust me when I say you don’t want to know.”

“Hey, both of you just leave my food choices alone,” I said. “Until you’ve tried it, you can’t knock it.”

Micah’s lip curled up, his nose scrunching at the thought of me consuming that hot dog as Zach turned to him. But when he asked what Micah wanted, Micah’s eyes leveled with mine, and he nodded.

“You know what, you’re right,” he said. “I can’t knock it until I’ve tried it. So, I’ll have the same.”

Zach’s brows shot up and I smiled, crossing my arms in victory.

“You want a hot dog with cheese,” Zach deadpanned. “Andketchup.”

Micah cringed a little, but nodded. “Yep.”

Zach shook his head, throwing his hands up. “Whatever. It’s your dinner. Be right back.”

He leaned down to kiss my forehead as he passed, and then it was just me and Micah.

A comfortable silence fell between us as we watched the halftime entertainment, which happened to be two scrimmages being played by Pop Warner players on either half of the field. The rain had stopped, mercifully, but the temperature had dropped another seven degrees. I was thankful for my heavy coat and long socks under my jeans, and I huddled into myself more, missing Zach’s warmth.

I always loved the little halftime shows they had, and Micah seemed to be enjoying watching the young players scrap it out on the field, too. It was hard not to think of all their possibilities. One day, they’d be grown, and maybe playing on this very field again in a different uniform.

We both laughed as one of the little receivers on our end scored and did a celebration dance that looked like the Floss dance from the YouTuber known as The Backpack Kid, the crowd going wild as he did. Micah was still chuckling as he propped his arm up on the back of Zach’s chair between us, eyes staying on the field as he finally spoke.

“So, you and my brother, huh?”

I smiled, but kept my eyes on the field, too. “Is this when the interrogation starts?”

At that, Micah leaned across Zach’s chair a bit, crossing one ankle over his knee and balancing his chin on his hand. “What exactly are your intentions with my brother?” he asked in a mock Dad tone.

“That was actually pretty good. I’d be scared if I was Zach’s prom date.”

“If you would have seen his prom date, you would have been more scaredofher than for her.”

I laughed. “That bad, huh?”