Page 51 of Scoring Chance

Eventually, they see me.

“Dad!” Davy waved. “Des is teaching me goat herding!”

“Useful skill,” I say, joining them on the driveway.

Des grins at me, flushed and proud. “I ordered pizza. Cheese and bread are part of a balanced diet, right?”

“I appreciate that,” I say. “And the goat herding.”

Davy grabs his stick and skates inside to get water. Des turns to me, his eyes flicking over my face. “How was the interview?”

I hesitate. “Short.”

He gives me a sympathetic wince and opens his arms for a hug. I don’t even think twice; I step into him and let myself rest there for a beat longer than I mean to. His shoulder smells like sweat and that cologne he wore to work. Strong, clean, expensive.

“Pizza’s on the way,” he murmurs. “Pizza solves everything.”

“Thanks.”

We go inside, and the chaos picks up again like someone hit play on a sitcom. Dean and Lulu argue over control of the TV; Davy gulps down water, letting his hockey gear fall to the floor; Lena texts away in her armchair.

I go upstairs to change out of my interview outfit. I hear the doorbell ring, and Des yells out “PIZZA!!!” and my kids chime in. The noise could shake the house. I can’t stop smiling to myself, the stress of my job hunt lifting away temporarily.

When I return downstairs, Des hands out paper plates like a man on a mission, and it’s adorable how seriously he takes it. “Okay, two slices each to start. No hoarding dipping sauces.”

Des hands me the first plate. The hot, greasy pizza beckons. “Since you had a rough day,” he says.

“Daddy and Des are married and love each other very much,” Lulu recites. Des gives her a thumbs up.

“I did a little Stan dinner prep with the kids.” Des bites his lip, feeling caught. “Am I psychologically damaging your kids?”

Well, nothing Lulu said was a lie, at least not for me. I don’t have a suitable answer, so I take a bite of my dinner and flop onto the couch.

The doorbell rings again, and I wonder if it’s more pizza, when Lena races to the door. Matthias steps inside.

“Hello!” He gives all of us a big wave. “Happy Friday!”

“Hi, Matthias.” I wave back, too tired to get off the couch.

“Dad, is it okay if I go bowling with Matthias tonight?”

“They just waxed the lanes, and I want to try a new spin move,” he says.

“What time will you be back?” Des asks before I can give my okay. He gets up close to Matthias, flexing the few inches of height he has over him. Matthias’s lower lip trembles.

“Is ten okay?” Matthias asks, looking back at me for confirmation. I nod yes.

“Which bowling alley are you going to?” Des crosses his arms, not letting up.

“Empire Lanes.”

“Where’s that?”

“Off Maple?”

“They serve alcohol at bowling alleys. If I looked in your wallet, would I find a fake ID?”

“No, sir.” Matthias holds out his wallet. “You’re welcome to check.”