“You don’t need to be good at basketball,” Bump says, bouncing from foot to foot as we watch the other player finish his game while the attendant sets up ours. “You only need to be good at shooting baskets. No dribbling. No other players. Just you and the ball. Focus, Scarlett. You got this. I believe in you.”
Scarlett’s chin trembles, and a sheen comes over her eyes. “Thank you, Bump. I really appreciate that.” I can hear the tears in her voice from Bump’s ardent faith and encouragement.
“I’m still going to win, though,” he says, shooting her a quick glance. “It’s just how it has to be.”
I look from one of my favorite people on earth to the other. This is what it’s all about. No matter what happens during the fight or after it with the club, as long as I have these two, everything else will be just fine.
Twenty-Six
Scarlett
“I’m trying really hard not to be stunned that you beat Bump,” I say with a pink stuffed bunny clutched to my side.
Gabriel glances at my prize. “It’s not a salt-and-pepper-shaker set, but it’ll do. For now.”
I grin at his mention of my salt-and-pepper-shaker addiction. I love that he remembers the little things.
Bump has Hal at his side, and the two men walk ahead of us. Bump declared he has to take another walk around the gym before he decides what to play next. He uses his hands as he talks to Hal, and warmth fills my chest. I’m so happy we came. I’ve missed Bump, and I know if I have, Gabriel must be feeling the separation acutely.
When we walk past a water-target shooting game, Gabriel pauses. “Do you see what I see?”
I jerk my head around toward the game and look. “What?”
He points to the upper right-hand corner. “There. It’s black and red and white.”
I search through the mass of stuffed animals until I spot it. “A ladybug!”
Gabriel’s lips form the half grin that I love so much. “You know I have to win that for you, right? Hal can stay with Bump for a few.”
With a glance in their direction, I see Bump stop in front of a temporary tattoo station with a line of six people ahead of him.
“I think Bump’s about to get tattooed, so you might have enough time to win that ladybug for me before he’s done.”
“Want to make a bet about how long it’ll take me to win?” he asks with a dazzling blue wink. “Because I’ll totally wager sexual favors any day of the week with you, ladybug.”
“I already know you’re going to win it.”
“How?”
I lean in and press a kiss to his lips. “Because you’re unstoppable when you set your mind to something. Bump might believe in me, but I believe in you even more.”
Gabriel’s face goes soft. “Thank you. I needed to hear that. It means a hell of a lot.”
“Whatever happens with this fight, we’re going to be fine. I’ve already decided. Okay?” Who knows why I’m bringing it up now, but I need to hear him say it too. Win, lose, or draw, what he and I have is solid. We’re going to flourish, no matter what.
“Yeah, I agree with you there. We’re going to be just fine. But, first, I’m going to win my ladybug a ladybug.”
“Okay,” I say with a smile I can feel all the way into my chest.
Meryl finds us shortly after we’ve rejoined Bump and Hal. She nods at the two stuffed animals in my arms. “It looks like you’re having a good time.”
“We’re having a great time. Thank you so much for the invite.”
Bump stares at his feet instead of talking to Meryl, and for a moment, I’m worried he won’t want to speak to her.
“Hi, Bump. Remember me? I’m Meryl from the arcade. I’m glad you could join us today. There are some kids I’d love for you to meet, if you’re interested.”
Bump’s head pops up. “I like kids, even though they make fun of me sometimes for looking old but sounding like them.”
My heart breaks right then and there for whatever teasing Bump has endured.
“These kids are very special, and they know what it’s like not to be like everyone else. It’s like a club, and I think they’ll be really happy if you hang out with them.”
Bump’s eyes widen. “Really? That could be cool. I’m good at basketball. And Skee-Ball. And I really like—”
I freeze, afraid the next words out of his mouth will have something to do with Kitty the stripper. Thankfully, Gabriel wades into the conversation.
“He really likes making new friends. It’s good to see you again, ma’am.” And there’s Gabriel’s Southern charm again, making the temperature in the room rise. “Thanks for inviting us. Bump’s having a great time. This place is impressive as hell, but I can see why you need more room. Lots of good work going on here.”
From the pleased look on her face, Gabriel just slipped right onto Meryl’s good side with that comment. I applaud silently in my head.
“Thank you, Gabriel. It’s my passion. I know I’ve been a bit insistent on Bump coming, but you’ll see why in a moment. Come with me.”
All four of us follow her across the gym to a corner where a ring-toss game is set up. There are two boys in wheelchairs, and they look like they’re both around eighteen.
“Omar. Ashton. Do you think you’ve got room for one more player?”
One of them turns around and looks at us and Meryl. “Why you wanna know, Mrs. Fosse? You bringing in another stray?”
“I’m not a stray,” Bump says, and the boy who spoke looks him up and down from the wheelchair.
“No, but you old. You ain’t no kid.”
I open my mouth to intervene and explain, before Bump gets offended, but Meryl dives right in.
“This is Bump. You three have something in common, Omar.”
Omar looks to the other kid beside him and then zeroes in on the strip of hair missing from the side of Bump’s head. “He take a bullet to the head too? Fuck him up like us?”
Bump’s head bobbles. “That happened to you too? Dude . . . I’m so sorry. It was the worst thing ever, but I’m okay now. You look like you’re mostly okay too.”
Omar looks down at the chair. “I’m learning to walk again. Ashton ain’t so lucky, but it don’t matter. When I walk again, I’ll take him everywhere with me. We’re brothers from another mother.”
Bump squats down to their level. “I bet you still kick my ass at ring toss. I’m shitty at this game.”
Ashton finally pipes up. “Then come on. Let’s put some money on it.”
“Boys . . .” Meryl’s tone comes with a warning note. “No gambling. Remember?”
Omar and Ashton trade shit-eating grins before looking back at her and saying in singsong unison, “Yes, Mrs. Fosse.”
Meryl smiles at the three of them. “I’ll let you boys get acquainted.” She turns to me and Gabriel as Bump hands over more tickets to the person in charge in exchange for his rings.
In a low voice, she whispers in my ear. “Thank you for coming. It really means a lot to me. Omar and Ashton both have been through so much, and it’s hard for them to relate to people who don’t understand what they’ve experienced. When I saw Bump, I just had a feeling I couldn’t shake. If he’s not interested in coming back, I won’t push. But if he is, we’d welcome him with open arms.”