Page 75 of Sportsball is for Lovers

twenty-five

. . .

Jared

Sadie clutches my arm.“Please don’t let this color what you think about me.”

“I’d never,” I assure her, squeezing her hand.

“They’re not…”

“Hey, I know the real you,” I tell her gently. “I’ve seen it these past few months. I know you. These assholes don’t.”

“They aren’t assholes,” she mutters under her breath.

I huff out a laugh. “If you say so.”

“I do. They’re my family.” She doesn’t sound happy about that; she sounds sullen, resigned.

“They can still be assholes and your family. Doesn’t mean you’re cut from the same cloth. Just means they got the shit end of the stick.”

“You’re a shit end of the stick,” she retorts.

Her eyes are brighter, though. She doesn’t seem nearly as sad.

“So how do you want to play this?” I adjust my tie. “Are we dating or more…?”

She blows out a breath. “We’re not in a relationship. I told you, I’m not interested⁠—”

I roll my eyes. “Babe, I get it, I’m fucking fantastic in bed. I know in real life we are still casual. What do we tell your parents, though?”

“Oh. Um…”

“Haven’t thought that far ahead?” I tease.

She tenses up.

“Shit. Sades, you know that’s⁠—”

“As far as they are concerned, we’re dating,” she finally says. “We’re committed and exclusive. We met through mutual friends. If anyone says shit about getting married, deflect the fuck away.”

“Got it. No marriage.”

“I don’t want to get married to anyone,” she stresses. “It has nothing to do with you. I’m sure you’re the marrying type.”

Even though we’ve discussed this briefly, it doesn’t hurt to reiterate how I feel.

I shrug. “Maybe. If the right situation came around. I’m not opposed to life partnership. I just know I don’t want the elaborate wedding with the house in the suburbs and 2.5 kids.”

In other words… the life her parents—and mine—have always insisted they enjoy. The lives her sisters have fallen into.

Maybe they truly are happy. I don’t know. I’m certain I wouldn’t be, though.

Sadie sighs. “You’re sure you don’t? You won’t change your mind in six years?”

“Maybe we should have this conversation somewhere other than your parents’ doorstep?” I ask mildly.

I’ve read online that it’s a red flag for a man to be in his mid-thirties, unmarried, and no kids. It’s not that I don’t want to be married. For the right woman, I would do it. I almost did for Candace. But for so long, I was focused on myself and my career. And now that I have a steady job and a new place to live, I’m getting settled again… I’m ready to start dating. I’m coming around to the idea of a relationship.