LOSER, AGAIN!

Chapter Five

I couldn't help but feel tension in the air as Keshawn calmly sat between Amber and I, which was probably for the best because I definitely didn't want to sit near her at all. I was angry that Dad had invited her but even she knew that he had a kind heart and would give someone the shirt off his back, but I'm not that damn nice. I glanced over at Keshawn as he fiddled with his straw wrapper while purposely avoiding eye contact with nearly everyone at the table, which only made me question if he was okay with this. I knew that Amber shouldn't be here, and honestly, I wished it was a one-on-one date with Keshawn but beggars couldn't be choosers. 

I reached down and gently grabbed onto his hand, making me look over at me and the large smile that came over his face only warmed my heart as I couldn't help but return one just as large as his. I leaned closer to him and could smell the huskiness on him, making me only snuggle closer as the waiter came over and sat our plates before us. I looked at Keshawn's country-fried-steak and it seemed like he had read my mind as he met my eyes and immediately shook his head at me, making me laugh. Dad was busy reaching into Father's plate and stealing a few of his fries while still focusing on his building block game.

"Will you put that damn phone away?" Father huffed, wrapping his arm around Dad shoulder, who chuckled and rolled his eyes before his phone buzzed and a soft tune played in the air. 

"I won, and now I will." Dad replied, smiling while reaching and grabbing another fry off Father's plate, who quickly snatched the fry back and shoved it into his mouth with a laugh.

I laughed at their interacting as a plate of smiling pancakes was sat in front of Amber, who was also watching their interaction as if it was surreal. I shook my head as a similar plate was sat before me but I had scrambled eggs with American cheese on top, I grabbed the salt and lightly sprinkled on my eggs before gesturing to Keshawn, who refused while hungrily taking a bite of his food. 

"You did good today, Keshawn, you're gonna have to come over and show me how to school this big guy." Dad said, to which Keshawn nodded too, considering his mouth was full.

"School me? Ha." Father mockingly laughed. "You're not ready for this."

"You're not even good." Dad retorted, making us all laugh. "Like, you're bad bad."

"You're just jealous cause I can actually make a basket, and you can't." Father replied, which caused Dad to roll his eyes. 

"Not true." Dad said, smacking Father in the arm. "I can make a basket!"

"No, you can't." Father said dismissively before turning back to Keshawn, who was barely paying attention to the conversation. "When did you first start playing ball?"

"Six." Keshawn replied. "Me and old friends from Kentucky, I used to school 'em all." He said in a reminiscing way, making me smile lightly.

"I can tell, you're going to make it somewhere playing like that, that's for su-" Father started, making me roll my eyes.

"Oh lord, here we go." I huffed. "Daddy..."

"What?" Father said, glaring playfully at me. "You don't think I know what I'm talking about? I was going to coach a junior league but you're grandma talked me out of it. I've seen all types of children come and go in sports. When I was in high school, we e-"

"How long ago was that, fifty years maybe?" Dad chuckled, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"You're feisty tonight." Father replied, looking over at Dad, who only shrugged innocently while taking a sip of his water.

"Your fault." Dad said, making me shake my head as I ate my pancakes, humming at how fluffy they were. "Hey, Kiddo..."

I looked up questionably as Dad and Father both stared at me with a bewildered look, I frowned and looked down at my plate as well to see that the waiter had followed my instructions of giving me a few pickles to nibble on as well. However, instead of eating my pancakes then eating my pickle slices, I was stacking them together like a tiny sandwich and it was like a delicious decadent I never tasted before. I frowned at the thought, I knew this wasn't normal but there wasn't much I could think of why my eating habits have started to go astray.