Who You Say I Am (A Jai Courtney Fanfic)

Chapter 86-Meg

Meg

We finish dinner and he gets a souvenir in their gift shop.  The staff asks for a group picture with him since it sounds like all of the youth working here are big fans.  He humors them and actually signs something for each of them.  He reaches for my hand and walks me to the SUV. 
We drive the few blocks away to the parking garage.  He pulls in and I tell him the box number since we get free parking.  The booth operator recognizes him immediately and he signs a paper for her.  She asks for a picture and he smiles as she bends down next to his window to get the shot.  I smile at how much he's adored and I'm grateful we're here a bit early since we wouldn't be able to walk two feet inside the stadium if we come when everyone else does.  He drives through the garage looking for an empty spot.  I notice a familiar yellow Porsche parked over three spaces and I hope it's someone else's.  I sigh shakily praying it's not him.  He never comes here.  He hates these kinds of events. 
Jai parks on the next level up and we have to take the stairs down two flights to the entrance.  I pull my tote higher over my shoulder as we walk the hallway towards the entrance. 
"You want me to carry that?" Jai offers. 
"Nah, I've got it," I tell him. 
"What do you have in there anyway?" he asks peeking in. 
"If you must know, I have a blanket because these things are always freezing and a giant centipede," I explain grinning. 
"Ah, the ankle biters will be here," he smiles. 
"They should be," I tell him. 
We get in line and go through the metal detectors.  I set my bag and my purse down.  I put my phone in a bin and walk through.  Jai does the same with his phone, wallet, and keys.  We collect our things and are on our way.  I show my tickets at the gate and we're nodded through. 
"I didn't realize there'd be so many coppers," he says to me. 
I shrug, "They're just here to make sure everyone is safe."
"Yeah, you're right.  Act cool," he tells me and I laugh.  "Did you want anything?" he asks motioning to the concessions. 
"No, I'm good.  You can get something if you want but there will be some food provided upstairs," I tell him. 
We walk halfway around the level to take the escalator upstairs but I see the souvenir shop catch his eye.  "Do you want to look first?" I motion to the shop.  He glances to his watch.  "We've got plenty of time."
"Alright," he nods. 
We walk into the shop and he smiles at the jersey.  "Fish?" he questions.  I open my coat and show him I have a matching shirt on that he must've not noticed earlier. He grins at me.  He decides to get a shirt but in a more neutral color than the bright jersey.  We head to the escalator and I give the attendant our box number.  She lets us through. 
"Yeah, you weren't kidding," he says about the security as we ascend.  I realize if he's here, at least his box is on the opposite side of this level and we shouldn't run into each other since he would use the elevators. 
We walk around the large open space on our floor.  It looks like there's a private party up here tonight but nobody has arrived yet.  There are long rectangular tables set up with chafing dishes along with round tables and seating. I feel Jai take my hand and I walk him to the first private box. 
"This is it?" he asks as we walk in.  We're the first to arrive. 
"Yeah," I say motioning to the plaque on the wall.  "My dad shares this box with several other companies.  There's food if you want, drinks, popcorn.  My dad mentioned that he ordered the sundae cart for the girls.  There'll also be a dessert cart that comes through.  You can get something if you want or we could go down to the concessions if you saw something else," I explain.  "Bathrooms are across the hall."
He nods and walks over to the stadium style seats. 
"You want to sit down?" I ask.  "We get first choice."
"Sure," he shrugs.  He goes down the few steps to the front row and takes a seat at the far end of the row.  "What's the glass for?" he asks knocking on it. 
"To stop pucks from flying at us.  That's if they miss the net," I say sitting down beside him and pointing out the net closer to the rink. 
"Do they really come up here?" he asks surprised. 
"Not that I've ever known," I shrug.  "But you never know.  I've caught one before but not here.  I was over there," I say motioning to where we were seated at the time.  "It bounced off of like four different people before it hit me in the stomach."
"You didn't get hurt, did you?" he asks worriedly. 
"No.  I'm sure everyone else who got hit could have.  They slowed it down for me," I tell him. 
We observe as the stadium fills up. 
"Your parents mentioned dogs, right?" he questions.
I smile at how we can see some. "Yeah, they have themed nights here. Often they're for families and kids. The pets are restricted to those areas, though," I tell him. "We could go down there later if you wanted to pet some. Usually everyone brings friendly animals."
"Maybe," he smiles.
We rise for the national anthem and I'm surprised nobody is here yet. I sing along. When it's about over, I hear someone enter the room. It's Mikey with one of his friends. I put my finger to my lips and they quiet down. He comes over and sits beside me when it's done.
"You know, you shouldn't wear your hat during the anthem," I say snatching his ball cap. "It's rude," I tell him messing up his hair and putting it back on.
"Sorry. I forgot I was wearing it," he tells me.
"Who's this?" I ask.
"That's Kyle," Jai tells me. I smile in that he knew that and I didn't.
"Nice to meet you, Kyle. I'm Megan," I say reaching my hand out to shake his.
"Dude, you never said your sister was hot," he says to Mikey.
"Yeah, okay," I say taking my hand back awkwardly.
"You'll get used to him," Jai whispers to me. "He constantly sticks his foot in his mouth."
"Oh, yeah? How do you know?" I question grinning.
"Because the first thing he said to me was asking your brother if I'm your dad," he chuckles.
I look to him disbelievingly and then glance at Kyle and my brother. They both rise to get some food.
"So he's just bursting with tact," I tease sarcastically. Jai laughs at that.
"Is nobody else coming?" I ask Mikey. "I thought some people from the office were joining us."
"Nope. Just us. Artie's on his way with the fam. Guess who's been having meltdowns all day?" he says loading up a plate with food.
"Oh no. What's wrong?" I question.
He shrugs, "Beats me."
Mikey comes down to sit beside me with his plate and a soda.
"Did you see a certain Porsche in the lot?" he whispers.
"Yup," I say.
"I said something to security on this floor. That's actually why we were late," he tells me.
"Thank you," I reply.
"No problem. I've yet to speak to him. He actually hasn't called me at all to say anything," he tells me and I frown. "Stop making that face. It makes me want to give you ice cream or something."
I laugh at that.
"Better," he smiles.
"What's going on?" Jai asks.
I debate on saying anything to him but I sigh and figure he should probably know. "Did you see the yellow Porsche in the parking garage? The one that took up several spaces?" I ask him.
He looks to me for a moment. "He's here, isn't he?" he figures it out.
I purse my lips and nod.
"Do you want to leave?" he questions.
"No. If he's here, he's on the opposite side of this level. Mikey already said something to security. Everything should be fine," I tell him.
"Alright," he says taking my hand.  The home team is hyped up by the announcer and they're brought in.  Everyone is clapping and cheering.  There's music playing and people ringing cowbells.  Everyone is chanting, "Fish, Fish, Fish!"
Jai smiles next to me.  The game starts and the puck gets passed back and forth.  After a group ends up against the wall, I see some gloves thrown.  There's a fight right from the start.  Jai chuckles and looks to me in question. 
"Yeah, they do that," I shrug. 
"That's okay for them to have have a biffo?" he asks. 
"No, they'll both be put into the penalty boxes.  They're not supposed to but they often do," I explain.  We watch as they're both hauled off. 
They start playing some funny Cop's music from the nineties and everyone cheers as they enter the box.  Whoever got the penalty on the home team raises his hands for his adoring fans. 
"I'm already intrigued," Jai laughs. 
"It's a fun sport, especially here.  The atmosphere is infectious," I say. 
The game starts again and we enjoy the ambiance. 
"So, Jai?" Kyle asks.  "What team are you rooting for?"
Jai cracks up laughing.  I look to Mikey in question and he raises his hands in surrender but I know he put him up to it.  I slap him playfully in the back of the head.  "Cut it out.  I don't want you persuading my niece to say dirty things like that when she gets here," I tell him. 
"Okay, okay," he gives in. 
There's a break in the game and I see that whoever is filming is encouraging couples to kiss.  I notice several couples on screen with a heart around them.  They all kiss and it's so sweet.  I notice someone holding a puppy and kissing it's head. 
"Awe," I say in adoration. 
The next couple up is... oh my goodness.  I feel Jai kiss my cheek and I laugh in surprise.  I peer back up to the monitor to see it's moved on from us.  I look to him and he's grinning at me.  I glance to Mikey and he just shrugs in response not saying anything. 
The game starts back up and everyone is clapping in excitement. I'm in kind of a daze from that.
I hear the stomping of munchkins behind me and I turn around.
"Auntie Meg!" Tabby calls out to me. She's wearing a Christmas dress.  She rushes into the room.
"Hi, sweetie!" I say getting up.  I walk up the stairs to meet her running form.  I grab her and pick her up.  "Oh my goodness!  Did you get bigger?"
"Uh huh," she nods.  "Look at my loose tooth."  She wiggles it for me. 
I laugh in surprise and glance to my sister-in-law, Yvette. She has naturally curly light brown hair and crystal blue eyes.  "She's changed two shoe sizes since you last saw her," she tells me holding her belly. 
"And lost two teeth," I point out.  "So it's this one?" I whisper.  She nods.  "Do you want to sit with me?" I ask Tabby. 
"I'm hungry," she says. 
"Okay, just keep on growing," I tease setting her down. 
I notice Jai is standing behind me so I introduce him.  "So, Jai, this is my brother, Arthur.  Artie, this is Jai," I say. 
"Hey, how are you?" Jai smiles shaking his hand.
"Good," Artie grins glancing at me.  "It's nice to meet you."
"This is Yvette, my brother's wife," I say. 
"Sorry, let me get the little ones fed or there might be a tantrum," she waves laughing.  She's making them each a plate and sitting them down. 
"Hi, it's nice to meet you, Jai," she smiles shaking his hand.  He replies the same sentiment. 
"This is Tabitha," I say.  "She's six and in kindergarten.  We call her Tabby.  And this is Joanna.  She's two, almost three.  We call her Jojo."
Tabby looks just like me when I was little but Jojo resembles her mother with lighter curly hair and blue eyes. They actually wave to him and he smiles and waves back.  Jai and I chat a little with my brother and sister-in-law.  They ask us about Jamaica.  I tell them it was fun and rewarding.  Yvette tells me they finally picked a name.  He's going to be Ethan. 
"I like it," I smile. 
"We do, too.  It was the only name we could agree on.  He wanted an Arthur junior and I told him anything but that.  It'd be confusing," she laughs. 
"I agree," I respond nodding and grinning. 
Jai and I go back to our seats to watch the game while they eat.  We get back just in time for the home team to score a goal.  Everyone jumps up and shouts.  Jai laughs at the contagious enthusiasm of the crowd.  It takes a good five minutes for the crowd to settle from all the cheering and bell ringing.  We take our seats again. 
"For a minor league team, your city really gets into it," Jai smiles. 
"We're starving for something and we like our sports," I grin. 
"I should take you to a match sometime," he whispers to me. 
"I'd like that," I say but then I wonder if I'd ever actually go to Australia.  I feel Jai grasp my hand again.  I smile in response and return my focus to the game. 
"You look really beautiful," I hear my brother tell his wife.  I peek back to see them kiss. 
"Thank you, Daddy," Tabitha giggles. 
"I wasn't talking to you," my brother replies and I open my mouth in protest as she makes the saddest face, frowning before the waterworks start.  I rush over to her and pick her up, lecturing my brother and telling him to tell her she's pretty, too.  She hides her face from him and buries it in my hair refusing to listen. 
"Come on, you can come sit with me," I tell her.  She nods still hiding her face. 
"What's the matter?" Jai asks me as I sit down with her.  She's facing me with her arms and legs wrapped around me. 
"My brother just inadvertently insulted her," I whisper. 
"I'm not pretty," she whispers. 
"Yes you are.  You're so pretty.  You're the prettiest girl," I tell her kissing her head. 
"She spitting the dummy?" he laughs. 
"No," I chuckle.  "She's having a growth spurt and she doesn't feel good.  She's also got a mouthful of new teeth coming in.  She's lucky she doesn't have a temperature," I elaborate.  "She just needs a hug."
I hug her and kiss her head a couple times.  She nuzzles up to me. 
"Where's Uncle Spencer?" Tabitha asks me when she calms down.  "I saw his banana car."
I try not to laugh at her nickname because it does remind me of a banana.  "Umm... sweetheart, Spencer and I aren't getting married anymore," I explain to her. 
"Why not?" she asks wiping her eyes. 
"Because he didn't love me like how your daddy loves your mommy.  He did some pretty mean things to me and I can't marry someone who doesn't love me like that," I tell her gently. 
"I don't like him anymore either.  That's not very nice," she says frowning. 
"But we should still pray for him," I tell her.  "Jesus doesn't want us to hate anyone.  He wants us to pray for those who do us wrong and show his love even if they're not showing it to us.  Do you understand?"
She nods and prays aloud for Spencer, asking Jesus to make him nicer.  I pray with her and she giggles a little.  We finish and I glance at Jai who's watching us.  "That was bloody kind of you," he whispers.  I smile at him in reply.