A Flame From The Past

61: The Game Pt.1

The next couple of days fell into a pattern, listening to Luca sneak out at four in the morning to train and workout and him coming back at seven just as Ray and I were about to leave for school. We spoke a myriad of words, but it was avoidable at best. Avoidable at least, the best thing was we only spoke when Ray was around. It was like this barrier and he was our whole world. Nothing existed outside of him, I had to make sure that Luca and I were just parenting together as a team, and nothing more.

But lines get messy, they get messier as time passes and those lines become so blurry you don't know where they started and where they ended. But a distraction of most fell into our hands. Lance was coming to visit from Florida, he was staying over the weekend to watch the game and he wanted to stay here to spend time with Ray as well.

Lance meant digging into why Luca and I didn't speak to each other when Ray went to sleep. Lance meant late night drinks in the foyer, and sleeping till late for both of us. It was a scarce mistake. Having him stay here, and I figured he would be the one to mess with our scarcity carved lines.

"What time is Lance coming in at?" I asked Luca as we made breakfast in the kitchen. We seemed to have fallen into a routine to get Ray up and it worked, we didn't bump into each other. We stayed out of each other's way, no matter how much I wanted or needed a slight brush against him.

"Five, I'm picking him up from the airport and I can grab you and Ray from school if you want".

"It's okay. I can meet you guys there". I told him and he nodded his head.

"I'm so ready for the game". Ray came storming into the kitchen in his jersey, bringing a smile to both of our stale faces. He seemed to be the only way, the only one who could cheer us both up in the presence of each other.

"Buddy we have school". I tried to tell him to change as Luca gave me those eyes. Eyes I understood so well.

"I got you a new shirt, they're about to start selling them. But I snagged you one". Luca said, and I prayed and prayed Ray would change into it rather than the jersey he's been wearing to school the past few days.

Luca sent Ray to grab it as he stood up. "I'll throw it in the washer once you two leave". Luca said, as I almost flung my arms around him. "Thank you". I told him.

"Layla's gonna be there tonight". He said. Our voices are stalling.

"Oh". I said.

"You know it doesn't have to be like this, right?" He asked. His voice annoyed and slightly ticked.

"Like what?" I asked, just as Ray came in with a new shirt and his old one in his hand. "I love it, thank you". He thanked Luca with a sweet hug, but he wouldn't let go of that stupid jersey.

"Ray. Why don't you leave it at home?" I asked, trying to get him to give it to me. It was the jersey Luca had given him, but the thing about this was Luca had won a huge game in it, which meant Ray wanted to wear the literal blood, tears and sweat of his warriors throughout the day. And it annoyed me, how he wouldn't let go of it.

But Ray finally released it into my hand after a week of trying. I tossed Luca the shirt thanking him as we went out of the house for school.

"Uncle Lance is coming tonight, right?" Ray asked, the word uncle attached to his name smoothlessly. Something like he was trying it out. I had picked up that Ray found it easier to admit these familial relationships with family he didn't have, he didn't mind saying the words grandma or aunt, but when it came down to people that he did have like mom and dad. He struggled and there never was pressure on him to call us mom and dad.

"He is". I affirmed, looking down at the smiling boy as we walked to the car.

He mumbled some words, not wanting me to hear them but it sounded like a huge weight had been just taken off of his shoulders. And I hoped it had nothing to do with me.