Playing the Game

Chapter 30: The Turners

Chapter 30

"Are you ready?" I called up the stairs, glancing down at my phone.

We were ten minutes late already.

"Don't yell at her!" Tommy called from the other room. "She's handicapped!"

"Nah man, she's fine!" I called back. "You're the one milking the appendicitis shit!"

"Bullshit!" Tommy yelled. "Don't be a bitch!"

"Don't call me out on shit!" I countered with a laugh. "Elizabeth! Let's go!"

"Vonnie, take your time!" Tommy yelled.

"Boys!" Mrs. Von Batton laughed, walking out of the kitchen as she dried her hands on the towel. "Let's keep the yelling to a minimum, shall we?"

"It's been two weeks and Tommy's still acting like he's been shot, mom." Elizabeth laughed as she jogged down the stairs. "Grow up!" She called to her brother.

"Mine wasn't laparoscopic, asshole." Tommy grumbled. "I have a full on incision."

"Yeah and mine full on burst and I played a whole football game. Fight me." Elizabeth snapped, turning towards her brother as she broadened her shoulders.

"Alright alright, let's go, please." I laughed, sliding my arm gently around Elizabeth's waist. "We can deal with this later."

"Nah come back and square up!" Tommy yelled. "I can take you any damn day!"

"Go back to Jersey!" Elizabeth laughed as I pulled her towards the door.

"You look beautiful tonight." I told Elizabeth, taking in the white blouse and dark jeans. The outfit accentuated every curve in just the right place, making my stomach squirm just at the thought of her.

"Thanks." Elizabeth winked, smiling up at me.

"We'll be back by ten. It's just a dinner at Coach's house." I told Mrs. Von Batton with a laugh as we walked out of the door.

"Have fun. Midnight curfew." Mrs. Von Batton said, giving Elizabeth a look. "Remember what we talked about?"

"Mom." Elizabeth hissed, her cheeks turning pink. "Stop."

"HAVE FUN!" Tommy yelled again. "You better be nice to her!"

"Alright alright goodbye." Elizabeth laughed, quickly shutting the door. "Jesus."

"What was that about?" I frowned, pulling my arm back from around her waist as we walked to the truck.

"Uh..." Elizabeth laughed, putting her purse over her shoulder. She glanced up at me. "Yeah, fuck it, my mom and I had an actual heart to heart today and she was telling me that she thinks that I should uh... Well." Elizabeth winced, her cheeks turning pink again.

"What?" I asked, hesitating before getting into the truck. Her uncertainty was amusing and I felt a smile cross my face.

"She thinks I should say fuck it to gender norms and ask you to be my boyfriend." Elizabeth said, faster than I'd ever heard her talk. "Totally ridiculous, I know, but like..." Elizabeth trailed off, scanning my face with an excited look on her face.

"Your mom thinks you should ask me to be your boyfriend." I repeated, my chest swelling as the smile grew on my face.

"Well... Well I mean, I do too." Elizabeth managed, leaning against the front of the truck. "If... If you like, want to."

"Oh I so like, want to." I whispered, walking towards her. "After dinner tonight I was gonna take you out to the stream and be hella romantic." I laughed, pulling her into my arms.