Within Their World

Family Goes to Jonah's Game

Cody's POV

     I'm rushing around the house with my heart in my throat with nerves, and though to most I know this isn't a big deal, I've been dreaming of this day for two years. Today is Jonah's first basketball game and the whole family is going to be there.

      He's at school, probably getting ready for the game and I'm going crazy trying to make sure all the posters and signs that I made are packed and ready to go. I scramble in front of the living room again and squeal when an arm shoots out to wrap around my waist and stop my movement. I'm pulled into a strong muscular chest and turn my head to see James' amused expression peering down at me.

      "Calm down, bean." He tells me and I huff, slapping his chest with my hand in slight exasperation.

      "This is our sons first game. If anything you need to be more excited." I sass at him with a frown but he doesn't take offense as he chuckles and places a kiss on my head.

    "Hey doesn't need all the signs and everything, he'll just be happy for someone to be there for once." He tells me and my heart feels a sharp pang as I remember the story that Jonah told us. About how his mom ran away from him and his father when he was little and his dad blamed him. His dad never showed up to his games, or parent night or even remembered to pick him up from school sometimes making a seven year old walk home by himself.

     I remember the way I cried that night as I held him and told him that no matter what happens or how mad we get at him, we'll always be around for him.

     And this is our first chance to show him that I meant every word of that promise.

      "It doesn't matter if he needs it he's going to get it." I tell James before I'm pulling out of his grasp to go towards the kitchen area, the open floor plan perfect for our little family.

      'He might be embarrassed by all of the attention.' Jessie tells me, but I can tell he's just as excited as I am about seeing our kid play.

     'If so, he'll hate the shirts Chloe got.' I say absentmindedly and he begins laughing, though I'm actually starting to second guess if maybe I really did go over board. I pause with my hand on the fridge and begin to think about what to put back, even if I put a lot of work into today. I jump for a second time when arms snake around my waist from behind.

     "Cody, I was just kidding. He'll love everything." James tells me and I turn in his arms to look up at him through my lashes, biting my lip in hesitation.

      "Really?" I ask him and he gives me a soft loving smile.

     "Promise." He tells me and I grin up at him before turning to finish preparing for the game, with much more confidence than before.

✨✨✨

The game starts in twenty minutes and James and I are standing outside as we wait for the rest of our family to get here. I'm standing on the tips of my toes, hoping and praying they don't disappoint Jonah by being late or forgetting entirely.

My anxious thoughts evaporate when I recognize three cars that follow each other into the parking lot and make their way to where we're standing. They all rush out the car with panicked expressions on their faces and I walk over towards Chloe who's trying to get out of the car with his swollen belly.

I offer my hand, palm up, and he grabs it before we both get him out of the car.

"What took you so long? The games about to start!" I ask him as my hands behind fluttering nervously and Chloe sighs before turning to glare at Graves.