“What’s so funny?” Moira asked, giving her brother a shove.
Liam straightened. “Carmen and her cousin used to call me Wonder Bread.” He lifted his shirt. “I came by the nickname honestly.” Pointing at Moira, he added, “Like you.”
Everyone joined in the laughter because with the exception of their red hair, Liam and Moira were white enough to disappear in a snowstorm.
In truth, Kathy didn’t quite fit in the mix either, but no one called any attention to her.
“You should play on our team, Gabby,” Carmen said.
Jimmy held Gabby’s arm. “No way. For all the years Griffin Walker played, you claimed him as an O’Leary. Gabby’s my partner, she plays with the O’Malleys. Plus, she makes us even.”
With Jimmy’s comment, Kathy finally connected that Gabby was a police detective and Jimmy’s partner at work. Kathy hadn’t met her, but Moira talked about her often.
There were a few stragglers on the outskirts of the group. Kathy nudged Moira. “What about them?”
Moira smiled. “They want to watch. Everyone’s welcome to play, but the first game of the day is O’Learys versus O’Malleys. It’s the way it’s always been.”
“I’m neither.”
“Today, you’re an honorary O’Leary because you’re here as my guest.” She started walking away as did everyone else.
As a mob, they crossed the street kitty-corner to the open field behind a school. Kevin strode next to her. “Glad you made it.”
“Why?” she asked.
“I want to spend time with you. I had fun at dinner. Although I take some issue with you being on Moira’s team since I invited you first.”
“But I’m Moira’s friend.”
“We’re friends.”
Kathy looked at him from the corner of her eye. “I’m not sure what we are, but like Moira said, today my allegiance goes to the O’Learys.”
The O’Learys huddled to come up with a plan.
“Can someone explain the rules for those of us who are new to this?” Kathy asked.
Ryan looked at her. “Mostly we play tag football. Sometimes it gets a little rough, but no one gets hurt. If someone passes the ball to you, run with it. Don’t get tagged by an O’Malley.”
“Sounds easy enough.”
Moira clasped her hands. “I’ll go down field. Kath, you stay near the middle.”
“Why?” Ryan asked.
“I’ll be a distraction. I always am because they’ll assume you’ll throw to me. Get it to Kathy and she’ll score.”
Kathy shook her head. “I don’t know about that.”
“You ran track in high school. Hell, you still run because you like it. Trust me, you can outrun them. They won’t see it coming.”
“Little sister, I like the way you think,” Ryan said. He turned to the other brothers. “You guys make a path for her.”
Shane stepped closer. “And me?”
“You cover Jimmy. He’s the best they have. He played football. The rest of them are hockey all the way.”
Carmen and Maggie crossed their arms. Maggie said, “Are we just supposed to stand there and look pretty?”
Shane turned to Maggie. “You are good at that.”
She shoved his shoulder. “We can play.”
“We’ll need you after this. We’ll only be able to pull this play once. Then they’ll be all over Kathy.”
That didn’t sound fun at all.
“Let’s go.” Ryan clapped and they all spread out to their respective positions. Maggie jumped on Shane’s back, and he gave her a piggyback ride to midfield.
Kathy swallowed hard as she realized Kevin was guarding her. Knowing him, he’d volunteered for this spot.
Jimmy let out a sharp whistle and then nodded to Ryan.
Carmen snapped the ball to Ryan and all the O’Learys scrambled. If she hadn’t known their plan, she would guess they didn’t have one. Before she knew it, the ball was hurtling toward her. Conscious of Kevin standing beside her, she snatched the ball and turned.
He barely made a step in her direction when she’d taken off. She had a clear path all the way down. Kevin chased, but even with his slightly longer legs, he couldn’t catch her.
In the end zone, she spiked the ball and jumped up and down. Kevin bent over at the waist, out of breath.
“What. The. Hell. Was. That?” he huffed out.
“That was a touchdown,” she said with a broad smile.
The rest of her team came over and cheered. Jimmy grabbed the ball and shot a dirty look at Kevin.
“Like to see you catch her,” he said.
Kathy patted his shoulder. “Don’t feel bad. I ran track in high school.”
“Shit. I forgot about that.”
Had she ever told him?
“You went to state three years in a row. Fuck me. I never had a chance.” He raised a hand. “You brought in a ringer. If Jimmy can’t be quarterback, Kathy can’t be running back.”
“I’m not a running back. I’ve never even played football.”
“Sweetheart, you just ran harder and faster than any amateur player I’ve seen.”
“If it’s any consolation, they know we won’t be able to do that twice, so I don’t think you’ll have to worry about me.”
“That’s what they all say.”
“Then maybe you should have the big guy keep an eye on me. Or Tommy or Sean.”
“They’re all too busy looking at their girlfriends. You’re stuck with me.”
That’s what she’d been hoping he’d say. The more he focused on her, the less time he’d have to bother Moira. The problem was that his words made her almost as warm as the sun beating down on them.
* * *
Kevin was having more fun at the football game than he’d had in a long time. They played every year and the teams were slightly different each time. Although they all tried to be home for the block party, and this game in particular, there was always some shifting, especially as girlfriends and boyfriends entered the picture.
He’d planned on guarding Moira during the game, but Jimmy shot that down, so Kevin was with Kathy, not that he minded. In between plays, they chatted about work and families, mostly him filling her in on all the new players on the field.
One of the best things about the game, though, was that his dad and Mrs. O’Leary sat in lawn chairs on
