Part 16: Saturday Morning

Z's team was up 2-1 with ten minutes left in the game when the clouds that had been threatening all morning finally broke. Parents scattered for cover, but Ti stayed right beside Reece, sharing the small shelter of the equipment shed's overhang.

"Should've brought an umbrella," Ti said, pressed close to avoid the rain.

"Mmm." Reece seemed more focused on how their shoulders were touching than the weather. "Z loves playing in the rain anyway."

Sure enough, Z was beaming as he splashed through puddles after the ball, uniform already mud-stained. His energy seemed to lift the whole team, and they scored once more before the final whistle.

"That's three wins," Ti noted, watching Z celebrate with his teammates.

"Been practicing hard," Reece said, that proud-daddy tone creeping in. Then, quieter: "Having you here... helps him focus. Wants to show off."

Before Ti could respond, Z came running over, rain-soaked and grinning. "Did you see? Did you see my assist?"

"Saw every second," Ti assured him, while Reece produced a towel from his gym bag and started drying Z's face.

"Hold still, wild child," Reece said fondly. "Can't take you nowhere looking like you been swimming in mud."

"Ti's still coming over, right?" Z asked through the towel. "I gotta show him my volcano!"

"If he still wants to in this rain," Reece said, glancing at Ti with something almost nervous in his eyes.

"Little bit of rain ain't gonna stop me," Ti said firmly, rewarded by the way Reece's shoulders relaxed slightly.

They split up to their cars, Ti following Reece's familiar black pickup through the wet streets. His heart was pounding by the time they pulled up to the modest two-story house. He'd driven past before, but being invited in felt different - felt important.

Z bounded out of Reece's truck as soon as they parked. "Come on! It's in my room!"

"Changed clothes first," Reece called after him. "Ain't tracking mud through my house!"

To Ti he added quietly, "Make yourself comfortable. Gonna get him sorted."

Ti followed them inside, taking in the comfortable living room with its well-worn couch and photos of Z on the walls. Everything was neat but lived-in, exactly what he'd expect from Reece.

Z thundered back downstairs in clean clothes, hair still damp. "Can I show him now, Daddy?"

"Go on," Reece said, appearing behind him. He'd changed too, Ti noticed, into a soft-looking black t-shirt that made his arms look even better than usual.

Z led them upstairs to his room, proudly displaying the paper mache volcano on his desk. "Aunt Mae helped with the paint, but I did all the explosions myself! Wanna see?"

"Maybe later, wild child," Reece cut in. "Let's get some lunch first."

In the kitchen, Ti watched Reece move with easy familiarity, pulling out ingredients for sandwiches while Z chattered about his project. It felt domestic in a way that made his chest tight - like he could belong here, in these quiet Saturday moments.

"Can help," he offered, moving to stand beside Reece at the counter.

"Know how to cut crusts off?" Reece asked seriously, but his eyes were warm when they met Ti's.

"Think I can manage that, little daddy."

They worked together easily, hands brushing as they passed ingredients back and forth. Z set the table without being asked, and soon they were settled around it like they'd done this a hundred times before.

"After lunch can we show Ti the backyard?" Z asked around a mouthful of sandwich.

"Chew first," Reece reminded him automatically. To Ti he added, "Got a little practice goal set up out there."

"Love to see it," Ti said honestly, loving how this glimpse into their home life felt so natural.

Under the table, Reece's leg pressed against his, warm and deliberate. When Ti glanced over, he found Reece watching him with something soft in his eyes.

Yeah, Ti thought, he could definitely get used to Saturdays like this.