Chapter 17

“Look at my handsome son.” She pulled him into a tight hug, holding him until he returned the embrace. “Your father said you brought someone. I should’ve guessed. Everybody is bringing somebody extra today it feels like.”

Gently, Michael pried her away. “Mom, this is my friend, Tre Griffin. Tre, my mom, Kate Pappas.”

She stuck her hand out in greeting. “Tre Griffin…why do I know that name?”

“Because Tre plays football,” Michael answered. “Dad’s a fan.”

Tre looked at Michael curiously before taking Kate’s hand. Tre plays footballmight as well have been Tre drives a bus, or Tre works for the city.Kate went on about what they were eating, and where they could find the beers, and who else was coming, but Tre wasn’t really paying attention. They finally got a moment of peace when Michael’s dad called her into the living room.

“You really don’t care, do you?”

“About what?”

“That I play football. That if I walk down pretty much any street in Miami, somebody will recognize me.”