So I went out and saw Top Gun: Maverick three weeks ago Tuesday and have been trying to post this ever since. It gave me major Ducks feels, mostly because of how much Lizzy likes the original movie. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 43: Bonfire
For the Ducks' final back to school bonfire weekend, there was a lot of back and forth but finally the team agreed to Portman hosting at his place in Chicago.
After getting in late on Friday, the Ducks spent much of Saturday lounging in and around the pool. It sat just off the kitchen through a set of French doors surrounded on three sides by the house. The fourth side opened into the side yard which was lined on the far edge by bushes at least six feet tall to give the yard some privacy. "So, Lizzy, tell us about your summer," Julie prodded after getting stories from everyone else.
"Nothing really happened," Lizzy denied. The girls were lounging at the patio table with the rest of the boys spread around them either sitting on the patio chairs or hanging in the shallow end of the pool.
"Oh please, the dramatic life of Lizzy Jacobs and nothing happened? That's a lie," Kenny said, plopping down on the chair next to her.
"My life is not dramatic," Lizzy protested as everyone else climbed out of the pool and circled around.
"You have more drama in one week than most of us see in a month," Fulton told her.
"Says the guy who went on a cruise for his 18th birthday."
"I said most."
"Come on, Liz, I know you didn't sit around your house all summer," Charlie said.
"Ok. You're right. My third oldest brother Seth graduated college and is going on to law school. We made it to the final game of the invitational tournament and came in second. My second oldest brother Chris's fiancée is still planning her wedding for next year, and oh yeah, my oldest brother Matt got married."
"Matt got married?" Adam asked, looking between Lizzy and Portman.
"Yep. Here in Chicago since it's where his fiancée is from," Lizzy said.
"His fiancée, as in your sister's best friend, Star?" Kenny looked at Portman.
"Uh-huh. It was a beautiful wedding, and it gave my sister some ideas her boyfriend isn't completely happy with," Portman told them.
"Why's that? He not into her?" Julie asked.
"Oh, he loves her but he doesn't want to rush into anything."
"Well, being best man at a wedding doesn't really help," Lizzy said.
"He was best man?" Ken asked.
"And his sister was maid of honor. They met through Matt and Star," Lizzy said.
"When'd the wedding happen?" Julie asked.
"Week after my 18th birthday, so end of July."
"Anything else big happen?" Guy asked.
"Well, there was something else, but I'm not sure you guys deserve to hear."
"Oh come on, Lizzy, pretty please with sugar on top?" Adam asked.
"Hey, Mom's got lunch ready and Dad wants to know if your friends like barbeque." Tony said, stepping out the door. Tony was Portman's older brother, the same age as Ben, three years older than Portman. Like Portman's other two siblings, Tony was blond and looked more like their mother than he did Portman or their father.
"Everyone except Goldberg right? Pigs aren't kosher right?" Lizzy said. Lizzy glanced at Tony then to Goldberg.
"I'm not so good about the kosher thing when I'm not home," Goldberg answered.
"Dad was thinking more like beef ribs and Sloppy Joe's but he can also get turkey or veggie dogs if you prefer that," Tony said.
Lizzy looked around the team to see they were all agreeable to ribs and Sloppy Joe's. "Looks like everyone's ok with barbecue. So, what's for lunch?" Lizzy asked.
"Cold cuts and peanut butter. Mom wanted me to tell you she is aware of Charlie's allergies so she made the cold cuts first and then washed her hands and the dishes before making the peanut butter in the dining room," Tony said. Charlie was allergic to any kind of nut, like blew up like a bush allergic.
The Ducks got up and followed Tony into the kitchen and had lunch.
"So, you didn't say, we're your best friends. We deserve to know," Goldberg said.
Lizzy traced her eyes over the kitchen. There were three Ducks sitting on one side of the kitchen island and a fourth at the far end. The table she was sitting at held nine more Ducks and Portman grabbed a plate and hopped up on the kitchen counter.
Tony's eyes were on his brother from where he was leaning back against the wet bar on the far side of the kitchen near the pantry. "Mom's going to kill you if she sees you," Tony said.
"That's why she's not going to see me, genius," Portman answered, rolling his eyes and taking a large bite out of his ham sandwich.
"Dean Oscar Portman," his mom's voice cut across the kitchen.
"Ooo, full name, you're in trouble now," Lizzy said.
"What have I told you about sitting on my counters?" his mom asked.
Portman took a moment to swallow what was in his mouth. "Not to do it in polite company, but the Ducks are anything but polite," Portman answered.
"Hey!" the team protested, good-naturedly.
His mom ignored that. "Down. There is a perfectly good chair right there." She motioned to the closer end of the kitchen island where a chair remained empty. "If you don't want that one, pull one in from the dining room but don't sit on my counter."
"Yes, ma'am," he reluctantly answered. He hopped off the counter and slid into the chair at the island. Nora grabbed two bottles of sparkling water out of the fridge at the end of the kitchen counter and then left the kitchen.
"Love your mama, don't you?" Lizzy teased.
"I will always love my mama. Don't—Sorry." Portman looked back at his sandwich and it went quiet in the kitchen.
Lizzy felt bad. There was no reason to tease him for loving his parents, even if his rep said he was a tough guy who cared about nothing.
"Liz, what were you saying about Michelle?" Charlie asked from the head of the table.
Lizzy looked at him. She hadn't been saying anything about Michelle, but it was a segue that would be good for the whole team. She sighed.
"I'll say it again, pretty please with sugar on top?" Adam asked.
Lizzy nodded. "Michelle found out she's pregnant last month. Apparently, the doctor says she's due in February but it's too soon to tell what it is," Lizzy said.
The Ducks cheered, celebrating the good news. Lizzy on the other hand stared at her sandwich. Fulton, who was beside her on the bench on one side of the table, noticed she wasn't cheering like the rest of the Ducks. She also didn't look happy about it.
"And yet that makes you super unhappy," Fulton said, despite the Ducks seeming to be happy about it.
"Not super unhappy, just not ecstatic. I mean, sure, women should have their own child should they feel inclined but—"
"It's your dad and he's already got five kids."
"Exactly."
"And if my math is correct, nine months before February is April."
"Actually, it's May, but still … it is possible it's a honeymoon baby, not that I have a right to judge, but I don't know."
"Wait, April or May to September, that's still too soon to tell? I thought ultrasounds could tell at like 14 weeks," Kenny said.
Lizzy looked at him. She had forgotten the rest of the Ducks were close enough to hear. He was on the bench opposite her. The Ducks slowly went quiet and they looked at her. "Not if you have an old school doc at a small, private clinic. He says he'll know more next month. Evidently, Dad did the whole teaching hospital thing with Seth and Ben and didn't like it very much so he said never again. It's why even though I was born at the University hospital, the only people allowed in my mom's room were her doctor and the nurses."
"You're worried how it will look and that you'll resent the baby for having such great parents," Adam said gently, completely changing the subject.
Lizzy sighed. "You're not wrong." She picked at the remaining crusts on her plate.
"Every kid with younger siblings goes through it," he told her.
"How would you know?" As far as Lizzy knew, Adam was the youngest and only had an older brother.
"Larson."
"He's right. You get a younger sibling and suddenly things look a lot different than they used to and it takes some adjusting," Connie said. She had a sister who was six or seven years younger than her.
Lizzy looked around the kitchen wondering how many of her friends could attest to it. Charlie, Averman, Guy, Goldberg, and Fulton were only children. Like her, Portman, Julie, Dwayne, Adam, and Kenny only had siblings who were older than them. That left Russ, Luis, and Connie. She knew Connie had a younger sister but wasn't sure about Luis and Russ.
"Take it from a guy with three little sisters, any new addition to a family comes with its own challenges but over time you adjust and sometimes you even like having them around," Luis added.
Lizzy looked at Connie and Russ. "Yeah, I mean, my big brother says most days I'm annoying as heck, but he misses me when I'm not around," Russ said.
"You're annoying as heck just as you are, it's got nothing to do with you being a little brother," Lizzy answered, smirking.
"I do try," Russ answered. He batted his eyelashes at her. Lizzy rolled her eyes.
"And as much as your brothers love you, I'm sure they can find you annoying from time to time," Fulton said.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm adorable." She grinned brightly, pointing to her face and Fulton rolled his eyes. "I'm adorable," she growled when he didn't agree.
"Adorably pigheaded," he finally told her.
"You love me."
"God only knows why," Fulton said sarcastically.
"'Cause I'm adorable." She looked around the table to get the others' opinions. Most of them were chuckling. "Are we going around in circles here?"
"Dude," Fulton looked to Portman for help.
The other Bash Brother wasn't much. "You stepped in that all on your own. She's right, she's adorable," Portman said.
"Told you." Lizzy smirked. Then her mind replayed what Portman just said and the way he had said it. She turned to look at Portman full on. He was watching her as he lightly sipped from the drink in front of him. "Wait a minute. Why does that sound bad coming from you?" Lizzy asked.
The whole team laughed but he didn't answer.
"Hey, Port," Connie said softly. He turned his attention to her. "Nearest bathroom?"
"Through there, door on the right," Portman answered. He motioned just to the right of the wet bar Tony was leaning on to where there were two doors. The first one, if she remembered correctly, led to the four-car garage on the backside of the house and the second to a bathroom with a toilet and shower.
"Wasn't there one right here?" Lizzy asked, motioning to where the kitchen and dining room met with the entryway, right near the table.
"There was. Mom and Dad ripped it out a few weeks ago, turned it into a bigger pantry slash closet. Something about needing the storage more than a bathroom." Portman shrugged.
Lizzy wasn't sure she believed that but didn't call him out on it. They eventually made their way back outside as talk dulled into sports and, for the three girls, crushes. Though both Connie and Julie were still dating Guy and Scooter, respectively, they said it didn't prevent them from still looking. Then they turned it on Lizzy. Though she mentioned one of the new actors she had been watching on TV, there was something she wanted to bring up, just to the girls.
"We promise we won't say anything," Julie said. Connie nodded.
"Spending two weeks with the ball team was great, I really got to know the guys that are still going to be playing next year and got to spend some time with my cousin before he goes to Alabama for college next year, but while we were out there I got to talking to one of our sports' trainers Lex Mason. I think he's grown a lot over the last year and a half."
"You like him," Connie said softly. Her eyes flicked over the yard before focusing back on Lizzy who was determinedly not looking at her.
"I'm starting to, but after Port, and Kyle, it's just hard to really put yourself out there."
"Port's one of a kind and I know you really liked him but I think you need something different and he'd agree. If it works then good but if it doesn't then at least you know and you still took that chance to be different," Julie put in.
"Thanks for being so understanding. Nothing's official or anything but I kinda want to see where it goes," Lizzy said.
"Everyone should," Julie agreed. "Look how well it's worked for me and Scooter."
Later that night, after beef ribs and barbecue sandwiches, most of the Ducks headed upstairs to play video games in the big loft between the back stairs and Jeff's room and hang out but Lizzy and Portman stayed out on the patio by the pool talking about nothing in particular. At one point, Lizzy looked up at the other end of the pool where it met the grass before it turned into bushes that lined the yard. There were a few lounge chairs at that end as well as a firepit they'd be using later for s'mores. On one of the more comfortable lounge chairs down there, Frank and Nora were curled up, her hand brushing through his hair.
Lizzy jerked her head towards them and Portman rolled his eyes at his parents. "I want a love like that someday," she said softly.
"Me too. I mean they still fight but in the quiet moments, it's still sweet. Sometimes, sickeningly so," he answered.
"Because they're your parents."
"Maybe."
Lizzy stared down at her lap as she thought about what she wanted to say to him. She raised a hand and rubbed at her forehead with the side of her forefinger. Portman's hand came down on top of her other one.
"Talk to me, Mav," he said.
She smirked as her eyes shot to him. "That's not how that goes." They both laughed. If he had been quoting Top Gun the quote went "Talk to me, Goose", but she figured he'd turned it around on her to remind her he was still her friend. What he said next verified that.
"We're still friends and no matter what happens, I'm always going to support you. Even if everyone else thinks you're crazy."
"Do you remember Lex?"
"Trainer on the baseball team? He kinda creeped you out?"
"That was a year and a half ago. People can change."
"Maybe, but not always. Sometimes they just get better at hiding their creepy or bad side."
"Like you? I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Guess I'm not quite as over it as I thought."
Portman looked down. He refused to admit he deserved that. "I get it. It hurt and I do apologize. What about Lex?" Portman asked.
"Well, it's nothing official yet but I've been getting to know him and I find myself … falling for him, I guess. I just want to see where it goes and I don't want you to think—I felt I owed it to you to tell you face to face before you heard it anywhere else," she answered.
What Portman didn't know was that was the start of the worst four years of his life. What he should have done next was plead his case of getting another chance but instead he did what any good friend would have done and supported her, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. "I can't say that it makes me happy to hear you're considering dating a guy you once called a creep or another preppy but if this is what's right for you then go for it. As long as he makes you happy, then I'm going to support you but if he hurts you or makes you cry or won't take no for an answer, you let me know."
"Ok."
"Promise me." He squeezed her hand.
"I promise if it ever gets too bad, I will let you know."
"Good."
Lizzy went upstairs to see if the rest of the guys wanted s'mores and Portman walked over to his parents.
"Dean?" his mom asked.
"How do I tell her I'm still in love with her?" he asked softly as he sank on the sectional next to them.
"Usually telling her is the best way, sport," his dad answered.
"She's already interested in someone else."
"Then let her go," Frank told his son.
"Did we, or Jeff, ever tell you about the time Jeff and Krista almost weren't?" his mom asked.
"No. It was love at first sight," Portman answered.
"It was but it wasn't," his dad said. "You see the first time they met wasn't when he offered her a job." The story Portman had always heard about his brother and Krista was that they had met when he had advertised for a bookkeeper and she had interviewed for it.
His mom continued. "The first time Jeff met her; he was behind the bar since they were short a barback. She came in with a bunch of her friends and they spent most of the time dancing and enjoying themselves but when she came to the bar to order another round, he couldn't keep his eyes off her. Though it could be slightly creepy, she later admitted to Lissy that she found it kinda sweet. They talked for a bit but she had been seeing another guy and wasn't really looking to break up with him. Jeff thought he had missed his chance. It was hard but he did his best to move on. In the end, she came back to him for the job and a few months later, they were dating. The rest is history."
"What your mom and I are saying, son, is the worst thing you can do right now is push her. Let her go and she may come back. If not, move on. At the very least, she'll always be your friend," Frank told him.
"Thanks, Dad, Mom," Portman told them.
"Hey, Goose?" Lizzy said softly, not wanting to interrupt his conversation.
"'Sup?" he asked.
"Team's ready for s'mores if you are."
"Sure." He smiled and stood, going inside to get the supplies.
Sunday night, he and Lizzy sat on the edge of the pool looking across the patio as the rest of the team slowly started turning in. "Mav, if Lex makes you happy then I say go for it," he said.
"That's it? That's all you have to say?" Lizzy asked.
"You want me to yell and scream and protest?"
"I just thought with our history and what you know of him, you'd hate the idea."
"I already told you yesterday that I hated the idea but it's not about me. You deserve to be happy."
"And here I was thinking that the rumors were true and you're nothing but a big brute that isn't in touch with his less than manly side."
"You tease because you care."
"I do. Seriously, Goose, if you have anything—"
"No, I told you. He makes you happy; that's all I care about."
Lizzy turned to look at him and smiled softly. He had a decent poker face and it was making her question if he was even bothered by it but then she saw it in his eyes. Those eyes that often reminded her of thoroughly toasted marshmallows, were nervously watching her. He truly did want her happy but part of him didn't like the idea of the guy making her happy being Lex. Instead of commenting on it, she let the subject drop and looked back at the house. "Who would have thought the Ducks would have ever seen this side of you?"
"A house is just a house. The people in it make it a home. I really thought you'd push for the bonfire at your place this year."
"Thought about it but with Michelle, I didn't want to overwhelm her. Apparently, the second trimester isn't easy."
"Did you ask her about it?"
"I didn't want to put her in that position to have to say no or awkwardly agree to something she didn't want. What did your parents get you for your birthday this year?" Lizzy asked, changing the subject.
"They offered to upgrade my car," Portman told her.
"I love your car." His brother had given him an '89 Pontiac Firebird. It was a beautiful red car but because of how much it cost, and his parents opinion of teens without supervision behind the wheel, they didn't want him to take it to school with him.
"Me too. Ever since Christmas we've been going back and forth on what they could get me. Finally, we worked out a deal."
"And what is this deal?"
"If I was a lifeguard for their country club this summer and next, they'd let me take my car to Eden Hall this year and they'd get me premium seats behind the bench for the last home game of the Chicago Mustangs as well as letting Fulton fly down for it."
"It's supposed to be a birthday present, not a deal."
"The deal was more for the car. What about you?"
"You know how much I love your sister's German Shepard? My dad somehow heard about that and decided that it was a sign that I needed a dog. I'm more of a cat person but I could deal if he had taken me with him to get it. Instead, when I came home he told me that he and Michelle had been at the local shelter and were just browsing when they spotted this cute little blonde they just had to have. A Lab they named Dodger after Michelle's favorite baseball team. Not far from his cage, they spotted this dark puppy. Little pup of a thing someone found on the roadside that never gave anyone the time of day. Not even my dad or Michelle. He said it reminded him so much of me that he knew I'd love it. Newsflash, I didn't."
"What kind of dog is it?"
"Rottweiler, best anyone can tell. Just about six months old. The only thing I did for the dog was name it."
"Mav, come on. It's a puppy," Portman scolded gently.
"One I neither wanted nor asked for. I named it—her Biscuit."
"Biscuit? I'm afraid to ask why."
"I wanted biscuits and every time my dad's made them he's always burnt them."
"Terrible reason to name a dog that."
"I guess."
"If you don't want her, maybe you should give her to a good home."
"Oh she's in a good home. Michelle and Dad love them both very much. Dad feeds them every day before he goes to work, Michelle spends all day with them then they walk them together at the end of the night. I just don't particularly want anything to do with her. I even tried when Dad was gone for a few days but didn't see the appeal. I don't know, it just seemed a little off or something."
"But you're getting along better with Michelle?"
"Yeah. You guys were right, she's a great person." They talked a bit longer before following the team to bed.