Work Text:
the night was going well. a little too well.
you and joel arrived at this event for sarah’s school about an hour and a half ago. it was some kind of mixer type potluck thing where parents could get to know each other. joel was well acquainted with this sort of thing, as he went to them with sarah ever since she was little. since his wife left him though, he found it harder and harder to attend these things solo, and the last couple years he didn’t even bother with it.
you volunteered him this year, thinking it would be a great idea not just for joel, but for sarah too.
and just like you told him he would, joel was having an alright time.
you stood leaned up against the wall with him for most of the night, drinking cup after cup of some sweet tea punch mix they set out for the parents.
sarah socialized and hung out with her friends, while you and joel watched from a distance. you occasionally made conversation, but both of you were content to be quiet and people watch. a few times you glanced over at joel to see he had the faintest of grins on his face.
“you want another one?” joel broke the silence, gesturing his empty cup to you.
“really? you just got that one!”
“this stuff is addictive,” he admitted bluntly.
“you’re crazy.” you shook your head. “nah, go ahead. still have to finish mine.”
he steps away and you shout after him, “you’re gon’ get diabetes, joel!” your southern drawl making itself more apparent on certain words.
you see him shake his head as he walks away.
almost as soon as joel steps away, though, you feel a presence beside you. another man appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, next to you.
“which one is yours?” he asks, no greeting or hello.
“uh, the one in the purple with the flowers. oh, but she ain’t mine, i-i just babysit her.” you found yourself strangely nervous, stuttering. there was something about this guy that put you off.
“mines the one in the blue stripes.” he pointed to a blonde boy sitting by himself, drawing circles in the dirt. “you got any kids of your own?”
“oh no, can barely take care of myself most days.” you laugh awkwardly.
“i’m sure your husband wants some, though.”
you felt that the conversation had quickly taken a turn. your gut instinct was right, this guy was a creep.
“um, i’m not married.”
you regret it as soon as the words leave your mouth. you should have just told him joel was your husband, maybe he would’ve left you alone. you didn’t want to drag joel into it, not wanting to cross any lines with him. you liked joel, and you felt that you were at least friends, but you didn’t know where the line was with him. especially since the wound of his divorce still seemed to be healing.
“ah, see, that there’s a shock. i don’t believe pretty lil thing like you ain’t got a man around.”
you felt your stomach ache, sharp stabbing pains of anxiety in your sides. you didn’t like this.
you looked at where joel was from afar, still standing at the drink table. it looked like he got stopped by another parent, and you cursed silently to yourself. you silently will him to return to you, joel, joel, please.
“oh, haha, i guess.” you give another awkward chuckle. you weren’t used to this sort of thing, never had a plan for what to say.
“you know, i’m single too,” the man says to you like it was a surprise. “yep, wife left about 3 years ago…” he prattled on about his past relationship, how she did him dirty, etc.
you felt worse and worse by the moment. the pit in your stomach grew larger, and by now you were sure you were beet red. you weren’t even completely sure why you felt this way, just that you hated this conversation.
“and if you, uh, ever need another babysitting gig,” he leaned in a little closer to you, and you tried very hard not to recoil backwards. “i mean, i definitely wouldn’t mind having you around,” he chuckled smugly at the end of his sentence, letting you know he had other intentions. you wouldn’t be shocked if he had added a little something extra to his red solo cup.
you looked back over to where joel was standing. your eyes were boring holes into him at this point, trying to send him telepathic messages, help help help, but he still didn’t catch your gaze.
“yeah, i’m not really looking for work right now-“ as you tried giving the guy an excuse, you heard “sorry, got stuck over there,” from next to you.
you whip your head around to see joel standing next to you, at your side in an instant.
“oh, no worries. you get more punch?” you turned completely away from the creep, angling your body towards joel. you prayed the other guy got the hint, go away, you’re not welcome.
as you stared up joel, his gaze passed right over the top of your head and firmly fixed on the other man. the look on his face was stern, almost predatory, waiting for the other guy to do something, say something.
“can i help you?” joel asked the other man, no humor or politeness to his tone.
“oh, well i was just having a conversation with your, uh, friend here.” a huge, nervous smile broke out on the man’s face as he paced in place.
“well, it seems she ain’t that interested in a conversation right now.”
“oh, i didn’t mean nothing by it!” the man’s tone was completely different, panicked even, at joel’s presence. “we were just introducing ourselves.” you hated how he lumped you into this interaction. you were definitely not introducing yourself to him, you don’t even think you gave him your name.
“alright well, how’s about you go introduce yourself to someone else?”
the man’s eyes darted back and forth between you and joel. “y’all have a nice night.” he gave a quick wave before pacing over in the direction of the food table.
you let out a sigh. “oh my gosh, i thought he’d never leave…” you take a big sip of whatever was left in your cup, and look back up at joel.
“hm,” is all joel had to offered as he stared off after the guy, keep a close eye on his distance.
“it was like the moment you left he just pounced on me.”
joel’s attention finally turned back to you. “sorry about that.”
you waved your hand. “no, don’t be. you should be allowed to desert me for a moment without some loser perving on me.”
“perving? what did he say to you?” his voice shifted, getting a bit louder.
“nothing, it was just…” you didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to turn it into a whole thing. you hated feeling so upset over things like this, you felt like such an idiot being so vulnerable, especially around joel.
“obviously it was something, you’re shaking.”
huh. you had just noticed how your cup trembled in your hand, the little bit of liquid left in it sloshing back and forth.
“he just, uh, you know, he made a few unwelcome comments, and…” you ran your hand through your hair nervously. “it-it just made me real uncomfortable.”
“hm,” was all he had to say about that.
the rest of the night, joel’s demeanor was a bit different. he stood a little straighter, paid more attention to the people around you. he looked like a solider then, on guard to anything.
the rest of the night was fine. you made bits of conversation with joel, who didn’t offer much as his attention was focused elsewhere.
not long after, sarah ran up to the both of you saying she was hungry, and joel decided it was time to go.
“ice cream, huh?” you asked sarah as you pulled her beanie down on her head.
“chocolate ice cream. with sprinkles and oreos,” she said matter of factly.
“alright well, we’ll see what your daddy has to say about that.” you glance up at joel who’s attention once again seems to be elsewhere.
“y’all go head to the truck, i think i forgot something.”
you take the keys from him and walk sarah out to where joel’s pickup is parked.
you started the truck up and kicked the heater on while you make conversation with sarah, laughing and joking, trying to take your mind off the uncomfortable situation from earlier. both of you unaware of joel’s intentions.
“hey,” he strides towards the guy, intimidating and confident. “you know this is a kids’ event.” the guy whips around to face joel. “this ain’t a place to be picking up on women like that.”
“excuse me?” he acted incredulous, like he had no idea who joel was or what he was referring to.
“most girls don’t appreciate some guy coming up and saying stuff like that to them. so how about next time you just keep it to yourself?” it was a question, but joel phrased it more like a demand. his anger was evident, and it took everything in his power not to raise his voice.
he wanted to defend your honor, beat this guy to a pulp. but more than that, he didn’t want to cause a scene or embarrass you or sarah. you were a positive influence on his life, and the last thing he needed was for sarah to have to deal with this at school. did you hear what sarah’s dad did? he beat up jimmy’s dad at the potluck last night!
“look pal, i don’t know what she told you i said but-“
“i ain’t your pal.” joel spat out, cutting him off. “and i better not see you talking to her again, you hear me?”
the other man’s apprehension grew clearer, pacing in place again and blinking rapidly. “yeah, yep, sure. loud and clear.” he gave another overly friendly grin, which only pissed joel off even further.
he turned on his heel, walking towards the truck. he knew if he stayed longer, said one more thing, he’d regret it.
joel opened the driver’s side door to the sound of you and sarah laughing, a sound that never failed to take away everything weighing on him and make it simply disappear. “what’s so funny?” he asked.
“oh, nothing. you’ve got the quite the comedian for a daughter here, joel.” you turned and looked at him with a grin.
“alright, comedian. what do you want to eat?” he turned further in his seat to face sarah in the back.
“ice cream, duh!”
joel turned the key, and the truck revved to life. “ice cream it is.”