Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

19. Mia

19

MIA

Ford and an older man just a couple inches shorter than him walked into the suite. Immediately, I spotted the resemblance between them—broad shoulders, high cheekbones, noses like Roman statues, and blue eyes that welcomed you in like the scent of an apple pie wafting out a window in springtime.

Except instead of a football uniform, the older man wore broken-in denim and boots with a purple Diamonds T-shirt.

I smiled at both of the men as Tallie led them into the suite.

My gaze connected with Ford’s, and his tense expression spoke volumes. This man mattered to him.

When Tallie brought them close enough, Ford said, “Mia, this is my dad, Grayson Madigan.”

I smiled, extending my hand to him. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. Madigan.”

His hand was worn and calloused as it firmly grasped mine. “You too, Mia. You can call me Gray.”

I dipped my head in understanding. “What did you think of the game?”

Pride brightened all of Gray’s features, making him look at least ten years younger. “Oh, it was great. Don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing my little boy as a football star.”

Color tinged Ford’s cheeks. “Dad.”

I had to chuckle at how cute he was when he was embarrassed.

Gray shook his head at his son. “What? It’s true.”

Ford gave his dad an exasperated smile, but you could still see in his eyes how much he admired the man. Before I could respond, Tallie stepped in, saying, “Mia, the car is ready.”

“Great,” I replied as Ford said, “We’ll walk you down.”

The three of us headed toward the elevators as I asked Gray, “What do you do for work?”

Gray removed his Diamonds ballcap, scratching the back of his head. “I run our family ranch. We have a couple hundred head of cattle. And a few horses.”

“And one old dog,” Ford added.

I smiled. “Bet it’s peaceful out there.”

Gray nodded. “Most of the time—‘til all the grandchildren come around.”

Ford chuckled knowingly. I wondered what it must be like, to have a big family like that. I’d never know, growing up as an only child without close family on either side.

The elevator doors slid open, and we all stepped in. “How many grandchildren do you have?” I asked.

Gray lit up, just like when he spoke about Ford. “Four with one on the way.”

“How exciting,” I replied.

He nodded. “My wife and I had five kids, and I always loved having little ones around. Made life interesting, for sure.”

The elevator dinged as we reached the ground floor and began getting out. “So tell me,” I said. “Was Ford always so determined to get his way?”

Gray tossed his head back and laughed. “You do know him pretty well, then.”

I smiled at that and noticed Ford shaking his head as he suppressed a smile. The conversation was fun and easy, and my heart fell a little at the realization that Gray and I might not get much more time together. He was so down to earth, unlike a lot of the people I spent my time with these days.

Gray drew me out of my thoughts, saying, “What did you think of the game, Mia?”

“Oh...” No one really asked me about sports. Maybe it was because I was a woman or maybe because I was so busy networking during the games I didn’t get much of a chance to actually watch anymore. I wracked my mind for anything to say other than Ford looked really good in football pants. I settled on, “I’m glad the team got a win. Do you think you’ll make the Super Bowl again, Ford?”

Ford answered, “That’s the goal.” There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his voice.

We reached the doors to the gated parking area where the players and famous attendees kept their vehicles. Instead of a limo, a black town car was waiting for me.

Several paparazzi lined the barricade, snapping photos of the three of us. Gray shied back, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

One reporter extended their microphone at us, hoping to catch a soundbite. “Are you two officially together?”

Ford and I exchanged a look, and then Ford faced the camera with a smile that looked real. “That’s right. I got lucky with her.”

I smiled up at Ford and then nodded at the paparazzi. Zeke was already waiting with the door open so I could climb in without being hounded even more. I said a quick goodbye to Gray and then to Ford, but he caught my hand before I could leave.

“Hey,” he said low enough for only me to hear.

I looked up at him. “Yeah?”

His expression softened as his gaze raked over me. “You look good in that blazer.”

My smile came easily, and I replied, “Thank you. It was a gift from my stubborn boyfriend.” And then I got into the car and let my driver whisk me away.

A smile was still on my face when I got out my phone to check it. A message from my best friend was waiting for me.

Farrah: Just saw you on the news! Looks like things went well with Ford – although I’m upset I had to learn it this way!!

I cringed at the fact that I hadn’t even followed up with Farrah to tell her about this whole mess. Life had gotten away from me since then, and I needed to tip the priority scales back toward friendship.

Mia: Can I come over?

Farrah: Of course.

I leaned forward, asking Zeke to change course. Within half an hour, I was in the subdivision where my best friend lived with my former boss and three of their four children. The oldest, Levi, was already in college, making a splash on the baseball team.

When I got out, I smiled at their home with the bright yellow door and the perfectly manicured grass. The lawn hadn’t looked as amazing when Farrah first moved in, but of course, Gage had to spend his billions somewhere if they weren’t going to raise their kids in a mega mansion on the beach.

It didn’t take too many steps in my purple heels to reach the front door. I pressed the doorbell and heard Andrew’s changing voice call, “Come in!”

I shook my head, still amazed at how quickly time flew. I swore he was a little boy just yesterday, and now he was in high school, with a crackling voice, pimples, and the hint of a mustache.

I twisted the knob, letting myself inside. Unlike my minimalistic condo, their home was full—of love, of life, of people.

Andrew was playing some kind of racing video game in the living room while Cora sat at the table, carefully painting her nails a shimmering shade of orange. Gage was cooking something in the kitchen in a T-shirt and shorts. Photos of their life together lined the walls, along with Andrew’s artwork, progressing from his younger years to more recent works that could have been on display in any art museum.

Andrew said a quick hello, followed by Cora saying, “Hey, Mia.” And then Gage grinned at me from the kitchen. “There’s my favorite CEO.”

“I’m so glad to see you all!” Then I walked toward the kitchen to chat with Gage. Before he was my best friend’s husband, he was my demanding, uptight boss. “It’s crazy to see you not in a suit.”

“Crazy to see you in a Ford Madigan blazer,” he retorted.

My cheeks blushed at the reminder of Ford’s gift. I’d almost forgotten I was wearing it with how comfortable it was.

“I still can’t believe he’s breaking his no dating rule,” Gage said. “He hasn’t had a girlfriend since college.”

Something about that fact made me smile. At least I didn’t have to share Ford with anyone else. I went to sit at the kitchen island while he worked on chopping vegetables—it was nice to see this side of him. He had all the money in the world, but he found comfort, happiness in this. Otherwise he wouldn’t be doing it.

“Where’s your wife?” I asked. “And Tara?”

“Finishing up a bath. Shouldn’t be too long,” he said, going to the fridge and getting me a beer, cracking off the top. “How’s the company treating you?”

I took a sip of the tangy liquid. “Thomas is a shithead,” I said, to which he gave an understanding snort. “I’m worried he’s going to force a vote of no confidence the second he gets a chance.”

Gage’s jaw tightened. “That piece of shit. Do you want me to?—”

“You can’t do anything,” I said. “The last thing we want is the polarization of people picking sides. Nothing brings people together like a common enemy. Right now, all he has is their ears. I don’t want him to have their loyalty too.”

Gage gave me an approving look.

“What?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Just chose the right person for CEO is all.”

I smiled, a sense of relief sweeping over me. Deep down, I knew I was doing a good job, but it sure helped to hear it from someone I trusted and respected. I had my mouth open to thank him when a little ball of energy with wet, brown ringlets rushed up to me. “AUNTIE MIA!”

“Tara,” I said happily, picking up the two-year-old and holding her in front of me. “You are so big!”

She smiled at me, big blue eyes squinting. “I took a shower!”

I hugged her to my chest. “You smell like strawberries!”

Farrah huffed as she sat beside me at the island, half her shirt soaked. “So do I.”

I gasped playfully at Tara. “Did you splash your mommy?”

Tara laughed so gleefully it made me giggle too. Then she squirmed out of my arms, toddling over to Drew in the living room and sitting on his back. Farrah shook her head at them and said, “Come to the bedroom with me so I can change?”

I nodded, then lifted my beer to Gage and followed her back to the room.

While she changed out of her wet clothes into pajamas, she said, “Spill! I need someone to talk to me about something other than Troll dolls, Sephora, or the difference between oil and acrylic paints.”

Laughing, I leaned against the wall by her dresser and said, “Can do.” But when I opened my mouth to tell her what was going on... I couldn’t make the truth come out.

Because honestly? I was embarrassed.

I made my living off being capable. I was either the smartest person in the room or able to hire people who solved the problems I couldn’t. But when it came to Ford, my instincts had been so wrong before that first date.

So, I did something I never did... I lied to my best friend.

“It’s still really new with him,” I said.

She smiled at me and climbed into her perfectly made bed, patting the place next to her. We sat back on the pillows like we did when we were teenagers listening to the latest CD that came out. “So what’s with the jacket?” she asked.

I laughed, taking it off so I could show her. “He gave me a jersey, but I said I couldn’t wear it because I had to dress business professional. And then this showed up at my place the next day.”

She grinned, taking the stylish Dallas Diamonds blazer from me to study the design. “I love it... So it’s going well?”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

For the next half hour or so, I told my best friend every moment I’d shared with Ford, how easy it was to talk to him. How he had flowers delivered to my office. How he started calling me Sunflower .

And while we talked, I let myself pretend it was real.