Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

38. Ford

38

FORD

Everyone around the fire sobered because we all recognized Dad’s come-to-Jesus voice. All eyes were on him as he said, “What’s going on with you two?”

Then all focus turned to me. “What do you mean?” I hedged.

Dad scoffed. “You’ve had your eyes on her all night long, brought her home to introduce her to your family, and yet, you’ve never once introduced her as your girlfriend, the love of your life, the one... You’ve only ever called her Mia. Something’s off with you two, but I can’t tell what, so you’re gonna need to fill me in.”

As they watched me to see my reaction, I realized I’d been riding the fence, and it was high time to choose a side. “If I tell you something, promise you won’t tell anyone else?”

Each of them nodded.

And I knew it was time to tell them the truth. Even if it hurt to do. Even if I knew they’d be disappointed in me for lying. “I started dating Mia to keep my spot on the team,” I said.

Hayes said, “What the fuck?” at the same time Bryce said, “That doesn’t make any sense!” Dad’s surprised and disappointed features spoke even louder. Finally, Dad held his hands up, silencing everyone. “Why in the hell would you do a harebrained thing like that?”

He always did have a way of cutting through the bullshit. I took a steadying breath and looked into the fire as I explained the situation. “My contract is up for renewal this year, and Trent threatened to sell me to another team if I didn’t date his daughter.”

Hayes said, “You turned down a supermodel?” He reached over and hit my arm. “You dumbass.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “There’s more to a woman than her looks. She’s got to have it all to be worth spending your time with. And I’d rather fake something with Mia than try something real with a woman I don’t care for.”

Hayes said, “There’s just one problem with that, brother.”

I raised my eyebrows at him.

He took off his hat and threw it at me. “You went and caught feelings, dumbass!”

Retrieving his hat from the ground where it landed, I threw it back at him and he launched it back at me. Bryce’s eyes pinballed between us, seemingly amused.

“Boys,” Dad admonished. It reminded me of when we were kids, but he sounded a lot more tired now than he used to. He rubbed his temples and leaned forward. “Ford, I need to speak with you. Privately.”

“Oooh,” Bryce said.

But Dad replied, “Go inside.” Then he looked at Hayes. “Go home, don’t care who the home belongs to.”

Hayes smirked. “Aye, aye.”

We both rolled our eyes at him as he walked away and Bryce went inside. A heaviness settled around us, because I knew when we had one of these private talks, I might not like what he had to say.

As soon as Hayes’s truck fired up and disappeared up the road, Dad faced me with a disappointed look in his eyes that nearly gutted me.

“Ford, you know how long your mother and I were together before she passed?”

I shook my head. “Fifteen years?” My oldest brother had been fourteen when she died.

“Sixteen,” Dad said. “But you know how long I was in love with her before we ever got together?”

Again, I shook my head.

“Four years.” He wrung his weathered hands, looking down at the wedding ring still on his finger. “But she was just a friend, and I wanted to sow my wild oats instead of settling down with the woman I knew deep down was the one.” His voice broke with emotion. “I fucked around for four years. Four years I could have had with her, Ford. We could have had another baby. She could have watched them grow, walked them down the aisle. Hell, maybe even seen a grandbaby if they got started young enough.” He shook his head, gazing into the fire. “And after everything I’ve learned and been through, I’ll be damned if I watch my son make the same mistake. And a woman like Mia, a strong woman with a successful career, a heart of gold, she’s not waiting around, waiting for a guy to make up his mind. Not even for a professional football player like you.”

I looked into the fire, letting his words sink in. Flames licked at logs like his words consumed my heart. “This isn’t what I planned,” I uttered, my voice barely rising over the crackling logs.

Dad met my gaze with a corner of his lips lifted. “You can make all the plans you want, but if you hold on to them too tightly, you might miss out on something even better.”

We were silent for a moment, and then Dad said, “Understand, son?”

I nodded, knowing what I needed to do. But I was scared —an emotion only Mia brought out in me.

Dad patted my knee and said, “I’m a little tired. Mind putting the fire out?”

“I’ll get it,” I said, rising to grab the hose. He was a few steps away when I called out, “Hey, Dad?”

He turned. “Yeah?”

“What about Agatha?”

His expression sobered. “What about her?”

I tilted my head. “I think you know. How long are you going to wait?”

A sad smile formed on his lips. “Goodnight, son.”

“Goodnight.”