Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

56. Ford

56

FORD

The next day, I got my first letter back from Mia.

It said,

I’m praying for you.

Love, Mia

The biggest arrangement of flowers at the ceremony was from her. I wasn’t sure how, but they were fresh sunflowers and lavender.

And after the ceremony was over, my sister-in-law, Liv, passed me a note.

I’m in Liv and Fletcher’s guest house if you need me.

Love, Mia

I looked up from the note to Liv, dressed in yellow, my mom’s favorite color. My heart lifted with scary hope, like finding out you could fly, only to discover how far you were off the ground.

“Is it true?” I whispered.

She nodded.

Everyone was going their separate ways, but I didn’t walk. I ran to my truck. I couldn’t go fast enough as I drove down dirt roads to my brother’s house. It was a white beacon against the blue sky and yellowed winter grass.

I tripped over my feet, going to the guest house and hoping, praying, that Mia was really there.

I opened the door and saw her, waiting for me on the couch.

My eyes drank her in, searching for any hint that this wasn’t real. That she wasn’t really here. That my heart had run crazy with my mind.

But her blue eyes connected with mine, and she breathed, “Ford.”

She stood, and I crossed the room, taking her in my arms, holding her, crying. Letting out the pain of knowing I’d lived without my mom for twenty years. Knowing I’d been without Mia, the love of my life, for months. It had been torture to show up for dates, seeing her hold her distance when all I wanted was to truly be with her.

She soothed me, patting my back and murmuring words of comfort. And when the height of my emotions passed, she brought me to the bed and lay with me while I let the rest of it out. “I missed you,” I finally managed, my voice as raw as my heart.

I was surprised to see she was crying too when she took my face in her hands and said, “I’ve missed you so much. Your letters... I looked forward to them every day, Ford. You have no idea how much it meant to me to see you growing and to have you let me in for something like this—thank you for letting me be here for you.”

“Always,” I breathed, bringing her to my lips. “Mia, it’s you and me.”

“It’s you and me,” she promised. “I’m not letting go.”

I held her tight. “I’m going to mess up,” I said into her shoulder. “I’m not perfect. But I promise I won’t push you away like that again.”

She squeezed me back, speaking into my shoulder. “I don’t want someone perfect. I want you, Ford. And you’ve shown me the kind of man you are. The man who makes mistakes and does what he can to learn and grow. I couldn’t ask for a better man.”

I held her close, kissing her tear-stained lips.

I savored every drop, every tear, because it meant she was here, she was real .

“I need you closer,” she whispered.

And I needed her too.

Our kisses deepened, our clothes found their way to the floor, until we were bare to each other, body and soul. And for a moment, we just took each other in. I studied her body, all its curves and divots. The way her tears had smeared mascara down her cheeks. How her chin lifted, proud, despite it all.

What I saw was beautiful... what I saw, was mine.

“I love you,” I said, going to her again and pulling her close.

She eased onto my cock, sitting in my lap. Rocking against me so we could hold each other, see each other, as we made love more passionately than we ever had before.

The closer she got to coming, the more tears fell down her cheeks. And I wiped each of them away, kissing her, promising her the world she deserved, until we collapsed into a pile of love and pleasure, tears and healing.

Us .

And I knew I had been wrong all these years, thinking I needed to squeeze as many accomplishments into whatever time life decided to give me. Because being loved, being known and accepted by Mia, meant more than any numbers on a scoreboard.

She’d shown me who I was and who I could be.

And I couldn’t wait to discover more of myself with her at my side.