Hello Quarterback (Hello #8)

Epilogue

HAYES

Spring break meant my family all went to Ford’s house in Dallas for a get-together. Bryce was off college for the week, and so were all my nieces and nephews.

The last several years, we’d all taken advantage of the break to spend time together. And it was fun seeing how things had changed over the years. Maya went from a little girl in diapers to a teenager, leading deviously her girl gang of cousins and sisters.

Knox and Fletcher were married. (Fletcher for the second time, but we didn’t talk about that.) Ford was stupid in love with Mia, hardly taking his eyes, or his hands, off of her.

My dad even invited his friend-not-girlfriend, Agatha, to today’s activities. And Mia’s parents were here as well.

Springtime was warming up, which meant we were all outside, swimming in the heated pool, playing hard games like cornhole and eating a never-ending stream of grilled meat. (Dad was trying not to act offended that Ford hired his private chef to grill, never mind the fact that it freed up time for him and Agatha to play with the grands.)

And even though it was a great time with music playing over a speaker system, there was an undercurrent of tension, worry. Ford’s contract with the Diamonds was under negotiation, and we had no idea of he’d get to stay in Dallas or not.

Needing a drink to ease the tension, I walked to the outdoor drink fridge and got a beer, dodging a few water balls on the way. Just when I thought I’d missed them all, one nailed me in the back of the head.

I turned to see who had launched the missile to find my three-year-old nephew, Jackson, with a shit-eating grin.

“You’re gonna get it!” I called playfully, beginning to chase him into the grass.

His peals of laughter made me smile the whole way, even with water dripping down the back of my neck.

“EVERYONE! EVERYONE!” Maya yelled.

I finally caught Jackson, lifting him over my shoulder and tickling his side. His swim trunks were just getting me even more soaked.

“EVERYONE!” Maya repeated. “OVER HERE!”

I followed the sound of her voice to see her and Emily posted up by Ford’s back patio doors. “PLEASE COME INSIDE FOR A PRESENTATION!” Maya yelled.

All the adults gave each other confused looks as we followed them inside. When I caught up with Knox, I said, “You know what this is about?”

Knox shook his head. “Knowing those two, it’s trouble.”

“True,” I replied.

We all went inside, settling onto Ford’s couches. Everyone who had been swimming was now wrapped in thick towels.

“Hayes,” Emily said, coming to get my hand. “You need to sit here.” She guided me to the couch so I could sit right in front of the TV, next to Ford and Mia.

“What’s going on?” I asked Emily.

She held back a smile. “You’ll see.”

Once we had all settled down, which was quite the accomplishment considering the amount of people in here, Maya said, “I’ve gathered you all for a presentation.”

“Presentation?” Fletcher asked his daughter. “Thought you were done with school for the week.”

“This isn’t school related,” she said, every bit as serious as her dad.

Then she turned on the TV, and I stared in horror at the words on the screen.

WHY HAYES SHOULD GET A GIRLFRIEND: A PRESENTATION BY MAYA AND EMILY

“Oh, hell no,” I said, already getting up from the couch. But Ford held me down. Damn him and his NFL training.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”

Maya smiled evilly. “Great. Let’s get started.”

She moved to the first page of the presentation.

Exhibit One: Forever alone.

There was a group photo of our family from the reception where we celebrated the Super Bowl. Then she pushed the remote, and a circle formed around my head.

“Hayes is the only person in this photo who doesn’t have a girlfriend,” Maya said.

I opened my mouth to protest.

“Aside from Bryce, who needs to focus on his studies, and Grandpa, who’s denying his feelings for Agatha,” Maya said.

Fletcher gasped, while Agatha blushed bright red, and Dad covered his face. “Hey, I thought this was about Hayes!” he said.

Maya shrugged. “Two birds, Gramps.”

He shook his head at her.

“Moving on,” Maya said.

Exhibit Two: Think of the children.

There was a photo of all my nieces and nephew together in purple outfits.

“Knox got married to Larkin, and I got a really great cousin out of the deal,” Maya said and gave Emily a squeeze. “Do you really want to deprive us of lifelong friendships?”

I looked over at my brother Knox to see him hugging his wife. They did look awfully happy. How, with these little hellions, I was starting to wonder.

Maya passed Emily the remote, and she clicked it.

Exhibit Three: Aren’t you bored?

There was a collage of photos of my brothers and their families playing together, having movie nights, attending games.

“What do you do at night if you don’t have kids or a wife to play with?” Emily asked. “That sounds awfully boring to me.”

I muttered. “Trust me, I’m not bored.”

Ford elbowed my side.

“What?” Emily asked.

“Nothing,” I replied. “Let’s wrap this up.”

She handed the remote back to Maya, and Maya changed it to the next slide of their presentation.

THE SOLUTION? It said in big bold text.

“There is a solution to this,” Maya said. “And in fact, we have great options for you.”

Option one: Ms. Peterson

A photo of a nerdy teacher in glasses that had a pearl chain to keep them on came on the screen. It looked like it had been pulled from the yearbook somehow.

Maya had everyone’s attention as she said, “The first option is my math teacher, Ms. Peterson. She’s twenty-five, so a little young for you, but my dad says you don’t mind.”

All the adults snickered.

“She graduated summa cum laude from Baylor University, has three cats, and no boyfriend. A match made in heaven.”

“Next,” I said.

Maya shrugged and passed the remote to Emily. Emily brushed back her long brown hair and clicked to the next slide.

Option two: Della

Liv’s best friend with dozens of freckles and red curly hair came on the screen. And Liv quickly said, “NEXT!”

“But—” Emily began.

“Not my best friend,” Liv said. “Next.”

I put my hand over my chest. “Now I’m a little offended.”

She rolled her eyes at me.

I shook my head.

Then the next slide came up.

Option three: Ms. Brenda

“Brenda’s a little old,” Emily said while Fletcher laughed into his hands. “But she works for Maya’s dad, so you already know her. And she seems really nice and always has candy for us, so I know she’d be a good aunt.”

My face was getting redder by the second. “Please tell me that’s the last option.”

Emily passed the remote back to Maya. She clicked to the next slide.

NEXT STEPS.

“Now, Uncle Hayes, we know you’re out of practice having girlfriends, which is why we’ve set up dates with each of these women for next week.”

“No,” I said, getting out of the chair and going to Maya. I clicked the power button on the TV. “Listen up, everyone,” I said. I stared at all my family members in the room and saw Larkin holding up her phone. “You’re recording this?”

She held back laugher, nodding.

“Okay, then point it here and listen loud and clear, everyone. I, Hayes Madigan, promise to never have a girlfriend, wife, or long-term situationship as long as I alone shall live. Got it?” I looked at Maya first.

“But—” she began.

“No buts,” I said.

She huffed out a sigh. “Fine.”

Then I looked at Emily, who nodded too. I was about to ask them to cancel the dates when Ford’s phone started ringing.

Maya pouted at him. “I thought I told everyone to silence their devices.”

Ford looked at the screen. “Sorry, it’s my agent.”

I swear, all of our hearts froze. But Mia said, “Answer it!”

His hand shook as he lifted his cell phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?” His face was serious, a crease formed between his eyebrows as he nodded and listened. “Okay. Thanks for letting me know.”

He lowered his phone to his side, and for half a heartbeat, I feared the worst. That my brother wouldn't be here anymore.

It was easy to say you didn't need serious relationships when you had a family like mine, people who were there for you no matter what. If one of them was leaving... I didn't even want to know what that would feel like.

But then that fucker’s lips lifted into a grin, and he said, “Five more years in Dallas.”

And as everyone broke out into cheers, I saw his lips moving as he said something just for Mia. It looked something like, “Five years with the Diamonds… and a lifetime with you.”