My heart thumped in my ears. “Oh.” I stared at my phone. I’d get a call any minute if they were picking me. As I gulped hard, my gaze swung to Darren. If the Niners picked me, it would be so much better for Wren.
“Dude, relax.” Tex chuckled. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
Seizing my hand, Wren kissed the back of it and said, “Wherever we go, it’s okay.”
“Yeah.” I drank more beer, flinching as a name was called. It wasn’t mine. “Um…”
“That only leaves the Niners, Eli. Guess what?” Malik held up his beer.
My phone buzzed, jumping across the table with a number I didn’t recognize. “Oh my God, everyone be quiet.” Setting my beer on the table, I snatched my phone and stood, my pulse skyrocketing. “H-hello?”
“Eli Dawson? This is Steve Yerman with the San Francisco Forty-Niners. We spoke at the combine.”
“Y-yes, I remember.” I swallowed as my throat tightened, time slowing to a trickle while Malik muted the television.
“We'd like to sign you this year. Will you accept?”
“Oh, hell yes, I will. I’d be happy to play for your organization…uh, sir.” Damn it, I needed to control myself.
“Great news, we’ll start negotiations with your agent,” he said. “Eli, welcome to the team and speak with you soon.”
“Thank you.” As the call ended, Malik unmuted the television, and my name was called for the Niners. I turned to Wren, now standing beside me. “We did it, babe.”
As Darren hopped up, he wrapped his arms around us both. “My beer worked!” He slapped our backs. “It fucking worked!”
“Yes, it did, Dad.” With a laugh, Wren grabbed my cheeks, stood on his tippy toes and planted a kiss on my mouth.
Everyone cheered and tapped their beer cans together, saying, “To the Niners!”
EPILOGUE
WREN
A MONTH LATER
Iwas nervous as hell. I hadn’t seen my mom and dad in the same room since…I was a kid. And now that the graduation ceremony was over, both sets of parents from Eli’s family and mine headed to the Desert Dog house for our graduation party. Grace was having dinner with her family but had promised to stop by later, and Casey was having a meeting of the parents at Postinos wine bar in Tempe.
I paced across the main room, noting the maroon and gold decorations we’d set out earlier with Malik and Tex’s help. There were streamers and table toppers, and even the paper plates and plastic silverware were color coordinated.
“Babe, settle down. It’ll be fine.” Eli stopped me midway to the kitchen and wrapped me in one of his bear hugs. “Your dad’s done a lot of work in therapy, and your mom won’t start anything. She’s better than that.” He kissed my head.
“I know…well, maybe I don’t.” That was the problem. Would they even speak to each other? I slumped into Eli’s hold. “I need a drink.”
“Wait until everyone gets here.” Eli freed me and stepped back.
Malik strolled into the room in his best form-fitting shirt and board shorts. “Hey guys, can I help you at all?”
Eli peered toward the kitchen. “Can you bring the appetizers out and set them on the kitchen island? And then when people arrive, help us with the champagne bottles.” His gaze swung to me. “We have help. Relax.”
“Sure thing.” Patting me on the back, Malik stopped. “We’ve got this.”
“Thank you.” As I blew out a long breath, the doorbell rang. “Shit, I’ll get it.” Who would show up first?
I jogged to the door and flung it open.
Eli’s parents stood in the entry along with his sister, Harper. “Hey, Denise, Ron and Harper.” I hugged them.
“Here are some cards for you two.” Harper held the cards out to me.
