As I took the cards from her, I said, “Thank you.”
“So, this is where my son’s been living this year.” With a warm smile at me, Denise strolled into the house, her dark hair and eyes matching Eli’s. “Isn’t this nice, Ron?”
“Sure. I’ll bet it’s not always this neat with four football players living in it.” Ron smirked.
“Oh, we keep it pretty neat. You’d be surprised, Mr. Dawson.” Tex lumbered into the room, stretching his hand toward Ron. “Name’s Tex, offensive lineman.”
“Nice to meet you.” Ron cleared his throat, shook Tex’s hand and then shifted his gaze to Eli as he approached. “Son.”
“Hey, Dad.” Eli gave his father a swift hug.
“I’m proud of you.” His father pulled Eli in for a longer hug. “Really damn proud.”
Denise’s eyes shone. “Who’d have thought the enormous child we raised with the big heart would be a linebacker with the San Francisco Forty-Niners?” She clapped her hands together in front of her chest.
Damn, that was a perfect description of the love of my life and my high school sweetheart.
Malik swooped in with an open bottle of champagne and two glasses, introducing himself to Eli’s parents.
The doorbell rang through the house. “Shit.” This had to be my mom or dad. I stepped to the door with Eli beside me.
“Ready?” Eli placed his hand on the doorknob.
“I am.” I puffed out a breath and braced myself. Which one would it be?
He popped the door open.
Mom and Dad stood in the entry, staring straight at me.
“Uh, Mom…” I hugged her first while Dad stepped inside. Shit, had they said anything to each other? In her ear, I whispered, “Everything okay?”
“Of course.” She freed me and lifted her chin, her gaze swinging toward Dad, caught in one of Eli’s hugs. “We’re all well here. We had a brief talk in the driveway, and your father apologized to me.”
“What?” My jaw dropped. Damn, he was moving right along with his therapy.
“He did. I accepted the apology.” She smirked. “For now, or until he misbehaves again.” She patted my shoulder. “I know you’re shocked. I was too. Whatever you’ve done to him, so far it’s working.”
Malik stepped toward us with champagne. “Hello, Ms. Lewis. Champagne?”
“Yes, please.” She greeted Malik with a side hug, and he handed her a glass of champagne.
As Mom walked off with Malik, Eli stepped toward me with Dad. “Hey, Wren, your dad says we can stay at his house until we find a place to live. It’s probably a forty-five-minute drive to the training facility, but I don’t need to be there until the middle of July, and he’s getting the place back from his renters in June.”
“We can?” I stared at Dad, beaming back at me. Damn, things were moving so fast.
“Yes, I’d love to host you both. You can have my former childhood bedroom.” He chuckled.
“Uh, great.” Then, I’d have more time to decide what company I wanted to work for. I’d had interviews at Apple and PayPal so far. “Thanks, Dad.” I gave him a brief hug as I glanced around the room, everyone holding champagne glasses, including Harper. “Uh, Eli, should your sister be drinking?”
“What, a little champagne with the family won’t hurt her.” He scoffed and snatched my hand. “Come here.” He slipped his phone from his board shorts and checked it. “Let’s get some drinks.”
“Sure.” We strolled toward the kitchen island, where Tex and Malik entertained our families and kept the drinks flowing.
The front door opened, and Grace stepped inside. “Yoo-hoo, am I too late?”
Eli twisted to face her. “No, grab a glass.”
Too late? For what?“Hey, Grace, I thought you wouldn’t be here until later?” As she jogged toward me, I wrapped her up in a tight embrace.
