“Aren’t there some legal ramifications for alumni playing against minors?” he asked, eyes closed and face pointed to the heavens as he released a deep sigh. Ginny fought hard not to giggle.
Georgia didn’t seem to mind at all. “Yeah, but we worked it all out with the school’s lawyers. Everyone is signing liability waivers. Plus, it’s flag football. How dangerous can it be?”
Ryan opened his eyes, raising a single eyebrow, and glared at Georgia. “Are the Remillard clan involved?”
“Yes!” she said and clapped her hands together. “Oh, and Chloe is in, too.” She waved at Chloe, who’d seemed as if she’d been waiting for her cue at the bar and offered an excited wave in return. “And here come some more of your players.”
Caroline and Griffin blazed through the doors of the coffee shop with perfect timing, followed closely by the oldest Lovett brother, Evan, and Blaire. Once everyone had hugged, shaken hands, and caught up with one another, Georgia called the meeting to order again.
“Listen y’all. This whole Sugartree Homecoming is gonna be a behemoth of a project. Blaire, since you’re obviously unable to play football in your condition...” Georgia waved her hands in the general direction of Blaire’s giant, swollen belly, and they both released identical squeals of excitement. Asidefrom husbands and babies, little had changed since their time squealing their way through high school. “You’ll be helping me on plannin’ and coordinating food and vendors, but most importantly, you will be resting as much as possible.”
“Cookin’ two babies at once is no joke, y’all. And they’re Lovett boys so you just know they’re gonna come out taller than me,” Blaire said, putting her feet up on a spare wooden chair. “I’m bakin’ giants.”
Evan pulled her chair right next to his and kissed her temple before making sure she was properly settled again. “That’s not hard to do, babe. You’re teeny.”
“Rude. I’m a proper size,” she huffed, out of breath just sitting.
“A proper size for a flashmob in munchkinland,” Ryan said and promptly received a flying white chocolate chip to his face from Blaire. “Ow!”
She cackled, but then grew deadly serious. “It’s honestly a compliment, though. You know how much I love Judy Garland.”
“I know you do, Blaire Bear.” Ryan grinned wide. He always seemed to come to life when he was with Georgia and Blaire. It was probably why they’d been friends since early highschool and why Ginny had always felt a little like she was on the outside looking in when it came to their friendship.
“Don’tBlaire Bearme,” Blaire said, “but can I have that chocolate chip back? I really wanted it.”
Ryan tossed it into the air and caught it in his mouth, earning Blaire’s growls and cheers from the men. Georgia clapped her hands, gaining everyone’s attention again. “Alright, alright. No more food fights, please.”
“Amen!” Caroline raised her hands in the air, looking very much like their mama.
“Now, Mama and the Colonel already volunteered for kid duty, so we’re all on your team, Ryan. But, Gin, I need youready! I know Kota spent all that time teachin’ you to throw a perfect spiral for a purpose. Now’s your time to shine, Baby Girl. A female QB gets an extra point with every touchdown pass, so you’re gonna be our QB.”
The classic Remillard family competitive spirit shone across Georgia’s ferocious face.
Lake took Davey from Ginny’s arms, where she’d been doing a happy wiggle as she finished the remnants of her cookie. “Mama’s got that look in her eyes, Davey Grace. I love it. She means business.”
“Am I the coach or not?” Ryan asked, crossing his arms. Ginny didnotappreciate the way his biceps filled out that sweatshirt of his. “I think I’ll have the final say in who our quarterback is, and it isn’t going to be your little sister.”
Ginny all but growled into her coffee. If she’d been wearing her clogging shoes, she’d stomp on his feet.
“I’m just gonna tell ya right now, Ry. You want her,” Caroline said, prompting Lake to choke on the hot cocoa he’d just sipped.
You want her.
Ginny felt her whole body heat and the desperate need to fan her face.
Griffin and Davey both teamed up, patting Lake’s back as Caroline fumbled for better words. “What I mean to say is that Ginny’s perfect… I mean… she’s a catch… wait—no—shecancatch… the ball. And throw it. She’s great at throwing. She’s…” Caroline looked at her husband and mouthed, “Help me.”
So her siblings and their spousesdefinitelyall knew.
“I’ve seen her chuck a football, man. Ginny’syourgirl,” Griffin said, emphasizing significant words, running a hand over his beard, and doing a terrible job of hiding the grin on his face.
Ginny blew out a breath, but had to laugh. Her family was nothing but a bunch of loons. And she adored them.
When she caught Ryan’s eyes, though, he looked as if the mere idea of spending extra time with her was causing him physical pain. Something Ginny couldn’t quite reconcile to the man who’d led worship at her side with passion and confidence that past Sunday.
She thought they’d reached an unspoken truce. One where they forgot about how Ryan stared daggers at Liam for dancing with her. Or how he’d started a silent, half-naked war with Danger during a pie-eating contest two years before. Or… how she’d tracked him down in a quiet alley and had been ready to finally air out all the tension between them—once and for all—before he ran away. Scared.
He just needs a push…She heard Dakota’s words again.
