“Yeah. I’ve missed him,” I admit and both of Tate’s parents smile at me as I head into the house and upstairs.
This is strange, and not a development my parents will appreciate, but I really like the Garrisons.
Chapter24
Tate
Iforce myself not to look at my phone. Keep my eyes on Mallory. After all, she looks amazing. That dress she has on hugs every curve and shows just a sliver of cleavage at the neck. It's driving me insane. Her long blonde hair is loose and the layers that frame her face hold a delicate wave. She's wearing more makeup than I've ever seen on her, but not in a bad way. Her eyelids shimmer and her skin is kind of glossy. Her eyelashes were thick and dark and they fluttered when I reached down and took her hand as we walked into the restaurant.
I need to focus on her. But when she excuses herself from the table to go to the restroom, between the appetizers and the mains, I yank my phone out of my back pocket and check the avalanche of messages.
There's a team chat, with my friends from the Quake that has forty-two messages, all about Landon. I scan them all only to learn that we don't know anything solid yet. He's awake. They've performed a battery of tests on him. His parents have come into town and so has his uncle and aunt. Landon is another second-generation hockey player. His dad and his uncle played around the time my dad did.
Then I scan the sixty-two messages on the family chat. Sixty-freaking-two. My family is nothing if not chatty. But I get it, I have a child. It's a big deal. And Mom dropped the bomb with a selfie of her, Dylan, and Dad and the words 'Meet Dylan Garrison!' That reminded me, I need to get back to the lawyer with a middle name. Diana never gave him one and I'd like to get one on the birth certificate.
The highlights from the family chat have me smiling despite my concern over Landon.
LIV: Wait. What. Who? HOW?
CALLIE: Honey we had this talk when you were twelve.
LIV: MOM! GOD! I know but TATE?
MOM: It’s shocking but happy news.
DAD: I’ve aged twenty years but, honestly, the kid appears to be worth it.
CON: My mind is blown but congrats Tater.
AUNTIE R: I can’t wait to snuggle him and kiss those fat cheeks!
GRADY: No fat shaming Auntie Rose.
GRAMPS: I’m going to the garage to find Tate’s old baby skates. Grandma says congrats. She’s crying so she can’t type.
THEO: He’s cute. Must get that from the mom. And WHO is that?
DAD: That’s a long story. Tate will explain more in person. After he wins a Cup.
And then the next fourteen messages are Grady, Conner, and Theo arguing about who has better odds than the Quake of winning the Stanley Cup.
I grin and finally break my silence because I haven't responded to any of this.
Thanks, everyone. There's a lot to explain, Mom and Dad (AKA Pops and Nan) will fill you all in when they get home. Or you can wait until I get back this summer, with my gf, my son, and the Cup.
CON: GF? That has to stand for gluten-free not GIRLFRIEND.
GRADY: He has a girlfriend too? It’s the apocalypse.
THEO: You are NOT getting that Cup before me, Tater Tot!
“Everything okay?”
I look up and Mallory is sliding into the other side of the booth. I don’t know why I picked this restaurant. I mean the appetizer was good enough. But… it’s fancy. Way fancy. I’m in an untucked, slightly wrinkled button-down and jeans. Mallory definitely blends in but I don’t. And it feels stuffy in here. And too quiet.
“Yeah. Good,” I reply. “Family stuff and checking on any updates from the team on Landon.”
“Anything?” She looks genuinely concerned and I love her for it… I mean not love-love, but…
