Page 22

CHAPTER 22

anna

“ S tay,” Blue ordered as he exited Stella’s driver’s side door and stepped onto the concrete driveway.

“You don’t need to?—”

He hopped out, jogged around and opened my door. Then he leaned down, offering me a hand. “I have four years of chivalry to make up for.” When I opened my mouth to protest, he cut me off again with a raised brow. “Don’t you think Sophie Dupree would want me to do that for her daughter?”

Once on my feet, we paused, taking a beat. He wrapped me in his arms. “How’s my future vet doing?”

“Fine,” I murmured.

The tip of his nose ran along my cheekbone. “Congrats on getting an interview spot. I’m so proud of you.” I’d just gotten an email that Monday from the vet school at Virginia Tech.

“Thank you.” I smoothed the front of his dress shirt. I chewed on my bottom lip for a second. “You know, I don’t expect you to try to make up for lost years. It’s okay just to start right now and forget about what went wrong.” I pushed up on my tiptoes and left a kiss on his lips. “Just forgive each other and move forward together.” I straightened his tie.

“Yeah. Okay.” He kissed me again. “But I’m still opening your doors.” His hands were clamped around my upper arms. “Babe, why do you feel thinner than last week?”

My brows furrowed. “School is just stressful.”

“And social media?” His eyes narrowed. “Are they still tagging you with that stupid Backwoods Barbie hashtag?”

I didn’t know why he was asking. Blue was a prison guard over my Instagram and TikTok feeds, trying to single-handedly bat away all the trolls. There had been an increasing amount of them the longer we dated. For every fan of Blupree, there were two haters. Almost always female and always with a comment on my appearance or singing abilities thanks to Ford’s fifty yard line stunt.

I dismissed Blue’s concerns with a wave. “It’s fine. I’m going to be fine.”

His forehead crinkled, clearly not believing me.

“Let’s just have a good day.” I pushed his bangs to the side and looked over his shoulder at the McMansion where we were eating Thanksgiving dinner. “You think they’ll like me?”

He turned to look too. “Oh, they’re gonna love you. No doubts.” Then he stepped back and reached for my hand. “The guys have all been talking about how pretty you are. Brion thinks he’s gonna steal you from me.”

I laughed, still crazy nervous. I’d spent a little time with some of his teammates here and there. Mostly when they showed up at his apartment to see if the rumors were true. “A girl finally tamed Blue Bishop,” Brion had guffawed like he didn’t believe it. Now they were all going to be here, in one place, with their plus ones, scrutinizing me. Along with the coaches and their families.

Blue rang the doorbell, looking completely at ease. He twined our fingers together, but then he scowled. “Your hands are shaking.”

Before I could respond, the door flew open. Three massive guys I’d never met greeted us. “Bishop’s in the house,” one of them hollered over his shoulder. “Party can begin.”

Then they started in on their bro hugs, pulling me in too.

“Guys.” Blue gestured at me. “This is Anna. Anna, this is Tyson, DeShawn, and Finau.”

“Nice to meet y’all.” I gave them a wave.

“And Brion,” Brion said, busting through the crowd to get to us. He looked at me, wearing a flirty grin. “Anna,” he said like he’d been waiting for me to arrive. He curled his finger in a “come here” motion. “Good Lord.” He sucked his teeth. “You are something to look at.” His arms came around me in a tight hug. Then he jokingly laid his head on my shoulder, stroked my back and led me in a side to side swaying motion. I smiled but looked to Blue for help. Oh my word.

“Quit objectifying my girlfriend.” Blue pried Brion off me. “Get your own.” His hand slid possessively around my hip, pulling me tight against him like an undercover spy trying to extract his asset from a sketchy situation. “Coming through,” he said. Once we were untangled from the mass, he whispered, “Sorry about that.”

We moved from the foyer into the kitchen. This place was packed. Older couples clinking their glasses of wine. A cluster of girls my age were standing by the sliding glass door leading outside, their buff, jock boyfriends on either side, each on their phones. The amount of people in this house was surely against the fire code. It was definitely against my Anna Avoids Crowds At All Costs code. My heart rate was climbing. Fast.

Blue’s dad was standing by one of the coaches, engaged in a heated debate. Probably about Blue’s future NFL career. He gave us a tightlipped nod and went right back to throwing his hands out and half-shouting.

“I thought your dad would be with Colt for Thanksgiving.”

Blue grunted. “You would think.” Then he cocked his brow like I’d done something naughty. “From now on you’re not allowed to hug any guys but me. Got it?”

I huffed. “He hugged me .”

He pecked me on the mouth, eyes narrowed. “No more. I don’t need to be going all fisticuffs with my teammates. Coach Whitlock will kick us out and we don’t want that.”

The image of Blue body slamming someone over a hug made me laugh. “Are you sure? Because I think the two of us could take this party back to your place, ifyouknowhatimean.” I flicked my brows up, hoping he’d take the bait. I didn’t know how I was going to manage three hours of being smashed up with all these strangers.

“It’s cute when you try to be seductive, Miss Waiting For Marriage.” A smile toyed at his lips. “We want to stay because Kate makes the best homemade rolls and pumpkin pie you’ve ever tasted. We definitely want the pie.” His lifted brows were serious, like it was critical that I comply. I didn’t know who Kate was, but I hoped her pie was as delicious as he said. I might need to stuff my face with all kinds of carbs and sugar to manage this afternoon.

I nodded. “Got it. No hugs until after dessert.”

“Very funny.” He led me into a massive living room with the biggest flat screen I’d ever seen. It had to have been special ordered. They didn’t sell them like that in Sam’s Club. Currently, it was playing a rerun of Friday Night Lights . A couple of younger kids, all in their Sunday best, played on the floor with toy trucks and Barbie dolls.

The no hugging rule lasted all of ten seconds before another group of guys flocked around us, each stealing a hug. I suspected they’d planned this ahead of time to get under Blue’s skin as much as possible. It was working. He kept reaching for me but then someone else would steal me away, leaving him empty-handed and frustrated.

“Frist, you weren’t kidding,” a beefy guy standing next to Madden said. “This girl is the one. Look how pissed he is that we keep touching her.” Then he put his hands in a prayer pose and bowed to me. “Congratulations on finally taming the untamable.”

Blue rolled his eyes.

I put a hand on his left pec, my eyes on him. “Untamable, huh?”

His cheeks flushed, and it was the best thing I’d seen all day. “Stawp.”

“Dude has a will of iron and this girl has completely undone it.” Brion smirked. “’Member that time Lacy went out with Tyson for a week? Blue didn’t even blink.”

His teammate went out with his girlfriend—maybe she’d been his ex by then—and he didn’t care?

“Did me a favor,” Blue mumbled right before he cleared his throat and loosened his collar. “Can we not?” he said louder.

A petite, curvy girl with dark hair and blue eyes spoke up. “Why would he need to be jealous when he can have any girl he wants?” Her eyes were greedy, devouring him with a single look. Like she’d happily be one of them.

I went stiff, trying to keep a glare from overtaking my face. What kind of girl makes a play for a guy when his arm is around his girlfriend?

Blue pulled me tighter into his side. His nose grazed my cheekbone. “Don’t pay attention to her. She’s just a jersey chaser ,” he said softly as if she were completely harmless. And as if she were a wholly other breed of human.

Another girl, average height, with bright red hair like Lemon’s was looking at him the same way. Then her eyes hooked her fellow vulture’s. “We could tag team him. I’ve heard he likes that sort of thing.”

It took everything in me not to gasp.

Blue’s eyes narrowed and he barked a firm, “No.” His expression begged me not to believe them. “It’s not true.”

I turned to face the girl, eyes narrowed, fists in a ball. Before I could stop it from escaping my mouth, I channeled my inner Brooklyn and blurted, “You know you’re only here because you’re low hanging fruit.”

The room went silent. Madden’s eyes widened but he offered me a nod of pride. Brion covered his mouth and exchanged a low five with the guy next to him. I blamed my words on the situation. I wasn’t a mean girl. I fully believed in straightening other girls’ crowns. But these two were the type to knock the crown from your head and place it on their own. So I felt okay about it.

“Hey, let’s go get some sodas.” Blue pulled me back, trying to get me to leave. But I was rip-roaring and ready for this fight.

Anger flashed across Red’s face, but then she reined it in and gave Blue a hungry look that said, “Challenge accepted.” “That just means I’m ripe and ready. No waiting involved.” Her tone was haughty, her smile smug. “This one looks like the type who’s probably not satisfying you at all.”

Every eye was on me. My face was on fire. I could feel it. With that one sentence, all my fears were carefully wrapped with a neat little bow. I’d been raised to be a certain kind of girl. High School Blue had been okay with that. But College Quarterback Blue probably wasn’t. Not after having intimate relationships before. Anger choked me. I should’ve looked to see if Blue agreed. Maybe she was right. But I was afraid I might find truth there.

“Leon,” Blue snapped. A guy who’d been sitting on the arm of the couch watching TV glanced up, completely oblivious. “You might want to get a hold of your date .” But then to Red he said with acid in his tone, “I’m plenty satisfied. Mind your own business.”

“Sure you are.” The girl smirked. “But you know where to find me once she heads back to Virginia.”

My pounding heart and rage-filled mind spurred me forward, ready to smack that smug smile off of her face. I took a step toward her, knocking Blue’s hand off me.

“Anna.” Blue’s fingers caught the edge of my waist. Then he gripped me firmly by the shoulders, stopping me dead. I squirmed, my metaphorical claws already extending.

“Boys,” a female said right next to my ear. My eyes swung over to see a blond woman around thirty-five who had a hold on me. Not Blue. “I’m going to steal Anna for a few minutes. I heard she makes a mean cornbread stuffing and mine needs all the help it can get.” She’d heard no such thing. The only stuffing I knew how to make came from a box and I’d never met this woman before in my life. Her eyes widened, warning me to play along. Maybe this was her house. Was she one of the coaches’ wives?

I nodded, embarrassed at my moment of temporary insanity. “Yes. Of course.”

Blue, whose cheeks were smarting, a tight furrow in his brow, reached over and squeezed my hand once before reluctantly letting me go. I rolled my shoulders back and followed the woman, who, on inspection, was lovely and graceful. The opposite of the two predators back there.

Her hands stayed on my shoulders until we were out of the room. “Listen, you can’t pay any mind to girls like that. Not if you want things with Blue to last. I’m Kate by the way. Coach Whitlock’s wife.” So it was her house. She released me as I made it beyond the mass of people. As I followed her, I forced my heart to slow. I’d probably just embarrassed Blue terribly. But I couldn’t think about that right then. I needed to be Mature Anna. Not whoever the heck I was back there. I quickly pulled my phone from the purse slung over my shoulder.

I’m sorry I embarrassed you.

Blue texted right back.

Blue

You didn’t. Forget it. They were trying to get under your skin. Enjoy your time with Kate. She’s awesome.

I didn’t like that I left Blue back there with the buzzards. What if being around them made him rethink…me?

Like we shared a telepathic connection, another text came through.

Blue

I’m heading to the basement to play some Madden on the Xbox. Don’t worry. No girls allowed.

I sent him a kissy face emoji and slipped my phone back in my bag.

Kate walked us right past the kitchen and opened a sliding door leading to the back deck and an unbelievable view of a pristine golf course. The sun was shining but the air had a nip to it, like Mother Nature couldn’t quite decide whether it was fall or winter. I pulled my thin sweater tighter around me as Kate led me to a pair of women seated at a teakwood table.

“Ladies.” She gestured at me. “This is Anna.”

“Blue’s girlfriend!” A dark-haired, petite pregnant woman jumped up like she didn’t have a baby the size of a beach ball under her knit dress. Then she squealed and pulled me into a hug. “I’m totally Team Blupree. Wear my sweatshirt every time I go in public.” She pointed to herself. “Mariana, by the way. I just adore your love story.” Her green eyes twinkled and the smile lines told me she laughed a lot or was just generally a happy person. Her hands went to her heart. “Fate tore you apart and then your uncle got you back together with the whole nation watching.” At the mention of Ford, her eyes closed, and she hummed like she’d just bit into something delectable. “That man’s voice is…” She fanned herself and grunted.

“Smooth, rich, and intoxicating, like a glass of perfectly aged bourbon,” the nameless woman finished for her.

I guffawed at her description of Ford. “And his morning breath smells like year-old roadkill. The size of his loogies in the winter are unrivaled. And he still doesn’t know how to pee in a toilet. Just shoots it straight out of the second-story window. Look out below!” I don’t know what had gotten into me. I was probably just releasing my pent-up aggression from a few minutes ago. But I never could pass up a chance to humanize Ford to his fans. It was too fun.

Kate chuckled.

Mariana waved her hands. “Uh uh, don’t you ruin him for me. No, ma’am. I would marry that man based on his voice alone. Even if he looked like the lovechild of Danny Devito and Donald Trump. Which he definitely does not.”

The other lady raised a glass. “Amen to marrying Ford Dupree for his voice. But I’d marry him for the eyes too. How they look into the camera like they’re coming for your soul. Oh. My. Word.” Ford had gorgeous light blue eyes.

“Two of my uncles have those eyes.” I laughed. “And another’s are equally beautiful.” Silas’s were a pale translucent gray. Same as Momma’s.

“Are any of them single?” Mariana asked. “Asking for a friend.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Such a flirt. Don’t believe her for a second. She is stupidly in love with her husband who happens to be the best defensive line coach in the country and one of the best husbands I’ve ever known.”

Mariana lifted her hands. “He’s just as big a flirt as I am.”

“They flirt even harder with each other.” The other blonde pointed at Mariana’s baby bump. When they clinked glasses, I realized Mariana’s was filled with orange juice.

Kate gestured for me to sit next to her. “Anna, this is Alexa.” She pointed to the other blonde.

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled.

They picked up the conversation about Ford again. Younger people geeked out over my uncle all the time. But to see a group of mature, well-educated women fawn over him was just weird. I knew they were well-educated because I’d read about the coaches’ wives online. The Knoxville Gazette had done a piece on them last year. There wasn’t a single one who hadn’t graduated from college. Most had gone on to earn master’s degrees.

Mariana’s eyes gleamed. “Anna, do you think if we pooled our money, we could take him on vacation and he would sing us to sleep every night? White sand beaches, warm saltwater waves, and the hottest member of Double Dubs.” She raised her hands to the sky. “Sounds so relaxing.”

“I feel a girls’ trip coming on.” Kate did a little dance in her seat.

Alexa looked around conspiratorially. “We just have to come up with a story to tell our husbands.”

“Maybe.” I giggled. “Would you like me to ask him?” I reached for my phone.

“Seriously?” Mariana squealed.

“Here.” I turned the camera. “Let’s send him a group selfie.” They all straightened their hair, checked each other’s teeth and then we took six pictures before we got one where everyone was happy with their appearance, and no one was cut out of the frame. I hit send and set my phone down.

Kate looked at the others. “I saved Anna mid-initiation.” Her tone said they should all know what she meant. From the shake of their heads and pity smiles it was clear they did.

Alexa gave me a soft smile. “Don’t worry about those girls. They’re just jealous you’re the one who finally got Blue to settle down.”

“Okay,” I said but it came out small and worried.

Kate patted my hand. “Try to forgive his past. He was lost there for a little while. But he pulled it together. A lot of them go through that. It’s hard when girls are throwing themselves at you left and right. But now he has you. He’s going to be just fine.”

I decided to trust her confidence. At least for the moment.

Mariana’s eyebrows wiggled. “So, have you and Blue talked about the future?”

I nodded. “Yeah. It’s pretty much all we talk about.”

“Aww,” Alexa said. “That’s how Easton and I were. When you know, you know.”

The women smiled, maybe remembering their own love stories.

Mariana wiped a piece of lint off the table. “Blue’s probably going pro in the spring. Are you ready?” Her tone was excited but she looked sad. “We’re sure gonna miss him.”

I felt myself scowl. Blue hadn’t said anything to me. Not a word about it. I pasted on a smile. “I’m not really sure what to expect.”

Kate settled into her seat. “No one does.” She pointed back at the house. “Those jersey chasers in there think they want that life but they don’t have a clue. Brock’s first year in the NFL, he was traded twice in one season. We brought our baby girl home from the hospital to an extended stay motel that smelled like cigarettes and sulfur.”

“Indiana,” the other two said in unison.

“Their water is disgusting,” Kate said. “It took months to wash the smell out of our clothes after we moved to Oregon.”

Mariana nodded, a wistful look in her eyes. “I made the mistake of making friends with the other wives when Al played for the Broncos. Two years in and he got traded. It felt like my heart was being ripped out. I never let myself get attached again.”

“And let’s not even talk about the press or social media,” Alexa released a small shiver.

“Absolutely vicious.” Kate’s lips pinched. “A bunch of bloodhounds.”

I knew about the social media part already. But the rest of it was eye opening. From the way I’d heard it described, being married to an NFL player sounded pretty dreamy to me. Hot football husband that the country loves, a big house for the off-season. Retiring in ten years with more money than you know what to do with.

“You go to school in Virginia?” Alexa asked, sipping whatever was in her glass.

“Yes. At James River College. It’s a small private school about five hours from here.”

“Five hours?” Mariana said. “That must be hard.”

My nose crinkled. “It is. But what choice do we have?”

“Oh, girl,” Alexa waved a lazy hand. “That’s nothing compared to what it’ll be when he’s drafted.”

“Really, Lex?” Kate said, lips pursed. “Don’t you think you could be a little more encouraging? They haven’t been together for two months yet.”

Alexa shrugged. “She may as well know what she’s getting herself into now.”

“She’s not wrong.” Mariana turned to me. “What’s your major? Your plans?”

I bounced in my seat a little, happy to talk about something less heavy. “Biology. I’m applying to vet school this year. I just got notification that I got an interview spot.”

“I thought you were only nineteen,” she said.

“I am, but I graduated high school with my associates, so I’m done at JRC after this year."

Kate patted my hand. “Good for you. Which vet school?”

“Virginia Tech. I can get instate tuition. Vet school is just as expensive as med school and you come out making a lot less, so…”

Kate nodded. “Yes. You should go to school near your family.”

Alexa looked at Kate with frustration. “But what if Blue plays for Los Angeles? Or Oakland? Or any team west of the Mississippi? How are they supposed to make that work?”

“He might play for D.C.,” Kate inserted. “That’s doable.”

“Oh, good gracious, let’s hope not.” Mariana hooted. “They’ve ruined how many careers in the last decade?”

Alexa turned to me. “But what if he does end up out west? How’re you going to make that work if you’re in Virginia at vet school?”

Oh wow. She was right. My entire face was crunched and my stomach tightened. “Can I ask a dumb question?”

“There are no dumb questions at this table,” Kate said.

My hands were mangling each other in my lap. “When he’s drafted does he get any say in where he goes?”

Mariana slapped her thigh. “They weren’t kidding. This girl knows nothing about football.”

My mouth fell open. Who was they ? I knew how the game was played.

Kate frowned. “Why do you think Blue likes her so much? She’s the opposite of a jersey chaser.”

“Honey.” Alexa set her glass down. “I thought you had uncles.”

“I do.” I laughed, ignoring the constant thrumming of blood in my ears, caused by my own na?vety. “I’ve just tried to tune out all the sports mumbo jumbo.”

“Well, it worked.” She grinned. “No, unfortunately. He doesn’t get to pick. It’s like a nasty game of roulette. All you can do is hope for the best and be grateful when a team wants him.”

I let out a disappointed exhale. “Well, I guess if he goes somewhere far, and I get in this year, I’ll turn it down and go with him? Apply to a vet school out there?” I hated how uncertain I sounded. How uncertain I felt. Why hadn’t Blue mentioned any of this?

Kate shook her head adamantly. “You don’t want to do that. If he gets traded after one season, you’re stuck there alone for the next three years. Stay by your family.”

“No,” Mariana said. “The only way this is going to work is if she goes with him.”

Kate rolled her eyes. “They’re just kids. They barely started dating again. That’s ridiculous.”

“Get married,” Mariana said, not kidding even a little. “Just forget what everyone says about being too young. You’ve known him since you were fourteen. He’s it for you and you’re it for him. I could tell when he hugged you on the field. Marriage will make your life ten times easier.”

“I’m nineteen,” I croaked.

She waved my words away. “Who cares? He moves, you move. That’s the only way it’s going to work.”

Kate folded her arms, annoyed. “You’re telling her to give up her dream career and become a stay-at-home wife. You’re asking her to do a one-eighty.”

Alexa held up her hands. “I’m with Mariana. If she wants this thing with Blue to work, she has to go with him. Marriage or not.” She lifted her shoulders, her face full of empathy. “These are the facts. You might have to think about a new dream. Something you can get a degree in online and then work from home after. That’s what I had to do. I was going to be an interior designer and then I switched to graphic design because I can take it with me anywhere.”

“She’s right.” Mariana rubbed her belly. “Like you found out today, jersey chasers are everywhere and they are relentless. The more money he makes, the more they’ll come out of the woodwork. Not that Blue would cheat. I don’t think he’s that kind of guy. But being together every night after a game, win or lose, is a protection to both of you. To your relationship. The less distance between you, the better.”

My phone buzzed and I picked it up. “Oh, Ford says yes. Just name the time and place.”

They broke out into hooting and laughter and began planning the pretend vacation they were never going to take.

It only took a few minutes of processing to realize they were right. There were no perfect solutions. And I was the one that was going to have to choose. Not Blue. I was at an intersection and I had to give something up.

My childhood love or my lifelong dream.