Page 46 of Pucking Tangled

FORTY-FIVE

Casey

The smell of burgers and roasted corn filled the backyard.

Casey stood back, nursing his beer and taking it all in.

Somehow, his dad and Mia’s dad ended up manning the grill, spewing something about being a job for ‘the dads’ or some shit. All they needed were polo shirts, khaki shorts, and a pair of white sneakers to make the suburban dad thing complete.

Skeeter, who had been out back when his grandparents arrived, was thrilled that all the humans were now outside with him. And even more excited that Nana Hannah brought his favorite treats.

Casey’s mom was sipping a glass of wine and talking to Owen about what kind of flowers they should plant in the beds out front.

Laney had already polished off the first bottle of wine Mia opened and had started on a second. She was still chatting with Luca and Waylon, like she’d known them for years. That included asking the wildest, most inappropriate questions.

She’d just cleared her throat and asked, “Do you ever fight over who gets to sleep closest to her?”

Casey watched Luca turn bright pink.

Waylon laughed. “We have a custody agreement that we all signed. Assigned days of the week, and then we trade off every third weekend.”

Casey groaned and ducked back inside the house, where Mia was grabbing another bottle of wine and refilling the chip bowls.

“Do you think if I swapped her wine for some flavored sparkling water, she would notice?” she asked. “She’s out there interviewing them like they’re contestants on The Bachelor.”

He stood behind Mia and pulled her in close. “She’s only asking because they keep entertaining her questions, and she knows you and I won’t.”

She glanced up at him and gave that half-laugh, half-sigh she always did when she was trying not to panic.

“I know it’s easier said than done, but try to relax. They’re here, Mia. They showed up for us when we didn’t even realize we needed it.”

By the time they all sat down to eat, plates were overloaded, drinks were sweating in their cups, and Skeeter had already run off with Waylon’s first hamburger—right off his plate.

Mia ended up sitting between Luca and Owen, while Casey sat across from them between his mom and Waylon, who had just passed him another beer.

“Should have grabbed something stronger,” he joked, leaning closer so only Waylon could hear him .

His teammate chuckled and handed him a red plastic cup.

He didn’t ask, just took a long drink before handing it back.

Vodka and Coke, a good choice.

Their moms were already talking about holiday logistics and how they would manage the five different schedules and families. Casey was pretty sure he even heard whispers about grandchildren, but he was not about to bring that up for general discussion.

Not yet.

It was too soon.

Things were still too new to throw in something like having babies, though he couldn’t deny the fact that he hoped one day they’d have children of their own. Whatever that looked like.

“Casey!” His mom paused and pointed her fork at him. “Did you ever think that little crush you had as a kid would turn into all this?”

“Jesus Christ, Mom.” He choked and sputtered.

“Oh, come on! I still have the notebook with her name scribbled in the corners.”

Waylon coughed out a laugh. “Aw, shit. Mrs. Novak. Please tell me it was hearts and sparkles.”

“You’re not helping,” Casey muttered, his face flaming.

But Mia? Oh, his girl—err, their girl—was smiling back at him with hearts and sparkles in her eyes.

After they finished eating, Mia and the moms did the dishes while the guys tackled the rest of the cleanup.

By the time the three women made it back outside, the fire pit was glowing, and Casey’s dad had the entire group of guys gathered like it was story time around the campfire.

“I’m just saying,” he declared, holding up a finger. “Little Casey couldn’t skate backward without crashing into at least three other kids.”

“That’s slander,” Casey called out from the hammock. “I was strategic. ”

“You were a menace,” his dad countered.

Waylon looked like a kid in a candy store. The man was practically bouncing up and down as he said, “Tell us about the time he cried because his helmet was too tight again.”

“Oh, that was a classic,” Casey’s mom chimed in, sliding into the conversation with Mia and her mom trailing behind. “He insisted it was cutting off circulation to his brain. Said he needed to be medically excused from drills.”

Casey groaned. “I regret this whole day.”

Mia sank into the hammock beside him, pressing her knee to his. “I don’t. I needed this.”

He looked at her. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. I just wish that Luca and Waylon’s parents could have been here, too. Have either of them said anything to you about them?”

Casey made the hammock sway again with a gentle push of his foot on the ground. “No. Why?”

“Waylon said something about his parents calling to read him the riot act. They told him he was humiliating himself, and they didn’t approve. He said they were ‘close-minded’ assholes.” She made air quotes with her fingers.

He hissed. “Damn, that fucking sucks.”

“He told them that he’s finally found his real family, whether or not they chose to like them.”

“I don’t think they’ve ever really gotten along that well. I’m glad he knows he has us. For better or worse.”

“Till death do us part?” Mia said with a laugh.

“Maybe one day.” He brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “You heard anything about Luca’s parents? ”

“Nope.”

“Hm. I don’t know much about them. Hopefully, they’re not close-minded assholes, too.”

“You know, I’m surprised that our parents took this so well.” Mia squeezed his hand.

“I’m not,” he admitted. “My parents have always known I walked to a different tune.”

“Did you really doodle my name on your notebook?” She smirked.

“Once. I think she’s bluffing about still having the book.”

“Should I find out?” Mia teased.

“Hell no.”