Page 25

24

Hendrix

Jack

I can understand not wanting to tell all the guys, but you could’ve at least told me you were married.

Zane

I don’t understand not telling the guys. WTF, Jack?

Garrett

Yeah, dummy, why didn’t you tell us? We love Raven. You finally got your head out of your ass.

Logan

It’s really cool, bro. Congrats.

Garrett

Don’t be a brown-noser, Logan.

We didn’t want to tell you in case it didn’t work out.

Jack

Why wouldn’t it work out?

Zane

Yeah, man, what’s the problem?

Garrett

Prioritize her needs. It’s not the Hendrix Show anymore. I’m saying this with love—it’s how I got Liv back.

I know.

I do know. My big brother gives me shit all the time, but his words are true. It’s also why I haven’t let myself slow down long enough to think about it since that night after Wisconsin.

If I had my way, Raven would give up her silly notion of moving back to Atlanta and just stay here with me. Star never misses a chance to tell me how much they adore her at the station. I’m confident they’d give her a full-time job. It wouldn’t pay much, but she doesn’t need it. She has her money and mine.

So what if the job at KCLA is boring? So what if we have no weather in LA? I’ve learned to like the eternal sunshine. She might, too, if she tried.

Staring at my phone, the pit in my stomach tells a different story. I know what motivates Raven. She’s about making a difference, saving lives, and as the weeks fly past, faster and faster, I can’t deny what’s coming.

“I can’t believe it’s already December!” Raven stretches out on the oversized, buttery leather seat of the private jet.

Her face is freshly washed, her lips glossy, and with her hair swept back, she’s so pretty. Her amber eyes shine, and she’s wearing black yoga pants and a long-sleeved black tee. A glass of champagne is in her hand.

I can tell she’s excited to be going home. It’s the first time in three months…

Three months that passed like three days.

Every year, when the season takes off, it’s the same. Between training all week and games every weekend, I wake up and it’s Christmas then the playoffs and counting down to the final big game.

Sports media spent a minute on my personal life after my big announcement. They posted pictures of Raven and me with Haddy leaving the house. They had pictures of me carrying Haddy into the stadium when I went to practice.

For the most part, the coverage was neutral, not nasty or invasive. The gossip site TMI tried to make a big deal out of me being a father, but they didn’t have much dirt to turn.

Somehow our courthouse wedding escaped their notice, likely because the old people running the show don’t have smartphones and only basic internet.

Everyone was way more interested in my gameplay.

We’ve had an incredible season. After a few early stumbles, we haven’t lost a single game. Tyler and I are the talk of the league, and commentators are already predicting us to win the Super Bowl.

They’re calling me one of the best tight ends in history, and it’s the capstone of what I’ve worked for my entire career.

It’s our bye week, the one week every season when we don’t have a game, and we’re making the most of it, starting with Zane and Rachel’s wedding in Newhope.

From there, we’ll drive to Atlanta to visit Raven’s father and sister—and sign off on her inheritance. After that…

My mind drifts to her nervous proposal, and all the things she said. At the time, she was desperate for me to help her. She was working with the old “no marriage, babies, or poop” Hendrix Bradford, and hoping I wouldn’t turn her down flat.

I don’t even know that guy anymore.

Raven rests her head on her hand, smiling at our baby girl in her carseat sucking a pacifier and holding Axel. “It seems like yesterday we were getting ready for her first Halloween.”

“She was the cutest little football.” I reach over and squeeze Haddy’s foot.

It was a funny joke about the first time I tried to hold her. What a dumbass I was.

We walked around the neighborhood trick-or-treating, getting a bunch of candy she couldn’t eat. Then Thanksgiving came, and we ordered plates and shared puréed turkey with her while we chatted on FaceTime with the family.

At the end of the day, I watched Raven holding her, giving Haddy her bottle, and like a punch in the chest, I realized how fucking thankful I was for them.

“She’s nine months old,” Raven playfully wails.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat, thinking how much they’ve become a part of my life in such a short time.

“She has four teeth—four!” Raven’s pretty brown eyes are wide as she holds up four fingers.

“I know. She bit the crap out of my shoulder the other day.”

“It’s because you’re delicious.” She cuts me that sassy look that always brings my dick to the party.

If my wife wants to join the mile-high club, I’d never tell her no. Hell, maybe it would take my mind off all these damn thoughts.

I watch her gaze out the window, a happy smile curling her full lips. For the past week, all she could talk about was seeing her family, my family, our friends, being home…

Going back makes her happy. That’s what I want… right? What does Garrett like to say? It’s not the Hendrix show anymore.

Placing my hand over hers, I check my watch. “There’s a good chance we’ll make it in time for Dare Night.”

It’s the night of Dylan’s weekly special, where she tests out a surprise, super-hot-pepper recipe for customers brave enough to try it.

Craig and the rest of the gang turned it into a fire-themed dance party years ago, and it’s become the restaurant’s most popular night of the week.

“I hope so!” Her eyes dance as she looks up at me. “Last time, I only caught the end, but it seemed like a blast.”

“It’s pretty crazy.” I stand, bracing my forearms against the overhead compartments.

Looking down, I watch her slide a piece of hair off her cheek, behind her ear. She’s still so beautifully mine. I don’t want to think about a day when I’ll be flying back to LA alone.

In the beginning, I told her I was okay with that. I’ve lived by myself for five years. Of course, I’d be okay with that.

I’m not okay with it.

These two ladies came into my world and changed everything. From the first night when we waited, holding our breath outside Haddy’s bedroom door as she cried. To every single bedtime movie that followed.

Even on away games, we’d go to sleep on the phone.

Then they started sleeping in my bed.

How the fuck do I go back to being in that massive, “ridiculous” mansion all by myself?

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out to see the text.

Jack

ETA?

Looking out the window, we’re somewhere over Texas. A screen in the wall shows a map of the United States and our little plane shooting across the bottom.

Looks like we’ll be touching down around nine.

Jack

Perfect—see you then.

Taking the seat beside Raven, I hold her hand, studying the gold ring I had resized so she could wear it all the time. “Are you ready for this?”

“For the wedding?” Her brow furrows.

“This might be our last quiet moment for a while.”

Her face relaxes with a grin. “Are you saying we’ll be torn apart by wild Bradfords?”

I lift her hand to my lips to kiss her knuckles. “More like we’ll be smothered by them.”

Scooting closer, she puts her head on my shoulder. “Haddy’s going to love her family.”

Leaning my head against hers, I’m sure she’s right about that part. Haddy already loves music and dancing. She’ll fit right in, and they’ll be ready to make her one of us, just like her mother.

Still holding hands, I think about us being only friends. I think about explaining our breakup to my brothers. I think about the promise I made three months ago.

“Whatever happens, I had a lot of fun.”

She blinks up at me, and her lips press into a smile. “Me, too.”

Haddy dozes in her seat while Raven reads a book on her Kindle. I have my phone out watching highlight reels from the past season on YouTube.

A light touch on my shoulder draws my attention.

“We’re making our final approach.” The flight attendant’s voice is smooth and low, and we scoot around to prepare for landing.

It’s not long before we’re on the ground. I help Raven collect Haddy’s things. She slept through the flight, which I hope means she’ll be ready for the craziness that’s to come.

We walk down the short steps to find two familiar teenage boys in jeans and hoodies waiting for us. It’s a cool, breezy night on the coast, and Raven pulls the hood over Haddy’s head and ears.

“Coach Jack sent us to pick you up.” The taller boy I recognize as Austin Sinclair, QB-1 for Jack’s high school football team and Dylan’s best friend Allie’s son. “He said to drive you straight to the restaurant, no detours.”

“They’ve planned a surprise party for you.” Edward Wells is Rachel’s brother, and he’s a hoot.

“Edward!” Austin punches his arm. The younger boy frowns, rubbing the spot with an Ow! as Austin scolds him. “You weren’t supposed to tell them that.”

Raven ducks her head, covering her mouth with her hand, and I step forward, lowering my voice. “It’s okay. You never told us.”

“But I did tell you.” Edward is confused, looking from me to Austin, who lets out a groan. Then he shrugs. “Adults are weird.”

Shaking his head, Austin takes Raven’s suitcase. “Whatever, just act surprised. ”

“We’ll be the most surprised people you’ve ever seen,” she reassures him.

Following the boys, I help put our luggage in the bed of Garrett’s oversized Ford pickup. We fasten Haddy’s car seat in the second row behind the passenger’s seat, and I take the front with Austin while Raven and Edward sit in the back with the baby.

It’s a short drive to the restaurant from the small airport south of town, and when we pull into the parking lot of Cooters & Shooters, it’s so obvious they’re planning something.

“Did they cancel Dare Night for us?” Raven’s voice is worried as she leans forward.

The restaurant is almost completely dark, and the parking lot is empty except for a few cars, Jack’s truck, and Logan’s SUV.

“No, they just told everyone to park at the house, and they’re going to jump out and yell when you walk in the door,” Edward explains without a hint of irony.

“Edward, Dang!” Austin stage-yells, and I can’t help a chuckle.

“Rachel told me not to walk in with all of you. It’s going to be loud with poppers and shouting.”

Austin looks at him in the rearview mirror. “That was for your information, not for you to tell the whole truck.”

“I thought they should know for the baby. Gigi cries when everybody yells.”

“You make a very good point, Edward.” Raven pats his arm. “Thank you for warning us. I’ll let the guys go in first and cover Haddy’s ears.”

Edward nods his head. “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow. Welcome home.”

He slides out of the truck and walks up the hill to the house. Austin puts the truck in park and piles out like a typical, annoyed teenager.

The three of us follow him down the short walk to the front entrance, and I bump his shoulder. “If it makes you feel any better, they’re being pretty dang obvious. There’s no way this place is this quiet on a Thursday night. ”

His lips twist with a smile, and he grabs the handle. “That’s true.”

He doesn’t even get the door open before the lights flash on and everybody yells Surprise!

“You’re finally here!” Dylan rushes forward to pull me into a hug. “We’ve been waiting and waiting.”

“I can tell.” I lean down to give my sister a squeeze.

“My new sister!” She turns to hug Raven. “How did my big brother propose? Show me your ring!”

“Oh…” Raven’s smile falters, and her panicked eyes fly to mine.

“It wasn’t really like that…” I start, but Dylan’s holding her hand.

“No diamond?” She frowns up at me.

“We decided so fast, we just picked these up…” Raven starts.

“It’s temporary,” I finish.

“Okay, and you’ll have anniversaries and holidays and whatever!” Dylan smiles, supportive as always. She waves my misstep away, turning to smooth the hood of Haddy’s coat off her head. “Where’s my little Haddy-boo? Here she is!”

Haddy isn’t crying. In fact, her blue eyes are huge as she looks around the festive room.

All four of my brothers gather around us, along with Liv, Rachel, and Allie. A lighted sign over the bar reads Welcome Home! , and the place is packed with family and friends and patrons here for Dare Night.

It looks like we caught them mid-Dare.

Once the initial surprise part is over, “Disco Inferno” kicks off on the PA system, and a few of the female servers hop onto the bar to dance, Coyote Ugly style.

“Welcome home, Hen!” Craig says over the mic from where he stands behind a long picnic table.

He’s in his blonde Sandra Dee from Grease wig, and a waitress I recognize helps him hand out little white cups of this week’s spicy pepper dish to the line of brave customers .

“How was your flight?” Jack grips my shoulder, pulling me in for a hug.

“She’s so big!” Liv is at my side holding Gigi and hugging Raven and Haddy.

“Well, if it isn’t my married, baby-having, poopy-diaper-changing little brother.” The loud voice is followed closely by massive arms around my chest, lifting me off the floor.

“Put me down, Sasquatch!” I yell, twisting against Garrett’s vise grip.

He puts me on my feet again, and I turn to see him in his own Sandra Dee wig, grinning down at me. “You don’t look too worse for wear.”

“He looks happy.” Zane walks up reaching for my hand before pulling me close and slapping my back. “Being a dad agrees with you.”

Nodding sheepishly, my eyes instinctively search for Raven. She’s drifted off with the girls, laughing and hugging. They’re all talking at the same time, fawning over the babies.

Haddy has her pacifier in her mouth and Axel in her hand as she watches them all in amazement. I don’t think she’s going to cry.

“He’s a Bradford.” Garrett laughs, leaving us to join Craig, who’s yelling at him from the top of the bar. “He can’t help himself.”

Somehow he drags his six-foot-four frame on top of the bar in one move as the music changes to “Fireball” by Pitbull. The lights flash around the room, and our welcome home is swept up in the commotion of Thursday nights at my family’s restaurant on the bay.

“Want some?” Dylan dances up to me holding a paper cup and a spoon. “It’s Red Savina chili with sweet potatoes and corn and a little apple cider vinegar and lemon juice to cut the heat.”

“I do!” Raven skips up beside me, taking the small serving. “Red Savinas were the hottest pepper in the world until ghost peppers were discovered. ”

“No, thank you.” Logan holds up both hands, stepping away.

“Same!” Liv calls from where she’s bouncing Haddy on her hip. “I prefer my taste buds remain intact.”

My pretty wife takes a small bite of the daring dish. As soon as it’s in her mouth, her brown eyes widen, and she squeals, waving a hand in front of her face.

“It’s delicious!” Her eyes water, and her nose starts to run as she laughs, still waving her hand. “Smoky…”

“Are you getting any of the sweetness?” Dylan is beside her, watching like they’re in a laboratory.

Raven shakes her head fast. “It’s burning my mouth off!”

“Here!” Allie holds out a small cup of vanilla ice cream.

Raven takes it, ripping off the cardboard top and sticking her tongue straight into the cup.

“Want some, Hen?” Dylan turns to me, holding another small cup.

Both my hands go up like she pulled a gun. “I’m good for now.”

Rachel snorts a laugh, taking the serving. “In that case, you’d better get dancing. Your big brother’s been waiting for you.”

I look up at the bar where Garrett, Craig, and several waitresses in cutoffs and Cooters & Shooters T-shirts shake their hips in time, then I look at my bride holding a party-sized vanilla ice cream cup to her mouth.

Our eyes meet, and she blinks with a smile.

“I think I’d rather dance with my wife.” Stepping forward, I hold out a hand. “Are you okay with that?”

She tosses the ice cream into a nearby trash can and puts her hand in mine. “I was born okay with it.”