Page 19

CHAPTER

NINE

ARCHIE

We’re playing Louisiana today, and they’re a good team, but we’re better. Callaway is in as the quarterback today, as expected. He’s on fire too.

The clock is winding down, and we’re all getting tired.

In the huddle, Bo called a passing play to Beck, which means I need to execute zone protection—leaving space for him to get the ball down the field.

Beck is one of the best running backs not only in our conference, but in college ball.

So, I know if I give him the room he needs, he’ll take it all the way.

We take our positions, and I get myself positioned on the yard line. The defensive end across from me starts talking shit.

“Griff, you pussy. How’s your mom? Did she call my name when she was giving it to your dad last night?”

Does it make me mad? Hype me up? Nah. But it does make me laugh.

“Awww, you’re cute, Pickens. Listen, it don’t matter to me that your coaches put a JV lineup out here. I’ve been here all day, schooling your ass. I like this kind of party, baby.”

“Fuck you and your mother, Griff. ”

“Ha-ha! He’s scared, boys. Come on now, Pickens. I want you right here.” I point in front of me.

Bo calls the play, and I jump from my position. I take ahold of Pickens’s shoulder pads and throw him to the ground.

Standing over him, I yell. “Get off the field!”

Then I look up and see Beckham reach the first down marker. We’re down to three minutes left on the clock. Bo calls a passing play, which will send it off to Casey. We line up, but this time, Pickens doesn’t say anything.

Instead of moving straight at him when Bo calls the snap, I shift to my left and back to protect him while he throws the ball off to Casey.

A lineman comes up on me before I can brace for the hit. He gets me right in the ribs, and even though I have my pads on, it still hurts like a motherfucker. It’ll definitely leave a bruise.

As I get up from the ground, our band starts playing our fight song to signal a touchdown. I look down the field and see Casey in the end zone.

We win the game by ten points.

After the game, I find my dad in the family waiting area. When I walk up to him, he folds me into his arms and slaps my back twice.

“Good game, son. How you feelin’? ”

“Thanks. I’m good, just a little sore, but that’s pretty much the norm.” I laugh.

He chuckles. “You hungry?”

“You know it. Let’s go grab a steak. I need some red meat to help the swelling in my side go down.”

“Got it. Let’s go to the Stockyard. We don’t have one of those near home, and I like their potatahs.” He lets go of me but keeps his arm around my shoulders.

Twenty minutes later, we’re sitting at our table at the restaurant, both with a beer in front of us.

“So, tell me how you’ve been, how you’re feeling. We should meet with your agent soon. I think there were a couple of endorsement deals he wanted you to look at.”

“Yeah, we should definitely do that. But, hey, listen. Um, there’s something I want to talk to you about. And I wish Mom were here, too, but this really can’t wait.”

He looks at me and crosses his arms over his chest. “Okay, what is it?”

I rub the back of my neck. “Well … I’m going to be a father.”

He blinks. “Come again? I think you just said you were going to be a father.”

I drop my hand and look up at him, smiling tightly. “Nope, you heard me right. I’m gonna be a dad.”

The look on his face isn’t upset or disappointed, but he does look well and truly stunned, like someone knocked the wind out of him with a well-aimed horseshoe. “How did this happen, Arch?”

I chuckle and can’t even help myself when I say, “Well, Dad, you see, when a man and woman?—”

“Cut the shit, son. Who is she? Do we know her?” he asks.

“Dad, when have I ever introduced y’all to a girl here at college? Never. But … this girl is different.”

“How did you meet her? And do we know if it’s yours? Should we get a paternity test? ”

All logical questions that he’s asking, but it also kinda pisses me off.

“Yes, Dad. It’s mine, and, no, I’m not questioning the paternity.

We went to the doctor to confirm. And before you get too carried away with your questions, she also has her own dreams to follow, so the timing isn’t great for her either.

But we’re gonna figure it all out together.

We’re spending time together. And, Dad, I really like her. ” I take a drink of my beer.

He’s staring at me, probably trying to figure out if this is all bullshit. I sit back and drink my beer, giving him time to process.

I set my beer back down on the table. “Her name is Emma. She’s a premed student and a golfer for the university’s team. Super smart and gorgeous. Honestly, I can’t get enough of hanging out with her. When I’m not on the field or in class, I want to be around her.”

He tilts his head to the side and nods. “Okay, I hear you. So, what will you do when you get drafted? Does she plan to come with you and drop out of school?”

“Well, we haven’t talked much about all of that yet. I would never ask her to give up on her dream of being a doctor. It’s too important to her. She lost her sister when they were kids, and I think she’s made it her mission to understand and help kids with the same issue.”

Dad blows out a breath. He bows his head, as if in quiet prayer.

“That’s a shame. No one ever wants to lose a child—that’s for sure.

Sounds like she’s got a good head on her shoulders then.

Doesn’t mean I won’t have some questions and concerns.

You’re my son, and that’s my grandchild she’s carrying. When will we get to meet her?”

“Not sure yet. Soon, hopefully. We might be a lot for her to handle though. Her family is pretty small. It was just her and her sister until she died. Sounds like, after her sister’s death, she felt a lot of pressure to be perfect.”

He smirks. “We can be a lot. Your mama is going to be over the moon—you know that, right? Seems like we just got Austin out of diapers though.”

“Ha! Dad, he’s fourteen.”

“Still acts like a baby sometimes though. God love him. We should have invited her to come with us tonight.”

“She had to take care of some things at her parents’ house this weekend. She didn’t make it to the game today either.”

Dad’s expression sobers again. He folds his hands on the table, then leans in.

“Son, I know I don’t have to tell you to do right by this girl.

You’re a good man, but this all means you can’t be messin’ around with any other girls now.

You need to step up and be the best dad to this baby.

Whatever happens between you and Emma is between the two of you, but don’t ever put the baby in the middle of your relationship.

The baby will come first. And if you can make it work as a couple, that’s a bonus.

” He pauses, eyes locked on mine. “But hear me when I tell you, I still can and will kick your ass if you mess her around.”

I nod slowly, the weight of it all settling on my shoulders—but not in a bad way. Just … real. Heavy and full and somehow still right. “You don’t have to worry about that, Dad. I’m all in for this girl. And I know it seems soon, but I think we’ll be able to make this work.”

“You sure she won’t get sick of your ass? You can be a lot to handle, Arch.” He laughs.

“I’m a treat, and you know it. How could she not love me?” I wink at him.

“That you are, son. I hope she’s ready for you and all the stuff that’s coming your way with being a pro athlete, but if she’s an athlete at this level, she must have some idea. You been golfing with her yet?”

I shake my head. “No, she just finished her fall season, and I’ve been so busy, as you know, so no, but I wouldn’t mind. She’ll probably smoke me.”

Our food arrives, so we take some time to eat and catch up on the goings-on around the ranch .

After we finish eating and pay the bill, we walk out to my dad’s truck.

He pulls me in for a hug. “Archie, I’m so proud of the man you’re becoming. Even if the timing isn’t the best professionally, babies are a blessing, and we’ll be so excited to meet the next little Griffith.”

I squeeze him a little harder, fighting the tears that just sprang. “Thanks, Dad. I just hope I can be as good of a dad as you’ve been to us. And I also hope I can treat Emma with the same love and respect you show Mama.”

He pulls away but keeps his hands on my shoulders. “Oh, you will, son. ’Cause if you don’t, I won’t have to worry about kicking your ass; your mama will.”

We both laugh as he releases me.

He turns and opens his door. “We’ll see you soon, but you’d better call your mama and tell her about the baby because you know I will when I get home, and she should hear it from you first.”

I nod. “You got it. I’ll call her on my way home. Drive safe and text me when you get there. Tell everyone I said hi and I love and miss them all.”

He tips the bill of his hat. “Will do. Love you, son.”

“Love you, Dad.” I tap the top of his door when it closes.

I watch him drive away and think about how different my path is than his was. While I love the ranch I grew up on, I never had any interest in taking it over. Once I made that first hit in peewee football, I knew where I was meant to be.

Now, I just need to figure out a way to make my dreams and Emma’s mix, so we can both be there to raise the baby. Because I can’t imagine being away from any child of mine. And the more time I spend with Emma, the more I realize that I’m not interested in being away from her either.