Page 25

CHAPTER

TWELVE

EMMA

I got to my parents’ house just before nine p.m. last night. I stayed up with my mom for a while, and we made a pumpkin pie and a sweet potato pie. I don’t like the sweet potato pie, but I could seriously eat the entire pumpkin pie. I’m kind of wishing we had made an extra.

We talked about the baby and started to make a list of all the things we needed to buy.

There are so many things these little babies need.

And even though it’s slightly overwhelming, I can’t deny that I’m getting excited to buy some of the basics.

The big stuff will probably need to wait until we figure out our living situation, but I think starting to get some onesies and picking out bedding and some of the cute gender-neutral items will be fun.

Archie is due to get here any minute now. I don’t really feel nervous, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxious. Our relationship has only come up a few times in conversation, but I think it will be easier to answer some of the questions they have when he’s here with me.

My dad is excited to have another man in the house. It’s a bonus that Archie also plays football, and now he has someone to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Detroit Lions. It’s a game that has been played for years between the two teams. My dad is a huge Cowboys fan.

I’ve told them who he is, so I’m sure they’ve looked him up. My tip that they have looked him up is that they aren’t asking a ton of questions about him, which is surprising. Even with the friends I’ve made at school, they’ve always been very curiously cautious about who I spend my time with.

Just as I’m taking the stuffing out of the oven, I hear the doorbell ring.

“I’ll get it,” I holler from the kitchen so my dad doesn’t jump up and answer.

I want to have a minute with Archie before I have to share him with my parents.

After setting down the dish, I take the potholders off my hands and place them on the counter. I look over at my mom and see her watching me with a soft smile on her face.

“What?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “Oh, nothing. You just seem excited.”

“I am excited. He’s nice to look at.” I giggle.

“Ah! Emma Grace!” she scolds with a laugh.

I rush over to the door and pull it open.

Archie is wearing a freaking cowboy hat and cowboy boots.

Scoop me off the floor. To make it even better, he’s wearing a distressed pair of Wranglers and a plaid shirt with pearled buttons.

He looks like he just stepped out of Yellowstone .

Or the ranch he grew up on, but whatever. I like the Yellowstone thought better.

He’s watching me with a smile on his face. “Hey, darlin’.”

If we didn’t have to go inside and talk to my parents right now, I’d probably pull him in and rip those clothes off. Except for the hat. He could leave the hat on. While I ride him again. Save a horse and all that.

“Hi,” I finally say. “Come on in. We’re just pulling the food out, so your timing is perfect. ”

When he steps in, he tilts his hat back on his head and bends down, lifting me in his arms. We’re face-to-face now, and he leans in and kisses me.

“There. That’s better,” he whispers against my lips.

With my arms wrapped around him, I bury my face in his neck, breathing him in. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too. Should we go in so I can meet your parents?” He sets me down. “Can I put my hat somewhere?” He looks around, eyes landing on the bench near the door.

“Oh, yeah. I’ll just drop it here on the bench, if that’s okay.” I take it from him and place it on the bench. Then I grab his hand. “Come on. Let’s go meet the parents.” I smile.

We walk into the kitchen first, and my mom has her back turned to us. She is bent over, looking in the oven.

“Mom, Archie is here.”

She stands with a casserole in her hands. Dad strolls in, tight smile on his face.

“Hey, Dad. So, this is Archie.”

Archie reaches out his hand to my dad first. “A pleasure to meet you, sir. Thank you for inviting me here to spend the day with you and your family.”

Dad takes his hand and shakes it. “We’re glad to have you. You can call me Van.”

Mom puts the dish on the counter and walks around it. “Hi, Archie. Welcome to our home.”

“Mrs. Tucker, thank you for having me.”

He holds his hand out to her, but she leans in and hugs him instead. I’m slightly shocked by the gesture, and I look over at my dad, who looks equally surprised.

“Archie, it’s so nice to meet you. But please call me Stacy.” She pulls back and gives him a warm smile.

“It’s nice to meet you both as well. Is there anything I can help with?” he asks.

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. Emma and I got most of it done last night and this morning, so you made it just in time. The food is coming out of the oven, and it’s time for Van to carve the turkey.”

“Okay. Well, it smells delicious in here. I can’t wait to try it all.”

I step into him and wrap my arm around his waist, tugging him into me. His arm wraps around my shoulders, and he leans down and kisses the top of my head.

My mom is watching us, eyes getting glassy.

“Let’s eat, so we can be done when the game starts. Archie, you a Cowboys fan?” Dad asks him.

“That I am. Grew up a few hours south of Dallas.”

“Glad to hear it; otherwise, we’d have to ask you to leave.” He smiles over at Archie, who just laughs.

“I get it. I think I’d be disowned in my own home if I wasn’t a Cowboys fan.”

My mom walks between us. “Okay, everyone, grab a dish, and let’s head to the dining room.”

I let go of Archie and grab a dish off the counter, and Archie follows. Dad carves some turkey off and places it on a platter.

We sit in our seats, my parents at each end of the table, and I’m next to Archie on one side of the table.

“Do you want some water, darlin’?” Archie asks me.

“Yes, thank you.” I put my hand on his knee under the table.

“Okay, let’s pass this food around and get to it,” Dad says.

We all take servings, and Archie has a little more than anyone else, which makes me smile. Dad says grace, and then we all start eating.

While we eat, my parents ask him questions about his family and general questions about football and where he sees the season going. I wasn’t worried about Archie being able to handle it or feeling awkward. He’s just so confident in who he is, and he has the ability to make people feel comfortable.

But I have a feeling some of the tougher questions are coming.

Once we’ve finished eating, my mom suggests we go sit in the family room. She gets a coffee for herself and my dad. I go into the kitchen and get a bottle of water for me and Archie.

He and my dad are talking about football, commenting along with the commentators.

I take a seat next to Archie on the couch, then lean over and kiss his cheek. He puts his arm behind me and rests it on the back of the couch. I scoot into him a little more and place my hand on his leg.

My parents have never seen me behave this way, so I’m sure they’re surprised by how affectionate I’m being in front of them.

But the fact that Archie came today and has gotten along so easily with my family has driven me further into my feelings for him.

Because I can’t deny I’m falling for him hard.

And it’s not just for the baby. It’s about us.

“So, Archie, I’m glad you and my daughter seem to get along nicely, but as her father, I need to know how you plan to take care of her and the baby.” Dad sets his cup of coffee on the end table next to him.

When I look from my dad to Archie, he’s nodding.

“Yes, of course. I completely understand why you’re asking.

Emma might have mentioned it, but I am declaring for the draft after this season is over.

So, I intend to play professional football for as long as I can.

Ideally, I would love to play for a team that isn’t too far from my family.

And now that Emma and I are creating our own family, I don’t want to be away from her or the baby for long periods of time either.

A lot of discussions need to be had between teams and my agent, but I’ll do what I can to make that happen. ”

“Archie, I appreciate you telling us all of this, and really, we’re excited for you and your future, but like you said, this involves our daughter, too, so I guess we’re just trying to understand how Emma fits into the plan and how she can still follow her dreams too.

And what happens if you get injured? What would you do to provide for the baby? ” Mom says.

“Well, I can’t speak for Emma, and I’d be afraid to do so. ”

We all laugh.

“Smart man.” I lean over and give him a pat on the cheek.

“At the end of the day, I want Emma to be happy and also pursue her dreams. But the fact of the matter is that we are having a baby, so we need to figure out a way we can accomplish our dreams together, but also make sure we are giving our baby the best of us. As far as a backup plan if I get injured, I’d like to stay in the sports world in broadcasting or even coaching maybe.

My family also owns a ranch, so there’s that option too. ”

I clear my throat because this man is about to make me cry.

“Mom and Dad, I know you’re worried about all of this, and Archie and I have a lot to figure out for sure, which we’ll likely have more answers for soon.

But we’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I truly believe we will figure it all out as we get more information. There’s still too much up in the air.”

Archie takes my hand in his and squeezes gently.

“I will look at schools near where he’ll be playing, and we’ll make a plan together.”

“You’d do that?” Archie looks at me with a surprised expression.

Dad shifts on the couch. “Well, wait a minute. I don’t know how I feel about you uprooting your life, Emma, to follow Archie around.

What if your romantic relationship with each other doesn’t last?

You’d be stuck all alone in a state you had no support in.

You can’t just uproot a child. There are laws, and … well, this could get very messy.”

There’s that word I dread. Messy.

I want to create this family with Archie, no matter what our status is. That said, if this relationship continues on its path and he decides one day that he doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll be devastated. Being alone will be even more difficult.

However, my child needs to be near his or her father, and that notion currently trumps all other feelings I have.

Archie must feel the unease in my body at my father’s questioning because he squeezes my hand and sits up to level with my father.

“Look, I care about your daughter, and I can’t wait to be able to spend more time with her and get to know her as we go through this together. I’ll do whatever it takes to be there for them both. She will never have to doubt me.”

And … my damn eyes are leaking again. Freaking hormones.

There’s not much left to say after his declaration, so my parents seem satisfied by the answers he’s given them for now. So, we watch the Cowboys game when it comes on after the halftime show, and then a few hours later, Archie needs to head back.

I’m debating on whether or not I want to go with him or stay here one more night.

After he says his goodbyes to my parents, I walk him out to his truck. “Thank you for coming today. And thanks for being a good sport with all the questions.”

He opens the door of the truck and tosses his cowboy hat onto the passenger seat.

When he turns around, he sits sideways on his seat, and then he reaches for me and pulls me closer so I’m standing between his legs.

“You don’t have to thank me; I should be thanking you.

It was nice to meet your parents and get to know my baby’s grandparents. ”

I wrap my arms around his shoulders. “I think they like you, so that’s good.” Leaning in, I kiss him. “I like you too, by the way.”

“Is that right? Emma Tucker likes me? Hmm … must be the orgasms.” He grabs my ass and brings me into him so we’re as close as we can be in this position. “I like you too.” Then he kisses me and sucks on my bottom lip.

My mouth drops open slightly, and I’m about two seconds away from pushing him down on that seat and straddling him.

With a pop, he releases my lip and pulls back, smiling. “Are you coming back tomorrow?”

“Yes, I think so, but I’ll let you know for sure. ”

“Okay, darlin’. I’ll text you when I get home, but if you’re asleep, I’ll talk to you after practice.” He smacks my ass lightly.

I step back from the truck, and he shifts to face the wheel.

“Bye, Archie.”

“Bye, darlin’.” He shuts the door and starts the engine.

I watch him drive away, missing him already. Maybe learning to depend on someone else isn’t all that bad.