Page 13 of Waiting for Her

“I’d stand, but I’m the size of a manatee and just as slow,” Mia says, hand resting on her swollen stomach.

“You still look beautiful,” I murmur as I lean down to kiss her cheek.

“Lay off my woman, brother,” Cole teases, knowing Mia is like an older sister to me.

Mia rolls her eyes. “How was your first week, Coach?”

“Excellent. How was cooking a baby?”

“Excellent,” she grins, rubbing her baby bump.

“I see that.” I lean over and place my hand next to hers, and like clockwork, after a few moments, little bean kicks the hell out of my hand.

She rolls her eyes but the smile on her face proves she’s not at all annoyed like she’s trying to pretend to be. “Seriously. Every time.”

I shrug. “Uncle Grady’s got the special touch.” I wink and lean back in my chair. “Brandon ready for tonight?” I ask Savannah.

“Always is.”

I take a drink of the cold beer. “Forgot to tell you. Drew’s on his way.”

“Oh yeah? How’s it going? Is it awkward?” Savannah asks, her mouth stretching out in an ‘eek’ face.

“Not at all.”

“That’s good.”

“Why do you keep thinking it would be awkward?” I hear Drew’s booming voice from over my shoulder.

I gesture to Savannah. “She’s the one who asked! I said it wasn’t.”

“Throwing me under the bus, I see?” Savannah jokes.

He chuckles and reaches over, shaking hands with Cole. I introduce him to everyone before he sits down in the seat beside me.

“Did you tell them yet?”

“Tell us what?”

Drew waggles his eyebrows a bit before taking a tug off his beer he carried over with him. “Grady has a tag along for the next six weeks.Sports Illuminatedis doing an exclusive story on him.”

He says it with pride, not realizing the minute I tell everyone who was assigned to the story, our lighthearted evening of fun will come to a screeching halt.

“No way! You didn’t tell us this!” Mia shouts excitedly, slapping the tabletop.

“Calm down, Mama.”

“Cole! Did you know this? This is huge!”

My brother turns accusing eyes to me. “No. I knew nothing of this. Mia’s right, Grady. This is huge. Why didn’t we know?”

I shift in my seat and clear my throat, grab the attention of a waitress walking past and tell her we need a round of shots, even though it’s just me, Savannah, and Drew drinking.

“Shit. What’s wrong?” Cole asks immediately.

I look to Drew who looks confused, rightfully so.

Itisa big deal thatSIis doing this article on me.

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