Page 32 of Hello Quarterback

Gray nodded. “Most of the time—‘til all the grandchildren come around.”

Ford chuckled knowingly. I wondered what it must be like, to have a big family like that. I’d never know, growing up as an only child without close family on either side.

The elevator doors slid open, and we all stepped in. “How many grandchildren do you have?” I asked.

Gray lit up, just like when he spoke about Ford. “Four with one on the way.”

“How exciting,” I replied.

He nodded. “My wife and I had five kids, and I always loved having little ones around. Made life interesting, for sure.”

The elevator dinged as we reached the ground floor and began getting out. “So tell me,” I said. “Was Ford always so determined to get his way?”

Gray tossed his head back and laughed. “You do know him pretty well, then.”

I smiled at that and noticed Ford shaking his head as he suppressed a smile. The conversation was fun and easy, and my heart fell a little at the realization that Gray and I might not get much more time together. He was so down to earth, unlike a lot of the people I spent my time with these days.

Gray drew me out of my thoughts, saying, “What didyouthink of the game, Mia?”

“Oh...” No one really asked me about sports. Maybe it was because I was a woman or maybe because I was so busy networking during the games I didn’t get much of a chance to actually watch anymore. I wracked my mind for anything to say other than Ford looked really good in football pants. I settled on, “I’m glad the team got a win. Do you think you’ll make the Super Bowl again, Ford?”

Ford answered, “That’s the goal.” There wasn’t a hint of doubt in his voice.

We reached the doors to the gated parking area where the players and famous attendees kept their vehicles. Instead of a limo, a black town car was waiting for me.

Several paparazzi lined the barricade, snapping photos of the three of us. Gray shied back, clearly uncomfortable with the attention.

One reporter extended their microphone at us, hoping to catch a soundbite. “Are you two officially together?”

Ford and I exchanged a look, and then Ford faced the camera with a smile that looked real. “That’s right. I got lucky with her.”

I smiled up at Ford and then nodded at the paparazzi. Zeke was already waiting with the door open so I could climb in without being hounded even more. I said a quick goodbye to Gray and then to Ford, but he caught my hand before I could leave.

“Hey,” he said low enough for only me to hear.

I looked up at him. “Yeah?”

His expression softened as his gaze raked over me. “You look good in that blazer.”

My smile came easily, and I replied, “Thank you. It was a gift from my stubborn boyfriend.” And then I got into the car and let my driver whisk me away.

A smile was still on my face when I got out my phone to check it. A message from my best friend was waiting for me.

Farrah: Just saw you on the news! Looks like things went well with Ford – although I’m upset I had to learn it this way!!

I cringed at the fact that I hadn’t even followed up with Farrah to tell her about this whole mess. Life had gotten away from me since then, and I needed to tip the priority scales back toward friendship.

Mia: Can I come over?

Farrah: Of course.

I leaned forward, asking Zeke to change course. Within half an hour, I was in the subdivision where my best friend lived with my former boss and three of their four children. The oldest, Levi, was already in college, making a splash on the baseball team.

When I got out, I smiled at their home with the bright yellow door and the perfectly manicured grass. The lawn hadn’t looked as amazing when Farrah first moved in, but of course, Gage had to spend his billions somewhere if they weren’t going to raise their kids in a mega mansion on the beach.

It didn’t take too many steps in my purple heels to reach the front door. I pressed the doorbell and heard Andrew’s changing voice call, “Come in!”

I shook my head, still amazed at how quickly time flew. I swore he was a little boy just yesterday, and now he was in high school, with a crackling voice, pimples, and the hint of a mustache.

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