Page 74 of Hello Quarterback

“Sure thing, but right now, I want to get to know you.”

I felt a little embarrassed for trying to talk business with my boyfriend’s dad, but that was my life. It was all business, and I was good at it too. Meeting a boyfriend’s family? That, I didn’t have as much practice with.

Bryce said, “I’m going to my room to get some homework done.” Then he scrambled to clear his plates and left. His quick exit left me more than a little on edge as I sat at the table with my food.

“Do you have an interrogation lamp?” I asked Gray.

He chuckled heartily. “It’s nothing like that.”

“Good,” I said, relieved. Then I doctored my drink and took a sip.

“You’re the first girl—woman—Ford’s brought home is all,” Gray said.

Wow... I knew Ford said he was out of practice, but I guess I hadn’t realized that I was the first ever.

Gray studied me a moment. “I knew he’d need a woman who understood his job...”

I lowered my cup, meeting his gaze. “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

He shrugged. “What about a woman who understandslife? I know all about your title. I want to know aboutyou. And your priorities.”

I leveled my hands on the oak table. “Not many people ask me about myself,” I admitted.

His smile was gentle. “You’ll find the Madigans are a rare breed.”

I had to laugh. “That’s true. Well...” I began by telling him how I grew up in a modest home next door to my best friend, Farrah, who I was still close with today. I talked about being raised by older parents and how I had to work my way through college and then grad school. I told him how much I enjoyed working with Gage and admired his work ethic. And I told him about trying to acquire the Andersen sisters’ business and why it meant so much to me. “For me, Gray, it’s not work or life. Workismy life. It’s where I can create meaningful change, not just get a paycheck.”

He smiled at me. “I like you, Mia.”

I grinned, utterly relieved. “Thank God, because it would be awkward to buy bacon from you if you didn’t.”

He tossed his head back, laughing. “Gosh, Ford needs you.”

I smiled back at him. And I was honest as I said, “I need Ford. I needed someone who wouldn’t want to dim my light to make his look brighter.”

Gray looked totally content as he picked up our plates and walked them to the sink. I swore I heard him say, “Maya would have loved you.”

42

FORD

I didn’t go seemy mom’s grave right away. I knew it would be hard to see her name etched in marble when she should have been here with us. She would have been in her fifties now, still young.

So I stalled, taking advantage of the early morning chill, and went for a long run around the dirt roads surrounding the cemetery. This was how I used to train in high school—land in the country was divided up by “sections,” a mile on each side. I could run around a section once to get four miles in, twice for eight, and so on. Sometimes, I’d count telephone poles to track my distance, knowing there were about a hundred yards between each one. Sixteen to a mile.

Today, as I ran, there was a mix of nostalgia, anxiety, and love all taking turns filling my head and heart while I ran.

I missed my mom.

Mia loved me.

What if I messed everything up?

I’d come so far since running country roads in high school.

What if it all went away?

Mia loved me.

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