Page 86 of The Change Up
“I don’t need details.” Dad shivers. “Now the two of you go sit. I’m glad I brought a batch of my fresh pasta though.”
Thirty minutes later, the three of us are sitting down at the kitchen table with lobster pasta in a cream sauce in front of us. Before I eat, I reach for my phone to snap a picture of my plate.
“Okay, everyone, squeeze together.” Dad is holding his wineglass up, Cody is leaning forward, and I’m smiling from ear to ear. My two favorite people are together around my table, eating a home-cooked meal. I’m so happy that all feels right in the world.
Cody twirls the pasta on his fork before taking a huge bite. “This is delicious.”
He moans, and I clench my thighs together because it’s the same moan he makes when he goes down on me. And I should not be thinking about him eating something else right now with my dad sitting across from us.
“You two need to come to the restaurant sometime. Let me know what works in your schedule, and I’ll make sure to have a table ready for you.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll definitely have to take you up on that offer.”
Dad nods. “So, Cody, tell me a little more about yourself. What are your inten—”
“Dad!” I cut him off as Dad chuckles. He knows exactly what he’s doing. And I know he’s protective of me, it’s only ever been just the two of us, but we don’t need to do the whole “what are your intentions” convo.
“As you know, I’m a pitcher for the baseball team. I’m studying psychology with the idea of becoming a sports psychologist—someone who works with athletes and their inner workings. Most athletes when they struggle with their game are facing some kind of mental block, and I want to be the one to work with them to move past that blockade and get them back into their game.”
Dad nods as he sips on his wine. “That’s a really great career aspiration. Mental health is as important as physical health, and I think in today’s society more and more people are starting to understand that connection.”
“I completely agree. I know that when I’m in a good headspace, I can accomplish so much. Our bodies are temples, and we should treat them as such. That means starting with our mental health. With a strong mindset, nothing can keep us down.”
I watch as my father sits back in his chair, fork in hand from when he took his last bite, as he stares at Cody with an inquisitive look creasing his forehead. Pointing his fork at Cody, Dad starts nodding his head before turning to look at me. “Ireallylike this kid. Good work, Amore Mia.”
Before there’s a chance for me or Cody to say anything, our front door bursts open and in walks my roommate with Quinton right on her heels. The two of them stop, and I watch Brynn’s nose point in the air before she’s spinning on her heels as her eyes widen at the three of us at the table. “Daddy Mariano!”
Bringing my elbow to the table, I rest my shaking head in my hand with embarrassment. She did not just say that. Cody chuckles softly, and I remove my head from my hand in time to see my dad’s cheeks reflect the same pink shade I get when I’m embarrassed.
He clears his throat, gathering his silverware onto his plate. “Brynn. Quinton.”
“We’re sorry to interrupt,” Quinton says as he follows Brynn, who has an extra bounce in her step.
“You’re not interrupting anything. Please, help yourselves to lobster pasta, we were just chatting.”
And that’s how I find myself on a Thursday evening having an unplanned dinner with family. We might not all be blood, but family doesn’t have to come from blood. Family can be those who have your back no matter what. The people who pick you up on your hardest days. Or cheer the loudest on your best days.
Family stems from love, and when you love someone with your whole heart, you cherish each moment that you spend with them because you never know when the day may come when you find yourself alone.
I didn’t know how accurate those words would feel.
“Jacobs, got a minute?” Coach Weber asks from the doorway of the weight room where I’m busy pushing myself with weights to distract me from what’s to come this weekend. The team has an away game series at Charleston Tech.
It’s been a week since our impromptu dinner with Chloe’s dad, and I’m still working off the extra calories
Placing the dumbbells back on the rack, I reach for my towel and wipe the sweat from my face before walking to where Coach is waiting. He turns as I approach, and I follow him, in silence, down the hallway toward his office. Coach rounds his desk, sitting in his chair as I take the seat across from him.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk about your plans post-college. There have been a few scouts at our last handful of games, and your name has been tossed around. I wanted to take a minute to see where your head’s at.” Coach Weber steeples his fingers as he places weight on his elbows waiting for my response.
Sitting up in my chair, I readjust myself until I’m sitting taller, more confident. “Honestly, Coach, I’ve been thinking about that very same question for a few weeks now.” His brows quirk up at what I can only assume is the ominous tone in my voice. “I want to stay at CTU.”
I watch as his lips purse together, the only reaction he gives me, and I’m stuck wondering if I’ve made the right decision. Or if he’s going to be disappointed that I don’t want to take my chances now.
“Does a certain blonde have anything to do with your decision?” he asks, again his face is stuck in a neutral reaction. If I hadn’t seen the quick movement of his lips, I would have thought he hadn’t moved at all.
Leaning forward, I straighten my spine. “No, sir. As much as I love how my relationship has evolved with Chloe, she didn’t have anything to do with my decision. This is something that has been weighing on me for most of the season. As excited as I am that the league is sending scouts to watch me, I want to focus on completing my degree.”
He nods. Nods. That’s it. He stares me down for a few more minutes, and as much as I want to shrink under his intense gaze, I don’t.
