Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Reid: Happy for you, man. Give a guy a heads-up next time, so I don’t find out on Sports Central.
Me: It’s been crazy. You’re right. One day soon, we’re going to have to get together so you can meet my girlfriend, Tessa.
Reid: You’d better lock her down before I get there. You know the ladies love me.
I know that he’s teasing, but it still grates on my nerves.
Me: Not this one. She’s mine. Keep your ass in Nashville.
Reid: Damn, another one bites the dust.
Me: You’ll understand one day.
Reid: That’s what they tell me. Beckett and Reynolds are both in the same boat.
Me: Good for them.
Reid: Yeah, yeah.
His message is followed by a string of laughing emojis.
Me: I’m hitting the hay. Good luck tomorrow against Georgia.
Reid: Give Dallas some hell, will ya?
Me: You know we will. Talk soon.
I smile as I plug my phone in to charge and close my eyes, drifting off to sleep.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tessa
It’s week three of the regular football season, and Autumn and I are traveling to our first away game. The bonus is that it’s in Georgia, and my mom is coming with us. Landon insisted that he get her a ticket, as well. We’re actually in a private Cougars box. It’s the first time we’ve sat in one, but Landon was adamant that he didn’t need some crazy fan spouting anything off while my mom was with me. He’s worried about making a good impression. For the record, he has nothing to worry about. He makes me happy; that’s all Mom cares about. Besides, if he flashes her those dimples and blinks those baby blues, there’s no way she can’t like him. I’m so excited to see her and for her to meet Landon.
“There she is.” I point out my mom to Autumn and take off running toward her. She’s ready for my hug when I reach her. “I missed you so much.”
“It’s good to have you home.” She steps back and rakes her eyes over me. It’s been six months since I’ve seen her. Far too long, but life tends to get in the way. Plus, it’s a long-ass drive, and flights are not cheap enough to visit more often.
“Autumn,” Mom says fondly. “How are you?” She releases me and pulls Autumn into a hug just as fierce as the one she gave me.
“Good. I love your hair.”
“Me, too,” I tell her. “I love the highlights.”
“I thought it was time for something different. You don’t think it’s too much?”
“No,” Autumn and I say at the same time.
“Come on. Let’s get you ladies home.”
“Thank you for letting me stay with you,” Autumn says.
“How did you convince Jeremy?”
“He convinced me to have another baby.”
“What?” I stop and look at her. “You didn’t tell me that!”
She shrugs. “We’ve been tossing around the idea, and that was his concession. I can stay with you and Caroline instead of at the team hotel, but we start trying.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It is.” She waggles her eyebrows, and we all laugh.
“What about Landon?” Mom asks once we’re in the car and headed toward her place. “When do I get to meet him?”
“This afternoon, they’re having a team dinner that immediate family gets to attend at the hotel. We have to be there at three. It’s early to bed for the boys tonight, and game day’s tomorrow.”
“Boys,” Mom scoffs. “Have you seen them? I can only imagine they’re even larger in person.”
“They are some big boys,” Autumn agrees.
We spend the rest of the ride catching up. Autumn tells Mom stories of JJ and Pinky, and I fill her in on how things are going with Landon. I leave out the more intimate details. Mom and I are close, but not that close.
“Home sweet home,” Mom says, pulling into the driveway of her small ranch home. “You girls get settled in. Grab a nap. Whatever you need. We have about three hours before we need to head to the hotel. It’s about thirty minutes from here.”
“Thanks, Mom. I’m going to freshen up, then I’ll be back down. I never get to see you. I’m not going to nap away the time we do have.”
Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “I’d like that.”
Lugging my bag down the hall, I point Autumn in the direction of her room and then disappear into mine. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I text Landon.
Me: Hey, just made it to Mom’s. Are we still on for this afternoon?
Landon: Yes!
Me: Good. See you soon.
Landon: I miss you.
His message is followed by an image of him pouting. He’s pretending to be sad, but the happiness in his blue eyes gives him away.
Me: Miss you, too.
Tossing my phone onto the bed, I grab some clothes to change into and head to the bathroom to freshen up before making my way downstairs to spend some time with Mom. Walking past Autumn’s door, I hear her on the phone with JJ. He’s staying with Jeremy’s sister, Alice, this weekend, and he’s rambling on about all the fun stuff they’ve been doing. Autumn and Jeremy are great parents, and I can’t wait to watch their family grow.