Page 38 of Tight End

June: I’m going to watch the game now. Feel free to stop talking.

Poppy: I think you know that’s not going to happen. If you don’t find someone to take you on a date, Kins and I will find you someone.

Poppy: It’s just a date. No big deal. Nothing has to happen.

Kinsley: Oh, I like this. I already have the perfect guy in mind.

June: Is that all I need to do to get you off my back? Go on one date?

Poppy: Yep.

June: Fine. Game on.

Kinsley: I’d call this a touchdown win!

FIFTEEN

June

Today isthe day I come clean to my mom. I swear. I’m going to do it. I’ve been avoiding her all morning, and there’s no chance I’ll be able to dodge her the entire day.

Even though that would be great.

Ideal.

But I’m not that lucky.

Which is why I’m pacing outside her office—or rather off to the side so she can’t see me.

I’m going to get ahead of this thing. I’m going to seize the day. Tackle the moment. Oh, my first football pun.

Ryan would be proud of me. My mom, not so much.

There’s a good chance her head is going to explode. Yeah ... this can wait. No need to bother her with my trivial life in the middle of a workday. This is a bad idea, a ... wait, what did they call it when that guy dropped the football? A fumble. That’s it. This whole thing is a fumble, and while I don’t think I’m using that term correctly, the sentiment stands.

I stop in my tracks and turn around, intent on safely retreating back to the front desk when I’m spotted.

“Are you going to come in here or stand in the hallway for the rest of the afternoon?”

Dammit. Is this a trick question? It feels like a trick question. Either way, I drag myself into her office before she comes out and does it herself. To be fair, she hasn’t done that since middle school, but I wouldn’t put it past her.

“Wow.” I shuffle to the seat on the other side of her desk and point out the window. “Did you see the outside? It looks really nice out.”

“Yes, June. I know what the sun looks like.” She stares at me, her face impassive.

This is the face that intimidates spouses and opposing lawyers. She can be ruthless when she wants to be, cutthroat in her determination, but her clients love her. Her disposition may not be sunny, but her reputation is impeccable.

Too bad I don’t need her lawyer face right now. I need her to maybe soften up a bit. Find some understanding in that heart of hers. She doesn’t micromanage Poppy, or our younger sisters, but then again, they didn’t end up pregnant by a stranger before graduating from college. Or ever. I can see why she focuses all her mom powers on me, but it would be really nice if she loosened the reins a bit.

“If you’ve got bad news, you might as well go on with it. No point dragging this out. I have a client in ...” She glances down at her watch before her sharp gaze lands on me. “Twenty-five minutes.”

I had a whole speech planned for this moment. I thought about it all night—even wrote it down and had a copy of it on my desk, but looking at her right now, it all flies out the window. I have no idea how to start this conversation.

Oh, hey, Mom, remember when I met a man at a bar and let him knock me up? Well, I have good news, I ran into him atthe stadium last week. And guess what? He’s one of those Neanderthal football players you love so much. Do you want to know the best part? I’m living with him until I can get back in my apartment. Isn’t that great?

That’ll be really great. She’s going to love it.

“Twenty-four minutes, June.”

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