Page 60 of Zone Protection

“Glad to hear it; otherwise, we’d have to ask you to leave.” He smiles over at Archie, who just laughs.

“I get it. I think I’d be disowned in my own home if I wasn’t a Cowboys fan.”

My mom walks between us. “Okay, everyone, grab a dish, and let’s head to the dining room.”

I let go of Archie and grab a dish off the counter, and Archie follows. Dad carves some turkey off and places it on a platter.

We sit in our seats, my parents at each end of the table, and I’m next to Archie on one side of the table.

“Do you want some water, darlin’?” Archie asks me.

“Yes, thank you.” I put my hand on his knee under the table.

“Okay, let’s pass this food around and get to it,” Dad says.

We all take servings, and Archie has a little more than anyone else, which makes me smile. Dad says grace, and then we all start eating.

While we eat, my parents ask him questions about his family and general questions about football and where he sees the season going. I wasn’t worried about Archie being able to handle it or feeling awkward. He’s just so confident in who he is, and he has the ability to make people feel comfortable.

But I have a feeling some of the tougher questions are coming.

Once we’ve finished eating, my mom suggests we go sit inthe family room. She gets a coffee for herself and my dad. I go into the kitchen and get a bottle of water for me and Archie.

He and my dad are talking about football, commenting along with the commentators.

I take a seat next to Archie on the couch, then lean over and kiss his cheek. He puts his arm behind me and rests it on the back of the couch. I scoot into him a little more and place my hand on his leg.

My parents have never seen me behave this way, so I’m sure they’re surprised by how affectionate I’m being in front of them. But the fact that Archie came today and has gotten along so easily with my family has driven me further into my feelings for him. Because I can’t deny I’m falling for him hard. And it’s not just for the baby. It’s about us.

“So, Archie, I’m glad you and my daughter seem to get along nicely, but as her father, I need to know how you plan to take care of her and the baby.” Dad sets his cup of coffee on the end table next to him.

When I look from my dad to Archie, he’s nodding.

“Yes, of course. I completely understand why you’re asking. Emma might have mentioned it, but I am declaring for the draft after this season is over. So, I intend to play professional football for as long as I can. Ideally, I would love to play for a team that isn’t too far from my family. And now that Emma and I are creating our own family, I don’t want to be away from her or the baby for long periods of time either. A lot of discussions need to be had between teams and my agent, but I’ll do what I can to make that happen.”

“Archie, I appreciate you telling us all of this, and really, we’re excited for you and your future, but like you said, this involves our daughter, too, so I guess we’re just trying to understand how Emma fits into the plan and how she can still follow her dreams too. And what happens if you get injured? What would you do to provide for the baby?” Mom says.

“Well, I can’t speak for Emma, and I’d be afraid to do so.”

We all laugh.

“Smart man.” I lean over and give him a pat on the cheek.

“At the end of the day, I want Emma to be happy and also pursue her dreams. But the fact of the matter is that we are having a baby, so we need to figure out a way we can accomplish our dreams together, but also make sure we are giving our baby the best of us. As far as a backup plan if I get injured, I’d like to stay in the sports world in broadcasting or even coaching maybe. My family also owns a ranch, so there’s that option too.”

I clear my throat because this man is about to make me cry. “Mom and Dad, I know you’re worried about all of this, and Archie and I have a lot to figure out for sure, which we’ll likely have more answers for soon. But we’ve been spending a lot of time together, and I truly believe we will figure it all out as we get more information. There’s still too much up in the air.”

Archie takes my hand in his and squeezes gently.

“I will look at schools near where he’ll be playing, and we’ll make a plan together.”

“You’d do that?” Archie looks at me with a surprised expression.

Dad shifts on the couch. “Well, wait a minute. I don’t know how I feel about you uprooting your life, Emma, to follow Archie around. What if your romantic relationship with each other doesn’t last? You’d be stuck all alone in a state you had no support in. You can’t just uproot a child. There are laws, and … well, this could get very messy.”

There’s that word I dread. Messy.

I want to create this family with Archie, no matter what our status is. That said, if this relationship continues on its path and he decides one day that he doesn’t want me anymore, I’ll be devastated. Being alone will be even more difficult.

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