Page 24 of Falling for the Quarterback
“Mmhm, I have muscles. Just so you know.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it for a minute, babe. You are definitely part of that fuck around and find out generation.” I offer a grin.
“Did you just call me old?”
I meet her gaze and say, “Nope. I called you a badass. Now give me some sugar so I can sleep tonight, or else I’ll just toss and turnall night long.”
It’s all she needs to hear before she’s on her tiptoes, kissing me. I leave her with a sexy little smirk on her face, already knowing that I’ll be dreaming of itall night long.
I’m lying beside the pool on a reclining lawn chair the next day when Mom finds me. She’s got a pina colada with pineapple and coconut garnished on top like she’s a professional bartender.
“Hey, Son,” she greets with a smile, plopping down beside me.
“Hey. Have you been taking bartending classes that I don’t know about?”
She shakes her head. “It’s the Tock. I watched a few videos on the dumb app of some young folks posting on there, andbam! Here’s my awesome drink.”
I can’t help but grin at her enthusiasm. “You’re the Emeril of bartenders,” I joke, speaking of the cooking show I liked watching as a kid.
She rolls her eyes. “Gee, thanks. By the way, I love that you’re here, but it’s right before your first game of the season, and you’ve stayed the night. Care to tell me what has you tied up in enough knots that you felt the need to drive all the way here last night and not just call me? Coach will be in a tizzy if you plan on skipping out; you already know this.”
I sigh. “You’re not going to make this easy on me and pretend like nothing’s bothering me, are you?”
Do I want to tell her what’s on my mind? I should, I know I’ll feel better, but then Mom will also be curious, and I don’t want her to be until Kinsley has had a chance to come to terms with us and is ready. I’ll give her some time, but mark my words, that woman will be mine for good, one day. I don’t know when it hit me, maybe on my drive over here last night after I left Kinsley wearing a cute little smirk on her face, but none of it matters. What does, is that I give her the space she needs so I can bring her in closer for the long haul.
Kinsley is endgame, and two things I know how to do well are to be patient and win.
“Out with it, kid.” She orders. Mom has a way of making me feel like a twelve-year-old at times, even with me being a grown man on the brink of retirement.
“I met a woman. I’ve seen her a few times; I text her way too much…And now I want things to be serious with her.”
Mom’s brows nearly hit her hairline. There’s a first for everything, and I’m sure she’s shocked I’m discussing this with her. She usually teases me a bit about past girlfriends she’s seen in the headlines with me, but I always laugh it off. I guess I somehow knew in my gut before that none of them were serious, and they didn’t matter as much as Kinsley does to me.
“Maybe you need this more than me,” she holds out her drink, and I smile, shaking my head. She can’t help her sarcasm and dry humor, which is where I get mine from at times, too. “Well, at least you know what you want, JJ. Most men don’t have an inkling until it’s nearly too late. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you aren’t in the same boat, with it being too late, I mean. It sounds like things are relatively new?”
“Yes and no. I ran into her at the hardware store a fewtimes.”
She gasps, her hand landing on my arm as she sits up. “Wait a minute, is this the same woman you helped in the parking lot? The one from the articles splashed everywhere I turn around?”
I nod.
“Oh, my son. So it is kismet, then,” she whispers and nods to herself as if she’s come to some sort of conclusion. “She was put in your life to help her, and you did. You passed the test laid before you, JJ. If you’re still seeing her and thinking of her, feeling so strongly, perhaps she was put into your path for so much more than a mere good deed. To be permanent.”
“I figured you’d be wary of me talking about a new woman, not so supportive.”
She sips her frozen cocktail, shaking her head. “I’m not wary with this one. You said she had no idea who you were when you helped her. It makes me believe the two of you meeting was fate, simply stepping in to finally give you someone who values you for being you.” She sips her drink again, relaxing back in her lounge chair. She’s wearing the look she always has when she’s made up her mind that she’s right about something. She finishes, “And what a way to leave a lasting impression on her, too. I bet she feels safe with you. This could be the one, JJ, and I’m excited for you.”
“I know, Mom. I thought the same thing. I felt it.”
Her mouth drops open in surprise again. “You did? Seriously?”
I nod, releasing a relieved breath. It feels good admitting it out loud, and especially to my mom. She’s always been there for me, having my back anytime I’ve needed her to. “Yes, I’m falling for her.”
“Do you think she feels the same way?”
I shrug, admitting, “I finally told her who I am last night. She knows I play for Dallas, and to say she was stunned is putting it lightly. I told her if she wants to talk, I’ll be here today, thenheading home.”
“Oh no, you don’t, young man. Put on a shirt so you don’t give my neighbors an early heart attack, and then take your butt on over to her house. You don’t sleep on a woman like this; never let her get mixed up in her own thoughts. She’ll talk herself out of anything given enough time, I don’t doubt it for a second. You need to be there, with her, so she realizes you’re the one for her.”
