Fourth Down (Portland Pioneers 1)

“Do you want us to leave?” my dad asks.

“No, not at all. I’m happy you’re here,” I tell them. “A slight hint or notice would’ve been nice, though. I have plans today, but I’ll cancel them, and we’ll go sightseeing or something.”

“Nonsense.” My mom bats away my statement.

“I do believe tickets are waiting for us at will-call and a promise of a luxury box and tour of the stadium.”

My mouth drops open. “I’m sorry, did you say tickets?” What the heck is going on?

Dad nods and has a big cheesy grin on his face. “Sure did. I’ve never sat in a suite before. Probably a good thing since it’s raining out, and I didn’t bring an umbrella.”

“Wait,” I say. “Can you please explain what’s going on?” Before my parents can answer, my phone rings, and a picture I took of Julius, Reggie, and Roxy shows on the screen. “Excuse me for a minute.” I take my phone and head into my bedroom. “Hey.”

“Hi. How’s your morning?”

“Well, it’s turned out to be a pretty great one.”

“Is that so?” he asks with a chuckle.

“Hmm, you wouldn’t have anything to do with my parents being here, would you?”

Another laugh. “Thanksgiving is next week, and I thought it would be nice for your parents to spend it with you, and hopefully the kids and me.”

“Wow, I don’t know what to say other than thank you. I don’t even want to know how you pulled this off or got a hold of my parents.”

“Well, you can say you’ll spend Thanksgiving with us. I promise delicious food, amazing company, and only two football games, followed by some college basketball. And yes, please don’t ask. I don’t want my source to get into trouble over this. It’s all meant to make you smile.”

“I’m smiling, and you know I’ll be there. I want to warn you, though, my father is a huge sports fan, so you probably have a best friend for life.”

“I’m counting on it, Autumn. I’ve sent a car to pick you up. There’s a luxury suite waiting for you and your parents. Plus, they can buy whatever they want at the fan stores inside the stadium. Everything is taken care of.”

I sigh. “What about the kids? And your parents? I don’t want to leave them out.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“Julius, if we are going to do this relationship thing, I want to be in one-hundred percent. Are we moving fast? Yep, we are, but we’re too deep to slow down now. Besides, you’re going to meet my parents, and I’ve already met yours. You might as well make it one big happy family in the suite. And I want to be with Roxy and try to bond with Reggie.”

“I don’t know how I got so lucky, especially when I don’t deserve you, Weather Girl.”

“Just remember what you said when it downpours on you later.”

Julius laughs. “I’ll see you at the game.”

My dad is giddy with excitement on our way to the stadium. Julius texted after we hung up that his parents and the kids would meet us at the suite and not to worry about them riding with us. It’s a bummer because I think the kids and my dad would have a blast together as he’s currently standing up through the sunroof.

“He’s going to hurt himself,” my mother says with a shake of her head. “He’s such a child.”

I can’t help but laugh. “The hospital isn’t far from the stadium, and the team has an amazing medical staff if Dad needs something.”

My mom stares at me for a minute, and I can’t help but feel scrutinized. I straighten my jacket and brush my hand over my hair. It’s an automatic response to someone gawking. After what feels like an eternity, I finally say, “What?” My tone is a bit harsher than I suspected.

“You’re different,” she tells me. “When I saw you in Dickinson, you seemed sad, withdrawn.”

“I didn’t like Dickinson a whole lot. It was depressing. Small town living is not for me.”

“I thought it was because you missed Camden and still reeled from the break-up.”

I shake my head slightly. “The break-up would’ve happened regardless. Cam and I are better off as friends. I used to think differently, but after the storm reporting I did with him, I realized he’s not the one for me.”

“And Julius is the one for you.” It’s not a question but stated as a fact. “He’s the difference in your demeanor.”

I want to tell her she’s wrong, but I don’t think she is. Even with everything that’s happened since we met, I’d still take those days over not knowing Julius. “Maybe.” I refuse to say otherwise out of fear I might jinx things. “We like each other, but his life is complicated right now.”

“I read about him in People Magazine. More so, his ex. She seems,” Mom pauses and then says, “busy.”