We’d been surprised how fast it started to grow. Some of that buzz was because of Reid. Mr. Hot Shot Quarterback is popular. It was strange that people enjoyed reading and looking at our stuff, and seeing how into Reid and Zoey people are.
“Did I ever tell you Reid has never done social media before?” Zoey says. It is shocking to meet someone his age that doesn’t have at least one social media account.
“Is that why his groupies stalk us?” Reid’s nostrils flare, his distaste clear. Zoey snorts a laugh, unbothered. I wonder if I’d have the same confidence as her. I guess I would if my man acted the way Reid does when it comes to Zoey.
“I never said I haven't been on social media. I said I don’t have an account in my name.” Zoey turns slowly to look at him. I swear one of her eyebrows is touching the top of her forehead.
“What did you do? Or what are you doing?”
A sheepish look crosses his face. “I might have friended you under another name. You can’t see some people's shit unless you’re their friend,” he informs us as if we don’t know this. “I was stalking you. This isn't new information. I was desperate to know what you were doing.”
Reid and Zoey grew up together. When they hit their teen years, Reid freaked out and stone-walled Zoey. It wasn't long after that that she and I became friends. It was easy for me to see Reid was in love with Zoey. But I knew telling her that wouldn’t help. They both had to see it for themselves and come back together.
It didn't take me long to put this all together. Reid was the most popular guy in school because of football, yet he never dated. Never was rumored to date. He did, however, stare at Zoey all the fucking time. Then one day he snapped.
Zoey later confirmed what I thought. Reid hit puberty and wasn't looking at his best friend the same way anymore. Since he was a man who would never do anything to hurt her, he let her go, thinking it was for the best until they grew up. Typical stupid man making decisions without talking it out. It all worked out, though. It brought Zoey into my life and has given me the sister I never had.
“Hungry?” Reid changes the subject, taking it off his stalkerish ways to something he knows will work.
“Can we go walk around and find something?” Zoey asks. I’m down.
“If that’s what you ladies want to do,” Reid says. Zoey worried that I might get annoyed with how much time Reid spent here, but I won’t. He makes her happy, and he’s quickly turned into the brother I never knew I wanted.
My friends are my family. One I’m building on my own. I still hold out a small hope that the ache I feel in my chest when I see a family together will fade away as I find my own. Or maybe there is more to that ache than I know.
2
Theodore
I should have seen this coming.
My mom can be crafty when she wants her way. I’ve been back home for two months, and she is all over me about a nice girl she wants to set me up with.
I love my mom more than anything. She truly has a golden heart and always wants to see the best in people. Thank God she has Dad to protect her from people who want to take advantage of her.
“I was so stunned when your mother told me you were her son.” Tiffany smiles over at me, blinking quickly. I wonder if she blinks so much because of those fake eyelashes she has on her eyes. They look like they have some weight to them. They look extremely uncomfortable and make me want to rub my own eyes.
Why would anyone put those things on their face? She leans over toward me, and I jerk my head down to look at my drink. Hell, I bet she thinks I was gazing into her eyes.
“My mom what?” I ask, realizing I haven’t been listening to her. My mom raised me to be a gentleman, but I can’t help but be disinterested in this entire conversation. My mind keeps drifting to the game tape I watched today. That’s where all my focus has been since I got the coaching job here. I’m the youngest college head coach ever hired. I have something to prove.
“Is she here?” I look around for my mother. She was supposed to be here fifteen minutes ago, but she is nowhere to be found. Mom is never late, so that means she never planned to come to this dinner. She set me up.
I’d finally broken down and told her I would meet the girl. I made it clear that I didn’t want to go on a date. That’s when my mom came up with the brilliant idea of us all going to dinner. It can be hard to tell her no. The woman would chop off her arm for you if she thought you needed it.