Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

“I’m not going with you, if that’s what you’re thinking.” I paused. “Or maybe I should go with you, but sit at a nearby table or something. Just to make sure that everything is okay.”

She widened her eyes. “He’s not going to do anything. At least, I don’t think he is.”

“It just seems strange to me that all of the sudden he wants to see you.”

“It shouldn’t seem that strange,” Tara sniffed. “He now realizes what he’s missing out on, and that he shouldn’t have left me for that chick, whatever the hell her name is. I can’t even remember. But ...” Her brow furrowed. “Maybe you coming along but being incognito would be a good idea. It’d be fun at least. And with your hair, he won’t even recognize you!”

I doubted he’d recognize me anyway; he’d always struck me as one of those people who didn’t really see others, unless he was getting something from them.

*****

When I got to Graham’s work, a customer was just leaving, a woman my mom’s age. I tried to imagine my mother coming down here to get a tattoo. She smiled at me as she left.

“Graham here’s the best!” she said. “Can’t go wrong with anything he does!”

“That’s very kind of you, Linda,” he said as the door swung shut. He looked at me with a smile. “I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

“Well, I thought of texting you but then I figured I’d just stop by. I’m here to extend an invitation.”

“Oh yeah? What for?”

“My parents would like to have you over to the house for lunch.”

He raised an eyebrow. “They would?”

“Yes. I’m looking at it as though they’re trying to extend the olive branch. It’s a start. Do you remember the other night, when I told you about how my dad basically bribed Parker into taking me out? I think he—I think they feel bad after this whole thing. Which they should feel bad about, because that was completely messed up.”

“Then it sounds like I should take them up on the offer. Yeah, sure, that’s fine. Just tell me when and where.”

There was a part of me that wanted to put it off indefinitely, just because I knew the potential there was for things to go badly. But maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe my parents really were going to try to step out of their comfort zones and be welcoming. There was only one way to find out.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Graham

All right, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous about this whole thing at Chloe’s parents’ house. Lame, I know, but I found myself actually wanting to make a good first impression. Granted, her father kind of sounded like an ass and from that one interaction, I knew her mother was stuck up and pretentious, but I was willing to overlook all that. I had my preconceived notions about them, and they no doubt had their own about me, but maybe, just maybe, we could all get past that.

This time, when I went up to the front door, I was granted entrance. It was Chloe who opened the door. She wore a navy blue, sleeveless romper with a vintage floral print and these leather strappy sandals that laced halfway up her calves. I still couldn’t get over how hot she looked with the hair; it was like seeing her for the first time every time I saw her.

“Hey,” she said with a smile. We kissed, briefly, though I would’ve liked it to last much longer.

“You look great,” I said.

“So do you.”

I hadn’t been sure what to wear; the usual jeans and T-shirt was not going to fly, I knew. I eventually settled on a short-sleeve, plaid button-down and a black pair of shorts. I looked respectable, I thought.

“Hi there, I’m John Singer,” Chloe’s dad said, holding his hand out. I reached to shake it, but we ended up mistiming it and I ended up enclosing his fingertips in my palm.

“Graham,” I said as we both let go. “Nice to meet you.” Jesus. Talk about awkward.

It wasn’t much better with her mother. “Claire,” she said. “I know we’ve already met, but we got off on the wrong foot. So, let’s just pretend that never happened.”

“Sure,” I said. “Why not.”

They looked about as uncomfortable as I felt, so I guessed we were all just going to have to try to grin and bear it. Alcohol would help. As if reading my mind, Claire’s dad suddenly said, “Would you like a beer?

Wine?”