Quarterback Sneak (Red Zone Rivals #3)(66)

Seeing a hot, buff quarterback cuddling a tiny baby girl was the recipe for more than just a few disasters.

“You know, Unc,” Holden said as he played a domino, and then I immediately played the one in my hand. “You should really stay away from any jobs in war strategy.”

Kevin frowned, glaring at his husband as he played a domino and went down to only two left in his hand. I had three, and Kevin had at least six.

“Why, because I let my emotions get the best of me and call out ruthless players?” he asked, playing his domino.

“No,” Holden said, and then he moved where his arm had been holding Joanne, revealing that where we all thought he was hiding his dominoes was actually vacant. He played his final one on his line. “Because you’re too easily distracted by the decoy.”

“Noooo!” Uncle Kevin cried, and then he covered his chest like there had been an arrow shot through it, making a cinematic scene as he fell to the ground. Joanne had been dozing in Holden’s arms, but the commotion startled her, and she started crying.

“Oh, it’s okay, Jojo. That’s just your dad being dramatic. Can you say dramatic?” Holden teased, bouncing Joanne in his lap a little to try to soothe her.

“Can you say hungry, nephew?” Kevin joked as he used the back of the chair to help himself stand. “Because that’s what you’re going to be when I kick you out before dinner is served.”

“Like hell you will,” Nathan interjected. “This smoked pork butt has taken me all damn day, and every single one of you is going to stuff yourselves until you explode.”

“Speaking of exploding,” Holden said, grimacing as he held his cousin toward his uncle. “Doodie calls.”

Kevin lit up, the brightest smile on his face as he took his daughter from Holden’s arms. “Did my princess make a poopy?”

Joanne cried as the rest of us laughed, and then Kevin winked at me and carried her back toward one of the bedrooms.

Nathan stood next. “I’m going to start prepping the sides. Why don’t you two clear this up and set the table?” He paused, looking at me. “We’re so happy to have you here, Julep.”

My cheeks were warm when I replied, “I’m happy to be here, too.”

Nathan turned his smile on Holden then, lingering for a moment before he left us.

When he did, Holden shook his head, grabbing the bag for the dominoes as I worked on collecting them off the table. “Well, I know I warned you it was a riot around here, but hopefully it hasn’t been so much that you block my number when we get back to campus.”

I smiled. “It’s amazing.”

“You have an interesting definition for that word.”

“It’s chaotic, yes,” I agreed. “But… in the best way. It’s warm. It’s family.” Something in my heart ached. “I haven’t felt anything like this. At least, not for a long time.”

Holden paused where he was cleaning up, watching me for a moment before he dropped the bag of dominoes and rounded the table. He swept me into his arms.

“They love you.”

“Who?”

“My uncles.”

I chuckled. “I think Kevin wants to murder me.”

“Nah, it’s me he’s after now. Because in case you didn’t calculate the score after that last round,” he added, peeking over my shoulder at the score sheet. “You took second, sweetheart. No one is threatened by second place.”

I smiled sweetly up at him, pressing onto my tiptoes like I was going to kiss that smug smile off his face. “You’re hot when you’re cocky.”

“That so?” he asked on a smirk, his hands finding my hips.

Right before our lips met, I punched him in the gut.

Holden let out an oof of a laugh as he doubled over, and I turned just in time to catch his uncle Kevin walking in with a freshly changed and smiling Joanne on his hip.

He pointed at me as he sat down with a wide grin. “I love this girl.”

Conversation was easy as Nathan served dinner and we all ate. There was melt-in-your mouth shredded pork butt that had bathed all day in a tangy mojo sauce, an out-of-this-world potato salad, handmade-from-scratch dinner rolls, and watermelon. It felt like summer in the middle of holiday season, and it was delicious — the best meal I’d had in months. I ate every last scrap of my first serving before going back for more.

“So, what made you pick athletic training, Julep?” Nathan asked me halfway through the meal.

I swallowed the food in my mouth and smiled. “Well, originally? I just did it to make my dad happy.”

He frowned. “I hate to hear that.”

“Trust me, I hated doing it,” I admitted. “But, at the time, I was kind of a mess. Still am some days. Dad thought if I had a major in something where he could work closely with me, he could help me. So… I decided to try, if even just to get him off my back a little.”

Nathan smiled like he understood.

“But,” I continued. “Shortly after I declared it my major, I found pole.”

“Pole?” Kevin inquired curiously.

“Pole fitness. Tricks, dancing, all of it,” I explained.

“Stop it!” Nathan’s eyes grew wide. “I watch videos of pole dancers all the time. I swear, it’s mesmerizing. I could watch for hours.”