Scored(51)

“Nice, brother.”

“I’ll be. Faster than y-you.”

“Dream on,” I tell him.

“Last g-game, knobh-head. You s-sucked.”

“You two will be working together?” I ask as they move past me onto dry land. I follow behind them, making sure no one and nothing slips. “What’s that saying about mixing business and pleasure?”

“Y-you. Wouldn’t know it. Football. P-player.”

I clutch my chest. “What a burn, Mikey.”

Catherine rolls her eyes and grabs two towels, wrapping my brother up before she starts drying off. “Actually, we’ll be working on opposite days.”

“Smart thinking.” I attempt to help my brother, but Mikey shakes his head.

“Like. H-her better.”

“No problem.” I sit down again. “Do you think Gus saved us any food?”

“We brought a cake to celebrate.”

“Are Mom and Dad coming?” I ask. As of last month, they decided to become snowbirds and live in Florida for the winter.

The doors slide open.

“Where is our gainfully employed oldest son?” Dad says in his booming voice.

“Right. H-here.”

Mom pops out from behind him. “Boys and my angel Catherine!”

“Hey, you two.” A genuine smile pushes up the corner of my mouth as my mom kisses each of us and my dad gives us huge hugs that still to this day make my spine crack. “When did you guys get in?”

“About an hour ago. You know how traffic is this time of day.” Dad takes a deep breath and beams at us. “Who’s up for some brats? Steak… whatever meat is in Patrick’s freezer.”

I almost shove my hand into the air because no one, and I mean no one, can grill like my old man. “Can Mom make some potato salad?”

“Absolutely.” Her green eyes twinkle. “Go get started on the potatoes, Patrick.”

I start to groan, like the little kid I turn into when they’re around, but my phone buzzes. Stepping away from everyone, I grab it and read the text from Paige.

Paige: Been busy. Done with final wedding details (I hope). You?

Me: Exhausting. I’m so sore, bright eyes. Need you to help me work out the kinks.

Paige: Layton can drop me off. We’re five minutes from your neighborhood.

That would mean she’d meet my parents. My brother, his wife, and Gus, the home-care health nurse.

I debate on warning her or simply inviting her over to see how she reacts.

Honesty wins out.

Me: You’re welcome to come over. My family is here, and we’re getting ready to make dinner.

My heart kicks against my chest while I wait for her response. Those fucking bubbles keep going and going until…

Paige: Note to Dallas: Southern girls love to meet the parents of their boyfriends.

“Everything okay, son?” My dad hands me a beer.

“Actually, yeah. So there’s this girl I’ve been seeing.”

“Not the stripper, dear.”

“No.”

“The dental hygienist?” There’s a hopeful tone to my dad’s voice. “She seemed nice on Facebook.”

“Uh, no.”

My mom snaps her fingers. “The actress from Days of Our Lives. She got the part after the two of you were in that shoot together.”

“I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

“The shoot where they featured Drake’s Dolls partying on a yacht with you? I can’t believe you don’t remember that one,” my mom replies with a shake of her head. She doesn’t approve of the name, or how the women are treated in the media. She also doesn’t approve of them dating her son. Yeah, I’m taking a lot of liberty with the meaning of dating.

“Paige is a librarian. Nice, smart girl. Not a Drake Doll. And if you could never mention that ever again, that would be tremendous,” I warn everyone, even as I curse the existence of the stupid “club”.

Mom pats my shoulder. “I’m sure she’s a lovely girl.”

Dad nods. “Will she be here in time to tell me what meat she prefers?”

She prefers my meat, but that’s not the kind of thing I want to share with my parents. Ever. “Should be here in a few. Her best friend, who is an event planner, is dropping her off. They were out doing wedding errands. Paige is helping because she’s the maid of honor.”

Catherine pipes up with a, “He’s in love with her.”

“Marry h-her,” Mikey adds, his eyes glinting with mischief.

I point at him, then slice my hand against my neck and mouth, “Cut it out.”

Mom’s face gets that familiar worried look, which means she’ll be on my case for days until it’s resolved to her satisfaction. It also means my parents won’t be returning to Florida anytime soon and will be staying at my house.

“This seems a little fast. We don’t even know her or her family.”

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. “For the last time, I’m not in love. I’m not getting married, and you do know her family. Finley Owens is her sister. I’m not dating a serial killer, a dental hygienist, a stripper, or an actress.”

“Thank God for that. We almost burned down the last chapel with the amount of candles that were lit for you,” Dad says. “Speaking of which, when’s the last time you made your confession?”