Against the Rules (Even The Score #4)

11. willow

CHAPTER 11

WILLOW

FAMILY, MEET THE BOYS

Music played softly from the radio and that was the only sound while my mom and I drove to campus. I tried small talk. She did too. But that tapered off, and we sat in uncomfortable silence.

"Marcus and I are trying to piece together what the flower delivery man is like…" my mom trailed off, a hopeful look in my direction.

I tried to ignore how she called my dad, Marcus, and not, ‘your dad.’

"He’s nice."

Ever since the phone calls started, there was a new bouquet at the house, every morning. But that was Tattoos. Nice and so sweet, it felt like a sugar rush every time his name popped up on my phone.

The sweetness extended beyond that. When I talked to him, he was genuinely interested in hearing about my music, my family, how my day was. And I couldn't believe how many little things he remembered.

Explaining that to my mom sounded so awkward, especially with our destination in mind. We were only minutes away from seeing her husband. Her husband. I didn’t even know there was anything romantic between them until I saw the wedding announcement on social media. Now, he was her husband.

"You can’t give me anything?" my mom pressed. "What does he look like?"

"He has tattoos," I said carefully.

"I thought your dad was kidding. You’re seeing a boy with tattoos?"

"Yep, and that’s what I call him, Tattoos. Because he goes by K and I’m not calling him K."

"That’s his name…or a letter?"

Tattoos told me he was named after his dad who wasn’t around, and he assured me he was fine with it, but he never went by his first name.

All of which I didn't feel comfortable telling my mom.

"Initial." I unbuckled my seatbelt, trying to think of something I could give her. "We’re getting pizza after this."

"That’s nice."

"He’s giving me a tour of campus."

"A tour? Is that what the kids call it these days?"

The suggestive lilt in her tone made me grin. Okay. Fine. There was no way the two of us were going to meander around campus. Especially since under my clothes was the special present he ordered for me.

My laugh was low and completely unexpected, but so was my mom’s, the two of us laughed together, getting out of the car.

It was like before the divorce. That made my chest hurt.

"So your problem is…fixed?"

Her question finished my laugh and I struggled with a response. Another topic I didn’t feel great discussing with her and it was the big secret I needed to tell Tattoos. Ugh. I wasn’t thrilled to do it, but the conversation needed to happen.

"It’s fine," I lied.

Silent again, we came to the front desk, where none other than Dan Lawson waited for us.

Lawson let his beard grow out, while still completely bald on his head. I used to call him Mr. Pringles when he only had the mustache. His face brightened the moment he spotted us, and he instantly hugged my mom.

Gross.

The weirdest part was that I could remember being a teenager and being so happy to see him. Back when he was Uncle Dan. The guy who dropped pads off at my school when my parents couldn’t make it and attended my brothers’ little league games with me.

Uncle Dan…until he wedged himself in my parent’s marriage.

"Willow." He smiled the tightest smile I’d ever seen, and I could see the cogs turning. Hug? Fist bump? Salute? What was it going to be? How were we going to do the greeting?

I held out my hand, making the decision for us. "Lawson."

Not even Dan, just his last name. At least it wasn’t Coach.

"Kid, I hope your date is a goddamn delight."

My eyes flashed to my mom, suddenly busy picking lint off her Romans jersey. What would make her think I wanted him to know?

"It should be interesting," I replied, my tone light, hoping he understood that was the end of the conversation.

"He goes to Marrs?"

"Mm."

"Do I know him?"

"Unlikely. He’s a bouncer at a bar."

He laughed. "I might recognize him from donor meetings!"

I didn’t even want Tattoos to know who he was, much less my connection to the football coach. For as long as I could, I’d keep the two of them separated.

Through a few hallways and a couple of doors, we were introduced to rows and rows of football players like they were setting up a chess board. I fidgeted while Lawson clapped his hands.

"Boys, I want to introduce you to my family. Family, meet the boys!"

Family. Oh my god.

He said it with such a note of pride that the football players immediately straightened up. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and glanced down the line while Lawson talked about summer training.

Dark eyes stared back at me. Shocked.

Tattoos .

With a jersey? Number seventy-two, right on his chest.

Oh my fucking god .

He was holding a tray of coffees until he lurched forward. The coffees crashed to the floor and a dozen football players jumped over to help.

"King? What the hell?" Lawson chuckled.

King .

His name wasn’t K at all. It was King. King, the football player who lied to me.