Bound and Blitzed (Knoxville Coyotes Football #4)

10. Valentina

Chapter 10

Valentina

I stall on the porch to Avery’s parents’ house.

“It’s going to be fine,” he reassures me for the fifth time.

I bite my bottom lip. “I don’t know. I can tell you for a fact that my parents are going to be furious.”

“Mine are going to be thrilled.”

I drag my sweaty palms along the material of my skirt and hope Avery’s right.

The door swings open and Mrs. Callaway greets us. “The prodigal son has returned!” she hollers over her shoulder.

Mr. Callaway appears behind her, arching a wry brow at his son.

“Well, come on in.” Mrs. Callaway holds the door open wider.

We slip inside and she smiles at me warmly, pulling me into a hug.

“It’s good to meet you, Mrs.—”

“Oh! Call me Arlene,” she declares. “After all, for Avery to bring you home for dinner means this is bound to get serious.”

I blush furiously. Oh, it’s serious all right. The fact that we’re here to tell Avery’s parents that we’re married makes me want to crawl under a rock and die.

The only consolation is his family seems a lot more laid-back and understanding than mine.

“You’re trying too hard,” her husband warns gently.

Arlene pats my shoulder affectionately. “Avery always was persuasive. He’s used to getting his way, which is the only scenario I can conjure as to why the two of you escaped to Texas after one night together. I mean, there was talk at Raia’s engagement party that you were stalking him!”

My cheeks flame even brighter. I take it back; this is significantly worse than Papá’s deafening silence and beady glare.

Arlene leans closer and drops her voice. “You weren’t, were you?”

“Mom!” Avery reprimands her.

She laughs. I nearly choke on my own saliva.

“Of course not,” I say quickly. “I live in the same building as Avery.”

“Oh!” Mr. Callaway says. “Well, that certainly explains why she was in the neighborhood.” He gives his son a look as if to call him a jackass. “Welcome, Valentina.” Mr. Callaway embraces me. “It’s good of you to join us.”

“Good to meet you, sir,” I say nervously.

Arlene gives me a sweet look as Mr. Callaway grins. “Call me Joe. We’re happy you’re here.”

“Thank you.”

Avery links his fingers with mine as I step farther into his childhood home, following his parents into their kitchen. The house is warm and inviting. Family photos hang on one of the walls and there are a few framed pictures on side tables in the living room. Fresh flowers sprout from a vase in the formal dining room, and the table is set for eight.

I suck in a breath. This is it; I’ve crossed the Rubicon. There’s no going back now.

Avery gives me a small, reassuring smile as Joe passes me a glass of wine. His eyes linger a beat too long on the diamond wedding band on my ring finger.

Joe’s eyes fly to mine, and I quickly avert my gaze, more nervous than I’ve ever been. My stomach twists into knots and the back of my neck prickles with anxiety. The scent of the wine is strong, almost overpowering, and I know it’s because my senses are on high alert.

My body is preparing for fight or flight. Or freeze.

Right now, I don’t know which.

“Hello! We’re here!” a voice calls out.

A moment later, Raia enters the kitchen with Cohen Campbell, the Knoxville Coyote’s wide receiver, on her heels.

Cohen gives Avery a casual backslap and bro hug before looking at me curiously.

Raia kisses her parents hello before pulling me into a hug. I’ve known her for almost a year. Shortly after Raia began playing for the Chicago Tornadoes, she and my sister hit it off. I met Raia on a few of my trips to Illinois, but it wasn’t until I moved to the States that I spent more time with her.

My nerves skyrocket as I realize how badly this can backfire.

What if Raia doesn’t accept me as her brother’s wife? What if it ruins her friendship with Carla? What if it affects my sister’s performance on the soccer pitch?

What if?—?

“I can’t believe you’re giving my dumbass brother the time of day, Vale,” Raia says breezily, her tone rounded out with humor. “You’re lightyears out of his league, babe.”

“Raia,” Arlene scolds. “Galaxies is more like it.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Avery mutters.

“Here you go.” Joe passes his daughter a glass of wine.

Avery pops the tops on a few beers and passes them around to his dad and Cohen.

“When will Grandpa and Grandma arrive?” Cohen asks.

“Any minute. You know how much my mother loves to be fashionably late,” Arlene replies. She points at the charcuterie board and various breads, vegetables, and dips on the kitchen island. “Help yourselves. I know how you kids get hungry.”

Cohen grins at her and reaches for a baby carrot, popping it into his mouth.

“He literally just ate,” Raia tells me.

“It’s good to see you again, Valentina,” Cohen says kindly.

“You too.” I give him a little wave hello.

“How was Austin?” he continues, his gaze sliding from me to Avery. “It’s not a place I’d ever see you wanting to visit for fun.”

“It was Lena’s idea,” Avery replies.

“Lena, huh?” Raia comments.

I roll my lips together before offering a small smile. “Avery’s nickname for me.”

“A nickname after one week. Things must be heating up,” Cohen says, nodding as if this makes sense.

Nothing makes any damn sense.

“I…um…I wanted to see the migration of some of the hawks and hummingbirds. Austin is part of the Central Flyway,” I explain.

Cohen stares at me like I have three heads.

Joe snorts into his beer. Arlene looks to her son as if waiting for him to interpret what I just explained.

Raia smirks. “That sounds right up Avery’s alley. He’s an avid bird-watcher.”

“Oh, dear!” Arlene gasps, understanding the conversation. “Did you see any good ones?”

“A bald eagle,” Avery supplies, his lips twitching.

“Well, how patriotic,” Arlene offers.

Joe takes a swig of his beer, his eyes dancing with amusement as he glances at me. Again, his eyes drop to my ring finger, and he tilts his head, as if to ask what I’m waiting for.

Should I just blurt out the news? Confirm his suspicion?

I look to Avery for help. For guidance and direction.

Avery sips his beer in response.

“We had a great time,” I continue, trying to gather some courage.

“It must have been one hell of a first date,” Cohen agrees.

“We got married at the end of it,” Avery says, his tone just as even as it was a second ago.

Raia opens her mouth to quip back but then snaps it closed. Her eyebrows furrow, her eyes narrowing as if to compute the meaning of Avery’s words.

“Wait, what?” Cohen asks.

I hold up my hand with the diamond band. “Surprise!”

Joe’s laughter is the first sound to break the ice.

Arlene looks truly bewildered.

“Congratulations, my dear. You’re the first person to render my wife speechless,” Joe offers as he pulls me into a hug. “Welcome to the family. I imagine there’s still time to back out, but if you like shenanigans and laughter, you’ll fit in just fine.”

I sink into his embrace and cling to Avery’s father for a second longer. His steadiness, the ease in which he receives me, banishes some of my self-doubt. He gives me the acceptance that I’ll never receive from my own father and right now, in this moment, it nearly brings me to tears.

It’s insane because I just met the man and yet, it feels like he’s on my side. Like he’s rooting for me.

“Thank you. I haven’t been a part of many shenanigans,” I whisper.

He chuckles. “Never too late to join ‘em.”

“You…you’re married?” Arlene points between Avery and me.

Raia’s stunned eyes snap to mine. I can’t read the expression on her face; she looks taken aback more than anything.

“Congratulations, bro,” Cohen offers, tossing an arm around Avery’s shoulders.

“Who’s married?” an elderly woman asks, entering the kitchen. “Harold? You’re too slow. We’re missing the tea!”

“You just had tea,” a man calls back. Then, he steps into the kitchen behind his wife, and I fight the urge to laugh.

These are clearly Avery’s grandparents and they are…fabulous.

“If you have another one, you’ll be up all night, needing the—” Harold starts.

His wife cuts him off by holding up a hand. Her eyes dart around the space, assessing the situation. “Who’s married?”

Avery raises a tentative hand. “I am, Grandma. I married Valentina while we were in Texas.”

Grandma’s eyes bounce to me and then back to her grandson. She clutches the neckline of her shirt, and I straighten, praying this sweet, older woman doesn’t collapse from the shock.

“You eloped?” she hisses.

“Well, I suppose.” Avery scratches his temple. “It was at the courthouse.”

“Without a man of the cloth present?” Harold barks out.

“Here we go,” Joe mutters.

“Dad, not everyone wants religious intervention,” Arlene says gently.

“But Avery needs it,” Grandma points out, helpfully.

“And you must be Valentina.” Harold peers at me.

“Hi.” I wave again.

“You look much smarter than Avery,” Grandma admits.

Cohen snorts.

“She is,” Raia agrees. “She also likes to bird-watch.”

“Oh!” Grandma’s eyes glitter. “Then we’ll get along famously. Tell me, dear, are your parents okay without a priest being present?”

“I…uh…well—” I stutter.

“We’re sharing the good news with you first,” Avery explains.

“We were the trial run?” Arlene wrinkles her nose.

“How’s it looking?” Harold asks Raia.

“Jury’s still out,” Cohen replies for her.

“You know, you could have said something at Raia and Cohen’s engagement party over the weekend,” Grandma continues. “I mean, I didn’t even get a chance to meet you there, Valentina. And I met a lot of people, I did. I like that one bloke—what’s his name?” She shuffles slightly toward Harold.

“Gage,” he supplies.

“Gage! He’s a nice boy,” Grandma says.

“He’s pushing forty,” Cohen mutters.

“A nice boy,” Grandma repeats.

“Well, Valentina wasn’t at the party,” Arlene explains. “This is a new development.” She wags a finger between me and Avery.

“Huh,” Harold grunts.

Grandma’s mouth drops open, and her eyes nearly bug out of her face. “You’re not in the family way, are you, Valentina?”

Cohen’s beer literally flies from his nostrils.

Oh, shit. My hands go numb as pins and needles travel down my legs. I open my mouth, but no words come out.

“Mom!” Arlene says, horrified.

Joe pours more wine in my glass. “You’ll need it,” he murmurs.

Raia pounds on Cohen’s back.

“Of course not!” Avery says. “What kind of man do you take me for?”

When his family is silent, he winces, and I immediately feel awful for him. In fact, as ridiculous and unbearable as the past forty minutes have been, spending time in the Callaway kitchen has given me insight into Avery’s life.

And I understand why he wants his family’s respect so badly. They’re good, down-to-earth people and it must be hard to not truly fit in with them. It’s a feeling I identify with because while my family is hardly this entertaining, I’ve never liked feeling distant from them. Like something is wrong with me.

“Don’t answer that,” Avery adds, lifting a warning hand. “Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Raia, Cohen…” He glances at each person present.

“We’re all here, bro,” Raia jokes.

“The only way this could be better is if Uncle Jim were present,” Cohen remarks.

Raia elbows him in the ribs, and he winces.

“Valentina and I married yesterday because the way we feel about each other… Well, I’ve never felt about any woman the way I do for Lena. I have a demanding career with a lot of travel coming up and the thought of not coming home to her is one I didn’t want to consider. I know this isn’t what you expected from me, but I hope you can welcome Valentina into our family. Because she’s not going anywhere.” Avery holds my gaze and the emotion in his eyes is genuine. It’s honest and earnest and it nearly undoes me.

My heart stutters, and my throat tightens. He’s claiming me in front of his family as if this is real. As if we’re intending to stay married.

“She’s it for me,” he tacks on.

“Well, if she likes birds, she’s obviously one of the good ones,” Grandma replies, affronted.

“You still should have had a minister present.” Harold shrugs.

“We would have liked to attend your big day,” Arlene tosses out.

“Or helped plan it,” Raia adds.

I look at her. This woman who is now my sister-in-law. “I’m sorry, Raia. My only concern with Avery’s and my eloping is that we unintentionally stepped on your toes.” My voice is clearer than I would have thought possible, and I realize the wine is giving me liquid courage. Thanks, Joe. “Our timing was…well, tacky,” I admit. “But when we were together…” I look at Avery. He’s staring at me as if he’s holding his breath. As if whatever I’m about to say is the most significant thing he’s ever heard. “We couldn’t bear the thought of wasting one more day apart.”

“Oh, well, that’s just beautiful.” Grandma takes a cocktail napkin from the island and dabs the corners of her eyes.

Arlene has a hand pressed to her heart, her eyes swimming with emotion.

“You’ll do just fine,” Joe whispers.

Raia gives me a shaky smile and pulls me in for a hug. Over my shoulder, she says to her brother, “You did steal some of my thunder, you jackass. But you couldn’t have picked a better woman so… I’ll get over it. Only because Vale had the guts to speak up about the thing we were all thinking.”

“I don’t know about all of us,” Cohen comments.

Arlene shakes her head. “You’re married.” She reaches out to hug her son.

“I suppose congratulations are in order,” Joe surmises.

“Oh yes! Get the good bubbly.” Grandma claps her hands together.

Joe chuckles but does as he’s told.

“You know this means you’re going to have to wear the ugly bridesmaid dress, don’t you?” Raia arches an eyebrow at me.

I laugh, the wine making my blood warm and loosening the tightness in my joints. “It’s an honor you’d want me to stand up beside you.”

“Oh, you are too sweet for Avery,” Arlene comments, pulling me into a hug. Tears fill her eyes, and she blinks to hold them back. “Come, let’s sit for dinner.”

As Joe pours champagne and the family relocates to the dining room, Avery steps beside me. His hand finds the center of my back and rests there, rooting me to the moment.

I find comfort in the weight of his palm against my lower back. I lean against him, as if giving into the gravitational force that is his presence.

“You were great,” he murmurs, looking into my eyes.

I lift my face to his. “You too. I almost believed you for a second there.”

Avery tilts his face, a shadow passing through his eyes. But he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he dips his face to mine and presses a quick kiss to my lips.

Then, he enters the dining room, and I pull in a shaky breath.

What was that for? And what did Avery mean by it?