Chapter 27 #2
Then when it was all over, after everything Aunt Liv told me about how we’d handled the transfer and the bias against professional athletes, I felt like a real asshole for being so mad at Edward for so long.
Yes, I was frustrated that it felt like he was taking sides with the police and the social worker lady, but he was absolutely correct. The way we handled that exchange mattered. Big time. I don’t know how he knew it, but I should’ve known from growing up with him, he was right.
Edward’s the type of guy who sits around and reads old encyclopedias for fun. Like he drags them out of Grammy Gina’s massive bookcases in her giant mansion and sits around reading them. Like they’re so fascinating.
Okay, fascinating is a word he would never use, but that’s how he seems when he’s reading those old books, turning the slick pages, his eyes sliding down the teeny-tiny type.
We all went out last night to celebrate a successful meeting, and I tried to call Melody. It went straight to voicemail, so I shot her a text. She hasn’t replied, but it’s not like when I’m getting ready to play.
Those days she doesn’t want to muddy the waters or however she tries to frame it. What’s happening right now is way different.
I’m starting to climb the walls, wondering where she is and why she’s not responding. Then my phone lights up with a text, and I scoop it up so fast, I almost throw it across the room.
Melody
Sorry! We’ve been incredibly busy over here. So glad your meeting went well. I’m headed your way, and I’ll tell you all about it in person. It’s a lot. Okay?
Knox
Wait, what are you saying?
Melody
Just sit tight. I’ve got a surprise for you.
Knox
You’re coming here? Where are you now? Share your location.
My phone goes quiet, and I wait. Seconds tick past, and nothing. When I realize she’s not going to reply, I exhale a growl. Melody…
Then I groan a laugh. This girl knows exactly how to torment me, and it works. My stomach is surging with energy that she’s on her way, and I walk around the room before deciding I’d better get out of this house.
Cooters & Shooters is right down the road from Dad’s place, and I practically jog the whole way.
I think about all the things I plan to do to her when she gets here.
How I plan to drag her into the restroom and kiss her long and hard, then I’ll spank her bottom for not sharing her location with me.
For leaving me hanging for so long. For not telling me when she’s going to be here. For driving me fucking nuts.
Because I miss the fuck out of her, and I need to tell her how much everything she’s done means. How she’s got my heart wrapped around her fucking little finger, and if she doesn’t tell me she loves me back, I might go out of my mind.
It’s Thursday night, after all. This place is going to be a total rave in a few hours, and nobody will be watching us.
I wander into the kitchen where Aunt Dylan is wearing protective goggles, plastic gloves, and even a bandana over her nose and mouth as she stirs a giant silver pot of salsa.
It only takes a few minutes of standing in the kitchen before my eyes start to burn. “Dang, Aunt Deedee, what are you making tonight?”
“Pepper X salsa with sour cream guacamole and lime slices.” She rises onto her tiptoes as I carefully creep over to her, tilting her head back to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t stand there. If this splashes, it might get in your eye.”
Lifting my hand, I back away to the other wall. “I don’t know how you find people willing to eat this stuff.”
“It’s tradition!” Mom walks in, depositing her backpack under the stainless metal work table and walking over to pull me down for a hug. “Liv said y’all had a successful hearing!”
“Yeah, it went pretty well…” I can’t help teasing her. “You could have told me before I’d had a vodka shot and two purple drinks I’d be defending my character today.”
“I think it was one of those situations where everybody thought somebody told you, and ultimately nobody did.”
“Nobody told him?” Dylan’s brown eyes widen behind her protective goggles. “Allie!”
“I’m sorry! I thought his dad did it. That’s why he went into your room—he was supposed to tell you!”
I think back to Austin, Dad, and me in my bedroom talking about all kinds of things, finding that tiny pink coat. “He probably got distracted.”
“Well, it’s time to get this party started…” Aunt Deedee steps back, rolling the gloves down her arms. “Allie, ready to make the announcement?”
“Only eat this if you have a cast-iron GI-tract?” Mom laughs, and warmth fills my chest.
This is how I grew up, with laughter and teasing and family and warmth. It’s how I want my daughter to grow up. It’s how I want Melody and me to be.
I think we can do it. I’m pretty sure her family is as big and close as ours is.
“Knoxey, get out there and let Uncle Craig know we’re coming.” Aunt Dylan points to the door.
I give her a little salute as I back through the double doors separating the kitchen from the dining hall. “On it!”
Uncle Craig is at the bar in gold lame hot pants, a black satin vest, and a blonde wig under his arm. He’s bent over, digging around behind the small bar, and I lean over the wooden top, hoping to catch him off-guard.
“Yo, Cray-cray!”
“Jeez…us.” He pops up so fast. “Child, what am I going to do with you? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry.” I fight back a grin. “Aunt Dylan said she’s on her way out. You ready?”
“I was born ready.” He whips the blonde wig over his head and tucks the sides of his hair under it, looking up at me with concern in his eyes. “How are you doing? I heard Liv wasn’t able to get the hearing set before the holiday.”
My chest sinks at that news. “When did you hear that?”
He waves over to where I see Gina’s mom standing in a tight circle with Aunt Rachel and Uncle Zane. Their expressions are worried, and I glance back at Craig.
“I was in the kitchen with Mom and Aunt Dylan.”
He walks around the bar to where I’m standing. “Don’t worry, Knoxey. Your family will not rest until your little girl is back in your arms. You know that.”
Nodding, I look down. “I know. It’s just…”
It’s a lead weight in my chest, and I don’t know how much longer I can go on with this pain nagging at me. I can’t imagine playing, but either way, I’ve got to get back to New Orleans and keep us on track for the playoffs.
“What is it?” Craig puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Nothing.” I shrug. “Aunt Dylan’s coming out. We can talk later.”
“Knox Bradford, you know that doesn’t matter. What’s on your mind?”
I look over to see they’re just setting up the table for Dare Night, and I know that means we have a few minutes while they get ready. Craig reaches behind the bar and slides a Corona across the smooth wood to me.
“Spill,” he says, putting a hand on his hip.
He’s standing there in that blonde wig, vest, and gold shorts, and he’s one of the most trusted people in my life. It’s always how it’s been around here. Found family at its finest.
Inhaling slowly, I let it all out. “Up to now, my entire focus, my life, has been football. The only thing that mattered was living up to the Bradford name and Dad’s legacy and Austin’s.”
“It’s a lot.” Craig nods. “But you manage to hold your own.”
“That’s just it. These last few months, I’ve started to realize all those things I thought were so important don’t matter if I don’t have someone to share it with. Not that big ole apartment, not the ring, not even the fame. It’s all just empty without… them.”
“Them?” Craig’s brow cocks, and he gives me a look. “And they are…?”
“Cricket, of course, but also…” I clear my throat, looking around as I shrug. “Her.”
“Knox Bradford, you little shit, who is her?”
“I’m not little anymore,” I laugh, looking down on my five-foot-eight “uncle.”
“And you still have the biggest heart. Now answer the damn question.”
“You know who.” I lean back, looking up at the ceiling. “Melody.”
“She has such a good name. Are you still writing poetry?”
“Yeah, some.” I don’t even get into all the lyrics I’ve written for her, all the lines I’ve scratched out and rewritten.
Nothing seems to do justice for how magical she is, for how much she truly just gets me. How losing her would be…
“It’s all going to work out, kiddo. Trust me.” He waves at Aunt Dylan, who’s giving him the thumbs-up. “I like Melody Dunne. She’s a firebrand, and she knows her football.”
“All true.” I lend a hand as he hops onto the bar in four-inch platform shoes.
“And her daddy… holy shit.” Craig fans himself. “That man…”
“Wait… what?”
A big smile breaks across his face, and he pulls out the mic. “Happy Thursday, all you insane Dare players. What are we going to do with y’all coming back here, week after week wanting to get burned?”
“Entertain us!” a jokey male voice shouts from the back.
“Oh, I got you covered, hot stuff.” Uncle Craig slaps his backside and gives a little wink. “But first, we’ve got a hot one for you tonight! Who feels the need, the need for Pepper X?”
A cheer rises among the crowd already lining up in front of Aunt Dylan’s table. Mom is there with the party-size cups of vanilla ice cream, and it’s about to get wild in here.
Uncle Craig proceeds to give the standard warning about how hot the dish will be and how to handle it. Then he runs through the drink specials, Fireball shots leading the list, but also some classic Thanksgiving cocktails.
I lean against the bar, sipping my beer and thinking my brother was right. It’s good to be here with my family while everything is going down.
“This isn’t a stable, Knoxey.” My six-foot-four, muscle-bound uncle Garrett walks up to the small bar dressed in his sheriff’s uniform and a flouncy blonde wig. He throws his arm around my shoulders, giving me a shake. “Ditch the long face and dance.”
In one smooth move, he’s on the bar with Craig, and the women go crazy. Years have passed, but his hip-thrusting appeal never wanes.
Craig cues the music, kicking off with “Fireball” by Pitbull, of course. It’s a classic. And I step back to give them space.