American Bad Boy(79)

“Hey man, long time no see,” Cameron shakes his hand. “Did you ever make it onto the team?” He looks at my son and I can see that Chris is flattered that the quarterback remembered his goals.

“I did. I’m a running back on the school team,” he puffs his chest out proudly. He has every reason to be proud. After I got Chris a fresh start in a new school district, you never would have known he had been the same kid who had been expelled. He studied hard and got on the honor roll and his report cards went from a day we both dreaded in the year to glowing.

“Great job, man. Keep working on it and maybe you’ll be the one catching a scout’s eye.” Cameron claps his hand on Chris’s arm.

“Well, you’re really making a name for yourself here,” Chelsea interrupts. “I bet you’ll get picked up the draft first,” she smiles.

“I’d like to think that’s true. But I thought I made a name for myself in high school too, but you don’t remember me from back then do ya?” He puts her on the spot.

Chelsea fidgets a little and furrows her eyebrows together. “Uh, yeah, sure I do.” The lie is so painfully obvious; it makes me grimace.

“Yeah, it sounds like I made a real impression,” Cameron teases her. “I’ll tell you what, how about you give me your number and I’ll take you out next Friday. This time I’ll make sure you never forget me,” his eyes narrow and his voice drops.

“I’d like that,” Chelsea answers. I think we have a winner for understatement of the year.

As my sister types her digits into Cameron’s phone, I look up at Mack. I’m so happy that I’ve already found my man. The father of my children. My soulmate. My forever.

“Let’s give these two some space,” I whisper up at him. He looks down at me with his crystal blue eyes and for the tenth time today I remember how lucky I am. How lucky we are.

“Sounds good. And then when I get you home, I think we should go find some space of our own. I have plans for you,” he murmurs.

“I’d like that,” I steal the understatement of the year award from my sister in three small words.

“Chelsea, we’ll meet you in the car, ok? I want to get Honor’s stuff packed up. No rush though, ok?” I look over at my sister.

“Sure,” she answers without taking her eyes off Cameron Armstrong. I suppose it’s not hard to see why, with his sandy brown hair and dark blue eyes, he’s got a boyish charm about him that he never lost after high school. It’s nice to see that he’s looking at her with the same degree of desire tattooed across his face.

As we leave them to chat, I look over my family. My son, growing up into a wonderful young man. My daughter, whose whole life is open to possibilities. My husband, who is helping me write the chapters of my life, one page at a time. I gaze at them and know how my story is going to end.

When I glance back over my shoulder to Chelsea and Cameron, I can’t help but wonder if their story is just beginning.



THE END