AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ryan laughs out loud and kisses my head. “I don’t think that’s necessary, but I like the thought.”
When the game is over, we’ve won by twelve points, and everyone pours onto the field to congratulate our team.
Jake comes right over to us, hugs his dad and grandparents, and then he sees me and grins. He marches over and picks me up right off of my feet and hugs me.
“You came,” he says.
“Of course, I came. A very important player invited me himself.”
He grins widely. “Did you see that touchdown?”
“Yes, and I also saw that tackle. Took ten years off of my life.”
“Just knocked the wind out of me,” he says with a negligent shrug. “No big. Hey, Dad, is it okay if Russ and a few of the others come out to our place to watch movies and stuff tonight? We have the best house.”
Ryan grins with pride. “Sure, bring whoever you want. Be sure to tell them that their parents can call me if they want to.”
“Awesome, thanks.” Jake grins. “Can we maybe order pizza?”
“I’ll handle it,” Ryan assures him. “You deserve it after that game.”
“Best day ever,” Jake says as he gives the rest of the family hugs, takes the time to put Holly up on his shoulders, and then Daisy when the little girl doesn’t want to be left out, and then he jogs off to join his friends.
“I guess you’re hosting a party tonight,” I say with a laugh.
“I don’t mind. He deserves it.”
“Yeah, he definitely does.”
“We’ll come help,” Brady says, indicating himself and Mac. “You’ll need it.”
“I appreciate it,” Ryan agrees and turns to me. “I want to see you soon.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that. You will.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
RYAN
“Ihave two rules,” I inform the twenty or so teenagers who have gathered at my home after the game. They’re sitting in the theater seats in the movie room, and I’m standing down front.
“Let us have ‘em,” Russ calls out.
“One, there will be no drinking alcohol in my house. If I catch any of you doing that, I’ll call your parents right away. I’m a cool dad, but I’m not that cool.”
Jake snickers at that.
“What’s the second rule?” someone asks.
“You have to eat all the food in that kitchen. The pizza, the snacks, the sodas. Because I don’t want leftovers.”
“You got it, Mr. Wild,” someone else calls out. “Thanks for letting us hang here. Is it okay if some of us sleep in here?”
“Have you called your parents? Do they know where you are?”
Several of the boys nod enthusiastically. I’m glad that they didn’t bring any girlfriends tonight. I didn’t want to have to referee teenage sex in my house.
Christ, I’ll never be ready for that.
