Page 17 of Made Better Together

We step closer to the entrance, while the guests filter through the doors.

And Landon—my bro is prepared.

“There’s a poster over here with your tables listed by last name, plus we also have name cards at each seat,” he announces to each cluster of attendees that enters.

“Over-under that Johnson and he had a detailed playbook about how he should manage the greeting process,” Rawley whispers to me.

“Over-under that Landon just decided to run the show on his own,” I say back.

Rawley cackles. “You’re probably right.” We love our big brother, but yeah, sometimes this side of his personality is a little much.

As more people trickle in, Rawley recognizes several of them and breaks off to chat. Shortly after, I see Mom, her sister Linda, and a few other Alabama family members come through, headed in my direction.

“Connor, look at how tall and handsome you are,” Aunt Linda gushes when they reach me.

“I always said he’s the best of them,” Mom says, with a sharp tone that makes my back involuntarily straighten. “As long as he rights the ship on the job front.”

“Now, I think his internship sounds wonderful,” Aunt Linda retorts before turning back to me. “Grace told me all about it yesterday before the rehearsal dinner.”

“Hmmm,” is all Mom gets out before Landon comes to the rescue.

“Hello everyone, love that we have the Alabama family representing,” he says in a loud voice. “You’re all going to be at table ten, in the front corner.”

“Magnificent, we’ll talk more later,” Aunt Linda replies. “C’mon, mother of the bride, smile on your face, and let’s go find our seats.”

The look of determination on Aunt Linda’s face rocks me a bit—clearly she knows about Mom’s personality “quirks” as much as the rest of us.

As they stride off, Landon’s shoulders drop. “Just gotta make it through a few more hours, and then Mom will be off to the hotel, with an early flight tomorrow.”

He wasn’t this transparent about his stress over her when we were younger. I appreciate the change. “Yeah, we got this. Dad’s set?”

Landon waves one hand dismissively. “He’s easy. Grace put him at the offensive line table so he can chat sports the whole time.”

Just then, another group of Waves players comes through, this time guys I recognize from Landon’s linebacker crew.

He jaws with them, shaking hands with their wives and girlfriends, while I wait…for her.

Literally, is the universe torturing me right now with everyone in the ballroom but the kicking team? What the hell.

Except then the kicking team does come in—and Del is not there.

“It’s so fucking great that you guys could make it,” Rawley says as he returns to my side.

A couple of them give him a half-hug in greeting before heading to their table.

“Most people are here already, right?” I ask for my own benefit.

“I think the coaches haven’t come through yet.”

Oh shit—yes, of course. Del is a coach now.

Before too long, the Waves’ head coach, Rich Houston, enters with his wife, followed by a legion of other coaches.

“Sorry to be one of the last ones down here. We got lost in conversation,” Coach Houston says to Landon before nodding at us other two Battle brothers.

I’m less concerned with the coaches being on time than finally—fucking, finally—seeing her.

Because around the corner comes Del, and then next to his wife, there she is.