“He should definitely buy a ranch.”
“Yeah, I can’t see my mom being ready for that just yet,” Nathan said. “But maybe several years down the road.”
Easton laughed. “Come on inside. Your mom just made some fresh lemonade, Mia, and some of your brothers are here.”
Easton held the door for them and they walked inside. It was hot as blazes out, so Nathan was happy the air conditioner was cranked to arctic levels in the house.
The Cassidys’ house was huge. Nathan could tell it had been designed with four boys in mind. Lots of room to run around, no precious trinkets sitting about on the tables. Everything had a rustic but modern feel to it with dark hardwood floors, exposed beams on the tall ceilings and one hell of a dining room table that looked handmade. The house was pretty enough that a woman would love it, but also comfortable and somewhere a guy would like to live. Kind of a best of both worlds thing.
They made their way into the kitchen, which boasted an oversized island. Mia’s mom, Lydia, leaned against the island talking to Grant, Mia’s oldest brother, and Tucker, one of the twins, along with their wives. It was always easy to recognize Tucker since he wore glasses.
“Oh, you’re here,” Lydia said, coming around the island to fold Mia into a hug.
Mia hugged her back. Then she had to hug Grant and his wife, Katrina, and Tucker and his wife, Aubry.
“You all remember Nathan Riley? And if you don’t, this is my friend Nathan Riley.”
“Hey, Nathan,” Grant said. “Good to see you again.” Grant introduced his wife, Katrina.
“We haven’t met yet,” Tucker said. “Great to meet you. This is my wife, Aubry.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you.”
“And it’s wonderful to see you again, Nathan,” Lydia said. “It feels like forever, though I know we saw you at the game last year when we came out to see Flynn play.”
“It’s good to see you again, Lydia. Thanks for letting me tag along to the wedding.”
“We’re happy to have you.”
“How does it feel taking over as Sabers quarterback?” Grant asked.
“Daunting.”
Grant laughed. “Yeah, I know that feeling. But you’re gonna do great. Unless you play our team. Then we’ll kick your ass.”
Nathan smiled. “Somehow I think Flynn would disagree.”
“Disagree about what?”
Flynn and Amelia walked in, hand in hand.
“That Grant’s team will kick the Sabers’ ass,” Mia said.
Flynn walked over and patted Grant on the back. “Keep being a dreamer, buddy.”
Easton beamed a smile. “I love when the family comes together. Such warmth.”
Lydia laughed. “Go check the ribs, Easton.” She turned to Mia and Nathan. “There’s lemonade and iced tea in the fridge, along with beer. And, Mia, you know where the wine is.”
“Okay.” Mia turned to Nathan. “What would you like?”
“I’ll take a beer.”
“Grab one for me, too,” Flynn said. “Amelia?”
“I’d love a glass of wine.”
“White or red?” Mia asked.
“Whatever you’re pouring for yourself.”
“That makes it easy.”
Nathan pulled two beers—then three, when Tucker asked for one. He ended up following the guys outside, where they hung out with Easton while he finished smoking the ribs, which smelled amazing.
“How’d you manage the time off, Tucker?” Nathan asked.
“I just pitched yesterday afternoon’s game so I won’t be in the rotation again for several days. Coach wasn’t all that happy for me to leave, but they let me off anyway. And it helped that I gave them plenty of notice.”
“Plus, he sucks and they don’t like to use him that often,” Flynn said.
“Yeah, that’s why my earned run average is so low.”
“I don’t know why you let him bait you,” Grant said. “You should just tell him to go fuck himself.”
Tucker took a swallow of his beer. “Oh, right. Go fuck yourself, Flynn.”
Flynn smiled over his beer.
Nathan didn’t have brothers close in age, but his dad, uncles and their cousins sparred like this all the time. He knew it came from a place of affection. It was amusing as hell to listen to—and to be a part of. Once he’d become an adult, the Riley clan had used insults to show him how much they loved him.
“How are you feeling about this season, Nathan?” Easton asked him.
“Honestly? Equal parts raring to go and nervous as hell.”
“I think you’d be in trouble if you weren’t split down the middle like that,” Grant said. “If you’re overconfident you’ll fuck it all up. If you’re too scared to even move from under center, you’ll fuck it all up, too. I’d say you’re right where you need to be.”
“I agree,” Flynn said. “It’s natural to be nervous. Hell, we all were when we first started out. But as long as you know you’ve got the skills, you’ll do great.”
Tucker nodded. “My first time on the mound starting a game I thought for sure I was going to either throw up or pass out.”
“You pitched seven solid innings and won,” Easton said.
Tucker’s lips lifted. “Yeah. Only gave up one run. It was a decent outing for my first trip to the mound.”
“My first time at defensive back, some five-foot-seven running back skirted past me as if I was frozen,” Flynn said. “Hell, I might have been.”
“I remember that,” Tucker said. “We were all at the game that day yelling from the stands because we were wondering when the hell you were going to move your ass.”
Flynn frowned. “I moved my ass plenty after that. And after the coach pulled me and screamed at me for like five solid minutes. The very next play I got past the offensive tackle and nearly sacked the QB.”
Nathan laughed. “A real come-to-Jesus moment for you, was it?”
“Like you would not believe.”
“I did get sacked in my first game as a starter,” Grant said. “Some big burly defensive end flattened me so hard I couldn’t breathe.”
“Yeah, we all thought you were dead,” Easton said with a grin.
Nathan shook his head. “But you got up and then you threw a forty-yard touchdown pass.”
Grant looked over at Nathan. “You remember that.”
“I watched a lot of football before I ever got to play.”
“Studying the game is the best way to learn the right way—and the wrong way—to play,” Flynn said.
“You’re right about that,” Easton said. “Okay, these ribs are done. Go grab the pan from your mom, Tucker, along with the barbecue sauce so I can get these babies on the grill.”
“You got it.”
They spent the next half hour jawing about sports while Easton finished with the ribs. Nathan went inside to get everyone more beer. Mia was at the kitchen island surrounded by her mother and all the women and was so engaged in conversation and cooking she didn’t even notice him. He was fine with that. He knew how much being with her family meant to her.
He’d also been introduced to Katrina’s younger sister, Anya, and her brother, Leo. Leo ended up outside with them—minus the beer, since Leo was underage.
But since Leo also played football, he fit right in and he and Nathan had a discussion about how Leo hadn’t started playing football until his sophomore year in high school. Now he was going to play wide receiver in college.
“So you decided on the University of Texas, huh?” Nathan asked.
“Yeah. I got lucky and received several offers, but I really liked Texas.”
Nathan nodded. “It’s a good school. Grant went there, as you know. So did Mia. So did I. Great football program.”
“Great academically, too. I like the coach and the team and what they have to offer. I can’t wait to start.”
Nathan remembered what it was like being a freshman in college, just waiting for football season. “Already getting started on your practices?”