he is so they can get psyched up about the playoffs and believe in him, as a person and as a quarterback, to lead the team to a Super Bowl win.”
“Ellie, sweetie, I love that.” My mom clasps her hands together and smiles brightly. “I’m so glad you’re working with Noah on managing the team. I’m so proud of you for making the best out of the…situation.”
“Ah.” Ethan sips his beer. “We almost didn’t bring it up.”
My dad waves his hand dismissively. “We don’t need to discuss Ellie’s unplanned pregnancy ad nauseum anymore. We know the father is not going to be in the picture, and our family is more than capable of helping and supporting her through this.”
I swallow and glance down at my lap, trying to calculate exactly how many months I have left before I have to tell everyone the truth.
I pick at a bite of salad and look over at my mom for one of her comforting smiles.
She delivers, and I feel slightly at ease.
“Well, I’m curious.” Ethan leans forward, folding his napkin and setting it on the empty plate in front of him. “What did you learn about QB2? What’s that special personal touch you’re going to incorporate into your marketing plan?”
“Well.” I wipe my slightly sweaty palms on my dress, wondering how much longer I can sit here and talk about Matt McKenzie without my family sniffing out my enormous secret. “I think Matt has a really good heart. He’s actually…humble and kind and doesn’t have that cocky arrogance that can make some athletes unlikable. I’m using the clip of him helping Raymond O’Neill up after his ACL injury on social media platforms to showcase that kindheartedness to the public.”
“I remember noticing that,” Mom adds excitedly. “I thought that was so nice. It speaks to his character.”
“Exactly.” I feel a hint of relief.
“That’s weird…” Clay scratches his head. “What you’re saying sounds like a great marketing strategy for sure, but I was under the impression that McKenzie was kind of a douchey jock.”
“Same here,” Jayson chimes in, scraping sauce off his plate with his fork. “I had him pegged as a young wannabe Chase Kennedy.”
“Who, let’s be honest”—Clay raises his brows—“is an awesome dude, but doesn’t exactly have that ‘America’s Golden Boy’ reputation.”
“That’s not who Matt is,” I say, instantly regretting the certainty and whisper of defensiveness in my voice.
They’re gonna freaking figure it out. Vices are a lot of things, but dumb is not one of them.
“He’s a genuinely good person, even if people have lumped him into the quarterback stereotype. If I can show the fans who he really is and portray him as a boy-next-door type, they’ll love him by the Super Bowl.”
My mom sips a glass of Chardonnay and blinks at me. “It seems like you’ve gotten to know him very well in a short time.”
You have no freaking idea, Mom.
“Yeah,” Clay adds with a mouthful. “Ellie Belly getting cozy with the Riders QB.”
Noah rolls his eyes. “She’s just doing her job, moron. Probably better than you do yours.”
Clay glares across the table at Noah. “Ask any person who’s eaten at a Vice hotel restaurant since I’ve been in charge of all food and beverage service if their meal was any bit less than sublime. Please. Ask.”
Mom chuckles in amusement and pride, and I sigh with the relief of Noah unknowingly helping me dodge Clay’s comment.
“For real, though, El.” Ethan looks at me. “It sounds like someone might have a little crush on Matt McKenzie.”
I guess that sigh of relief was a little premature.
“Would you stop?” I wave off the comment and force myself to play it cool. “Like Noah said, I’m literally doing my job by getting to know him and figuring out his best qualities.”
“I don’t know.” Mom points her fork at me and bites her lip. “There’s definitely a little sparkle in your eyes when you talk about him.”
Oh God. Mom, I know you mean well, but please, for heaven’s sake, shut up.
“That’d be so sick if you dated the quarterback,” Jayson says with a laugh. “Media would eat that shit up.”
Ethan nods. “That would be awesome.”
“I smell a power couple.” Clay nudges me.
“Boys.” My dad’s voice cuts through the teasing and playfulness of the room and hangs over the dinner table like a rain cloud.
For the first time probably ever, I’m really, really glad my dad is shutting down the family jokes and laughter.
“Elizabeth has other priorities right now,” he announces. “Stop this ridiculous talk. She’s