Page 94 of Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

“Well, are you going to tell me, or will you make your old man worry.”

I let out a deep sigh. Just like I should have told Jonah about the job interview, I feel like I should have told my dad about Jonah when I was back home. I thought I was doing the right thing by compartmentalizing the different areas of my life. As it turns out, I wasn’t.

“I met someone,” I tell him, suddenly feeling nervous and relieved at the same time. I’ve never spoken about a guy to my dad, so this is uncharted waters, and while I’m not sure what his reaction is going to be, I am proud and excited to tell him about Jonah and Vivi.

There’s a long pause and then he says, “And?” Like he’s confused as to why this is a problem.

“He lives here.”

My dad chuckles. “You live there, too. I’m not sure what the problem is.”

“I got the job,” I tell him, my heart thumping hard in my chest. I’ve waited so long to be able to tell him this, and now here I am with tears of sadness filling my eyes instead of tears of joy.

“Oh. I see now,” he says, the bed squeaking as he sits down. I can totally picture him too. I’ve seen him sit on this side of the bed, his side, my whole life.

“Yeah,” I tell him as I make a few more turns and pull onto Camille’s street.

“Is it serious?” he asks, and unless I’m reading more into his tone than there is, it almost sounds like he’s hopeful.

“It’s still kind of new, but it has the potential to be.” Who am I kidding, it’s already serious. I know it, Jonah definitely knows it, and I’m guessing Vivi does too by the way she’s taken to me.

“And now you’re second-guessing yourself.”

“I am.”

But I don’t know what I’m really second-guessing. Is it taking the job or staying here?

“And you don’t think he would want to move with you? Can’t be that serious if making a sacrifice for you isn’t on the table.”

I pull up to the small gate at their house and let myself in. A while ago Camille gave me the code, she said it would be easier for me to have it, versus having to call her and wait every time.

“It’s not that simple. Does the name Jonah Dallmann ring a bell?”

“The wide receiver for the Tarpons?” The surprise he has is evident, but I’m not sure why. He knows I’m friends with Camille and am frequently around the players.

“Yep.” I pull through and park under the massive oak tree that covers their front yard.

“That’s who you’re dating?” He sounds completely incredulous.

“Why do you sound so shocked?”

He doesn’t answer me but says, “Now I see how that complicates things.”

I park my car and push the seat all the way back so I can prop up my legs.

“Did you know he has guardianship of his niece?” I glance over to my passenger seat where there is a picture of a dolphin that she drew and colored for me. It’s been there for a few days and I love it.

“Now that you mention it, I do remember seeing something about that a few years ago. Someone died, right?”

“Yeah, his brother.” My heart aches at what Jonah has gone through.

“So not one, but two complications.”

“I don’t really like thinking of it that way. They aren’t complicated, but being long distance would be an obstacle.”

“Do you love them?” he asks, as if it’s that simple.

I don’t need to think or even hesitate. “Yes, I do.”