Page 8 of Made Better Together

I giggle at Dad’s remark, while Tina smiles and puts a hand lightly on his arm.

“We’ll do it for you,” she says to him. “Your first year coaching, and we wouldn’t want to miss a Waves family event like this.”

That’s right, after a long career as the Waves’ starting kicker, Dad retired when the season ended last year. He’d asked the organization if he could transition to an assistant kicking coach position for the upcoming season, and it was happily an immediate yes. Football is his life, and he’s a great leader, so it should be an awesome fit.

It’s from my dad that I learned everything I know about leading others to success, and now as the captain of the Tolliver soccer team, I apply it all. As best as I can, anyway.

“You too,” Dad says back to her. “It’ll be nice for you to spend time with the other coaches’ wives.”

From hearing Tina and Dad talk, the wedding is the Waves’ “event of the summer.” Not that the label is a surprise given who’s involved, the starting quarterback and the sister of the two Battle brothers playing on the Waves.

There’s one more Battle brother that I’m aware of. Acutely aware of.

But no one in this car knows that Connor Battle is on my radar, including Dad, who probably doesn’t even remember he introduced us three years ago. No one on the planet knows—except for my best friend on the Tolliver team, Bree.

With Nat content at the promise of sweets, the chatter in the car dies down. The hum of the air conditioning, the endless green growth along the side of the highway, and Dad’s favorite piano music on the speakers form a soothing combo. I lean back in my seat and shut my eyes.

It’s so rare I have moments with nothing to do, and if it takes a car ride to find time to relax, so be it.

The spell breaks as the car jostles on a gravel road.

When I open my eyes, we’re pulling up to the cream stucco mansion where the reception will be held. Dad’s house is plenty nice, but this place is another level. Maybe ten thousand square feet, two stories, and expansive.

I shake off my awe as the valet takes the keys from Dad and we make our way inside up a set of stairs.

Tina explains that they’ll have us guests wait on the second floor in a great room with a large deck, which has stairs leading down to the pool and lake areas. She must have heard all this from another coach’s wife.

“Apparently, they converted much of the first floor into a large ballroom-type space, so they can rent the house for big parties,” she continues. “That’s where we’ll be most of the night.”

The second floor is also clearly designed for fancy gatherings. Everything is pristine and expensive-looking, with a lot of marble and touches of contrasting dark wood. Huge windows showcase the water view, and the art selection is lovely, made up of well-done replicas.

With the Florida July heat, a large number of the guests are, not surprisingly, inside in the air conditioning. We settle into a small open patch where no one else is standing, and a waiter comes by with a tray of drinks. Dad hands lemonade to Nat, while I grab a champagne.

Raising his eyebrows at me, Dad otherwise stays silent. I turned twenty-one two months ago, so he can’t exactly protest.

Meanwhile, I could use the liquid courage, knowing who will be in attendance—although I don’t see him anywhere right now.

“I’m glad you came back from California in time for this,” Tina says to me, the slightest nerve in her voice.

Her anxiousness has nothing to do with me, I know—we get along fine. She’s put a lot of stock in tonight, hoping to fit in with the other coaches’ wives. I get it.

“It’s going to be a good night,” I reassure her, my “team captain” mode activated. “You look beautiful.”

She gives me a small grateful smile. “Thank you.”

I hadn’t returned from visiting my mom in California for the wedding, specifically. As it’s been for my entire life, my summer’s divided into tightly orchestrated segments between San Diego, where my mom settled when I was a toddler, and Orlando.

I’m lucky that Dad and Mom always seemed to work things out without too much drama. They were in college when I was born, the relationship over by graduation. Mom returned to San Diego so my extended family could help while she went to medical school, and Dad saw me as much as he could once in the NFL.

Between college and soccer obligations, there was only one option for a summer trip to visit Mom and the rest of my California crew—a few weeks in June. I took the opportunity while I could.

“Let’s mingle,” Tina says, running her hand over Nat’s hair to smooth it down.

Poor Nat, this is probably going to be boring as heck for her.

“I wonder if they have something for the kids to do outside? I can take her and explore,” I volunteer.

“That would be great,” Dad says, as Tina’s grateful smile expands.