 by Fiona Davenport.jpg)
Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 89(@300wpm)
Dakota’s romance with Ames started with a false play, but that didn’t stop her from falling for the hot offensive lineman.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
1
DAKOTA
“I can’t believe I moved back in with my parents.” I dropped my head back with a groan as I set my margarita on the ground next to me.
“Hey, now. I resemble that remark.” Charmaine twisted in her lawn chair and narrowed her eyes. “And I’ve been living with mine for the past two years while you were still away at school.”
“You know I didn’t mean it that way.” I heaved a deep sigh. “It’s just going to be weird having them all up in my business after being on my own for so long.”
My best friend lifted her frosty glass and quirked her brow. “If your mom’s nosiness comes with freshly made cocktails, then I’m all for her meddling as much as she wants.”
“It is a nice change from the wine coolers she used to let us drink when we were in high school,” I conceded, picking up my glass to take another sip.
“We thought we were so sophisticated every time she let us do that back then.” She laughed and shook her head. “But seriously, it’s not as though staying with your mom and dad will cramp your style. You literally never give guys a chance to ask you on a date, let alone go home with them and do the walk of shame the next morning.”
My nose wrinkled—and not because my mom had been heavy-handed with the tequila when she mixed this batch of drinks. I’d adjusted to the taste of my margarita by the third sip, but the same couldn’t be said for how I handled it whenever my loved ones brought up my lack of dating. I’d only been back home for a grand total of three hours, and my mom, dad, aunt, and grandma had already asked if I was sure I hadn’t left someone special behind.
“My welcome-home dinner didn’t feel very welcoming. I was hoping to get away from talking about my dating life when you showed up to rescue me from the family inquisition, but here you are, bringing it up yourself,” I muttered.
“Sorry.” She shot me a grin over the rim of her glass. “But you’re the one who brought it up.”
“Brought what up?” my mom asked from behind us.
Before I could tell her it wasn’t anything, Charmaine explained, “Her lack of a dating life.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” I groaned, turning to glare at her. “Some best friend you are.”
My mom patted me on the shoulder. “Be nice to Charmaine. She’s only got your best interests at heart.”
Twisting my neck, I shifted my glare toward her. “That’s the same excuse you used when Grandma asked me why I wasn’t married yet.”
My mom was unfazed by the reminder. “Because she does, too.”
“And when Aunt Jane said that I should at least be engaged since she thought I went to college to get my Mrs. degree?”
She nodded with a motherly smile, and I rolled my eyes.
“Did she really?” Charmaine sputtered out a laugh. “Dang, I’m mad I missed dinner. It sounds entertaining.”
“Only if you like watching your best friend get grilled more than the overcooked steaks that my dad made.” I gulped down the rest of my margarita and lifted my glass for my mom to refill from the pitcher she’d brought out.
“It wasn’t that bad, dear,” my mom murmured.
“Which one—the steak or the inquisition about her dating life?” Charmaine teased.
My mom laughed as she topped off her glass too. “Both.”
“You can only say that because you’re married and used to eating dad’s meat.”
I realized how that sounded the moment the words left my mouth, but there was no taking them back. All I could do was wait out my best friend and mom until they were done giggling—which took longer than I would’ve liked. Not that I was surprised, considering what I’d just said.
“You knew what I meant, Mom.”
“Sure,” she conceded with a smile. “But that doesn’t make it any less funny.”
Charmaine poked me in the side. “She’s got you there.”
There was no denying that my best friend was right, but I didn’t want to lose track of the point I’d been trying to make before our conversation went off track. “Now that everyone has had a good laugh at my expense, I’d like to request a moratorium on questions about when I’ll find a boyfriend. I have enough on my plate with trying to find my first real job. I don’t need the added stress of everyone pressuring me to go out on dates.”
“Don’t worry about all of this now, dear. Enjoy your first night back. Get silly with your bestie.” She brushed a kiss against my cheek and beamed a smile at Charmaine. “There’s plenty of time to find the man whose meat you’ll happily eat.”
I should’ve been used to the inappropriate stuff that came out of my mom’s mouth since I’d been listening to it for years, but she still made me blush.