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"Ready for training camp to start, Nathan?" his dad asked

"Like you wouldn’t believe It’s all I’ve thought about for weeks"

His dad nodded "The offense will look to you for leadership, that you’re ready to grab the reins and run with them You watched me run that offense all last year You can handle this team"

He couldn’t explain how much his father’s confidence in him meant His dad had always been honest with him, sometimes brutally If he wasn’t ready to take the team, his dad would have told hi"

Since thinking about leading the teahten, he went to play with Sa was si spaceships and rolling around on the floor together Eventually, they went outside and kicked a soccer ball around

"I’onna play soccer," Sam said

"Oh, yeah? How about football?"

"That, too Like Daddy And you, Nathan Moonna come watch you play this year"

"Great I’ll look for you in the stands Andblue eyes widened "You will? Cool"

He could already picture Saear He couldn’t wait for pics

His mom opened the back door "Sam, time to come inside and wash your hands"

Saer?"

Nathan recognized that look on his rass and looked down at the ground "Okay"

Nathan ruffled his brother’s dark hair "We’ll play again later"

That lit his face up "Great"

Saht we’d find soood"

His phone buzzed, so he grabbed it to take a look It was Mia

Up for dinner tonight?

He smiled, then texted her back I’m with my parents and Sam

She replied with, Want to see them! Let’s all have dinner Invite them to Ninety-Two

He looked up "It’s Mia She says she wants to see everyone and invited us to her brother’s restaurant for dinner"

"Oh, I’d love to see Mia and Flynn," his mom said, then looked over at his dad "Mick?"

His dad nodded "Sounds good to ements to meet Mia at Ninety-Two He wished he could be alone with her, but he kne ood for all of theet to see her, and he really needed that

They needed to talk

FOURTEEN

MIA WALKED INTO NINETY-TWO AND SAID HELLO TO Carol, the hostess She spotted Grace, one of the waitresses she’d gotten to know fairly well since she’d officially moved to San Francisco She waved

"I have your reservation," Carol said "And Flynn wanted me to tell you he’d be here in a bit"

"Okay, thanks, Carol"

"Would you like me to seat you now, or do you want to wait for the rest of your party?"

She looked at her phone She was about fifteen o sit at the bar and wait"

There was an available chair at the corner, so she sat there and ordered a glass of cabernet

"I can’t believe you didn’t come back to say hello"