“Sure,” the guy said. Seconds later he heard an announcement over the store’s intercom. “Customers, please allow our special guests to get in line at a checkstand. Thank you for shopping at the North Bellevue QFC, and Go Sharks.”

Derrick and Seth had emerged from the floral and wine departments and were attempting to steer a cartful through other Sharks fans who also wanted autographs. Drew managed to pull his phone out of his pocket, punched in his home number, and waited until his mom answered the phone.

“Mom, we’re at the store. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“What’s going on there, honey? It sounds like a mob scene.”

“It’s fine. I’ll be there soon,” he said and ended the call.

The store manager was now attempting to disperse the crowd. “They have places to go too. C’mon. Let’s let them by.” He was also kind enough to open a checkstand just for them, and he walked them out to the parking lot to make sure they got in their cars and away safely.

They pulled into Drew’s driveway less than five minutes later. Drew got out of the driver’s seat and regarded his teammates. “That was interesting.”

“I’ll say.” Derrick waved the register tape at Seth. “We’ll settle up later. Let’s go eat Drew’s mama out of house and home.”

DREW NOTED THINGS seemed a little less tense between his parents than they had been before he’d left for the team hotel last night, but going out with his teammates later was probably out. His dad was back to calling his mother “babe,” and she let him have the spatula to lick after she frosted the chocolate cake. Drew managed to distract Derrick and Seth from this fact. He didn’t need the two of them in the kitchen badgering his mom to let them lick the mixer bowl. He really needed to make sure his mom and dad at least talked about their differences before he took them to the airport tomorrow. He loved his parents, but he needed a few freaking days of peace and quiet.

Drew’s mom took a look at the label on the wine Seth bought and called out, “Honey, are you sure about this? This stuff’s pretty expensive.”

“I bought it, Mrs. McCoy,” Seth said. “It had a ninety-nine from Wine Spectator. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

Bonnie shook her head. “You boys need to learn the words table wine,” but she laughed as she said it.

It seemed like an eternity since he’d awoken in Kendall’s bed, and it had been less than a week. He’d sent her a text the other day:

I can’t stop thinking about you, either.

She hadn’t answered. Maybe she’d counted the cost of continuing involvement with him. He knew he was out of his mind to persist at all; his career would go on, but he worried about hers. What kind of shit would he be if he got her in serious trouble at the office over the party in his pants?

Derrick and Seth were attempting to teach his dad how to play Call of Duty. Drew walked into the kitchen and sat down on one of the bar stools in front of his kitchen island.

“Mom, is there anything I can do to help you out?”

“Why don’t you carry a few of these things to the table for me?”

She indicated a napkin-wrapped basket of bread, the big bowl of salad, and the bowl of mashed potatoes crowned with a big pat of melting butter on top. His stomach rumbled. He missed his mom’s home cooking, and the laughter and teasing between himself and his brother and sisters when they got together for Sunday dinner in Wisconsin when he was on the offseason. She was transferring a gigantic roast from the pan she’d cooked it in to a platter when she glanced up and grinned at him. “It’s a good thing I got the big piece of meat, honey. I’m afraid there won’t be a lot of leftovers.”

“That’s okay, Mom. I’ll have to fly home on the bye week so we can have dinner again.”

He carried the bowls and the bread basket to the dining room table. The wine was already opened and waiting for them. If he offered to pay their plane fare, he wondered if his family would be willing to visit over Thanksgiving weekend this year. He had to play on Thanksgiving, but he would be happy to make himself a turkey sandwich with the dinner leftovers when he came home to a house full of his family members.

One of the few drawbacks to playing in the NFL was the fact holidays weren’t celebrated on the day they happened for most players, who were far from family and friends six months a year. It was a price to pay, but after retirement, he’d make up for all the Thanksgivings and Christmas mornings he missed with his family.

The four men ate until they couldn’t hold any more. Drew’s mom beamed as Derrick shoved his chair back, patted his belly, and said, “Thank you so much, Miss Bonnie. I can’t eat another bite.”

“There’s chocolate cake for dessert,” his mother enticed.

“Well, maybe one more bite,” Derrick said. Drew’s mom reached out to pat him on the cheek. To Drew’s amazement, Derrick blushed and smiled at her like he was five years old or so.

“Where’s your mama and grandma tonight?”

“They’re having dinner at their pastor’s house.”

Seth let out a snort.

“You didn’t want to go?” Bonnie asked.

Derrick glanced down at the table. “This is much more enjoyable,” he said.

Drew’s dad hid his grin behind a napkin.

“Mrs. McCoy, thank you so much for the delicious dinner. Would you like some help with the dishes?” Seth said.

“You boys are so sweet, but I can handle it,” his mother said. Four men stood up from their chairs when she got to her feet.

“No, Mom,” Drew said. “You go relax. We’ll handle the dishes, and then we can have some dessert.”

The guys stacked the dirty dishes, cleared off leftovers, and loaded the dishwasher while Drew’s mom perched on a bar stool at the kitchen island and directed traffic. Even Drew’s dad got in on the action, which he was pleased to see. A few minutes after the last leftovers went into the refrigerator and the dishwasher came on, Bonnie started a pot of coffee, brought out the cake, and sliced large portions for her husband, her son, and his friends.

“Does anyone want some ice cream?” she asked, wielding a big spoon.

“Yes, please.”

“Yes, babe.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Derrick grinned at her. “Will you adopt me?”

“You have a mama and a grandma. I know they spoil you.”

“I can always use more spoiling,” Derrick said.

She handed the cake and ice cream around, cut a much smaller piece of cake for herself, and sat down on the big sectional couch in Drew’s family room.

Seth put his plate down on the coffee table in front of him and pulled the chirping phone out of his pocket. He handed the phone to Derrick.

“They’re all at Element Lounge,” Seth said.

“There’s a gigantic piece of home-baked chocolate cake with my name on it,” Derrick told him. “They can wait.”

Drew knew Derrick and Seth weren’t going to want to hang out with his parents all night no matter how much food his mom made for them. Sure enough, half an hour later, Derrick carried his plate and coffee cup to the kitchen sink.

“We hate to eat and run, but we’re going to eat and run,” he told Drew’s mom. “Thank you so much for a wonderful dinner.”

Seth wrapped his arms around Bonnie. “It’s the best dinner I’ve had since my mom made me dinner last week,” he assured her. She laughed out loud.

“That’s a pretty big compliment, Seth,” she said.

“You’ll take me in when my mom gets sick of me, right?” Seth said.

“Of course. You’re both welcome.”

“D. Want to go with us tonight?”

Typically, he would. He’d have a drink or two, dance with some beautiful women, and goof around with his teammates, but tonight, he needed to find out if his mom and dad had officially made up before they went back to Wisconsin in the morning.