Page 80 of Rain Delay

“They remember me as the girl who stopped talking to them entirely five years ago because I was scared they hated me.” She mutters quietly, her eyes searching mine, wide and vulnerable. “What if they think this is a big mistake? What if they think–”

“Stop,” I cut her off. “My mom asks about you all the time, actually. She doesn’t blame you for what happened. She blames me.” I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “And my dad? I’m just glad he’s out of the house and not focusing on whatever football stats are racking his brain.” I chuckle.

“Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been more positive about something, El. I’m not letting anyone – not my parents, my younger brother, my sister, no one – mess this up. I’ve told you we’re in this together and I’m going to stick by that.”

“Okay,” she breathed. “Let’s go.”

We walked over to my family together. My mom was the first to turn around, her eyes falling to our joined hands, then to Eliana’s face.

“Eliana Romano,” my mom said, her voice thick. She didn’t wait for a formal introduction. She stepped forward and pulled Eliana into a hug that looked like she’d been waiting years to give her. “About time my son gained some sense.”

I glance over at my dad. He had looked out to the field, and then looked back at me. He just gave me a slow, measured nod. In terms of my dad and how he acts, that was a good sign.

“Hey, no.” I say, laughing. “This isn’t the roast Wyatt session.”

“Right, we should save that for the dinner table,” Eliana adds, smiling over at me and then back at my mom. I could see the tension that had been building on her shoulders fall off as she settled into some sense of peace.

“I was a little surprised at first when he told me you were the one he was working with this season,” Mom mentions to Eliana. “Thought it was some sort of prank he was pulling on me.”

I shake my head. “I know better than to mess with you like that, Ma.” I tell her, fixing my hat.

“I’m glad that it’s you, though, El. Keep him in line. Whip him into shape.” Ma laughs, putting her arm around my shoulder. “You know I love messing with my boy, it’s all in good fun.”

I roll my eyes, watching as Eliana gets a kick out of this. She was loving this. She loved seeing me get picked on.

My mom and Eliana talked for a little bit more before it was time to get ready for the game. I needed to get in my zone, and Eliana had to get back to business as usual.

I stole a couple of glances of her during the pre-game show, and every time, she was smiling small at me before holding her camera to her eye, capturing snapshots of me that would probably end up on social media. Ones only the two of us knew the backstory behind.

DINNER was less chaotic than I thought it would be. It was a beautiful blur of passed plates and overlapping stories as everyone tried to get a word in. That’s how our family was – everyone always wanted to have the last word. But the moment I stood up to clear some plates, my mom was right there beside me.

“Come help me clean up dishes,” Mom says, her voice warm but firm. “Let the girls and dad gossip for a bit.”

The kitchen was quiet in comparison to the dining room. As I set the plates in the sink, I had this sinking feeling of nerves take over my body. My mom was always real with me, she saw how I’d been the last five years. She saw how I broke myself down, and how I was trying to work on gluing the pieces back together.

“You’re quiet tonight,” she observed. “Are you waiting for something else to drop?”

I paused, looking over at her. “Not…Really? I mean, a lot has changed, and I just want to make sure I’m doing this right this time.”

Mom stepped closer, reaching out to squeeze my forearm. Her touch was steady, it had this sense of love and safety with it. “I told you this the day you decided to end everything you’d regret this decision until your dying day. I know you thought you were being noble, trying to be this hero in the situation – trying to ‘free’ Eliana from this life I know she would’ve killed to have.”

She shook her head, a small, sad smile playing on her lips. “You were a fool, Wyatt. And I’ll be the first one to tell you that. However, watching you have to navigate this new life, having to learn things the hard way, watch you get the wins, the accolades. That’s the Wyatt I know and raised.”

She paused, tilting her head toward the sound of Eliana’s laughter coming from the next room – The genuine, loving laugh I loved hearing.

“The man that sat at the table tonight? That’s the boy I raised,” she whispered. “You’re not just recovering from the injury you endured. You’re also recovering from a hit to your soul. You learn, and you grow from your mistakes.”

“Mom, I –”

“Don’t,” she interrupted gently. “I’m telling you all of this because I don’t want you to screw this up again. You have an amazing woman in Eliana. She knows how to deal with you. She knows everything there is to know about you. Probably more than I do, but she’s what you need for stability in your life.”

I nodded, looking her straight in the eyes. “I realize that. I’ve been making up for lost time, and I’m terrified of losing her again, Ma.” I admit, the guilt was eating at me as I spewed those words out.

She gave my shoulders a motherly squeeze. “I know, Wy-guy. I also know you’ve grown up since then. You’ve grown into a talented, successful, and smart young man. I know you’ll make the right decision this time.”

I huff out a laugh, nodding again at her. “I’m not fucking up twice, that’s for sure.”