Jayden then nodded his head before grabbing a towel to head to the showers. Markus could only watch. He was dumbfounded. Completely and utterly speechless. He knew they had things to do after practice, wedding things, but he was still completely taken aback by what just happened. He was going to start. He thought he would come up, be third or fourth line, but no, that wasn’t the case. He was going to start.

Holy mother of God.

When the door opened, stopping Jayden, Markus moved his head out to see who it was.

It was Mrs. Adler.

“Jayden! How’s Dawson?”

Markus couldn’t see Jayden’s face, but by the way Elli grinned, he was sure Jayden was beaming. “He’s great. Getting bigger by the second.”

“I need to see him. Stat.”

“I will call Baylor and tell her to head to your house.”

“Good boy,” she said, tapping his arm before moving past him, a grin still on her dark purple lips. Everyone smiled, waving and asking how she was, how the kids were, which she answered with the country flourish only Elli Adler had.

“Is Shea getting fatter?” Anderson teased, and Elli scoffed.

“Now, we both know that isn’t true.”

“I don’t know. I think he’s getting lazy.”

“I’m telling him you said that,” she warned, and Anderson stopped laughing.

“Please don’t. Please,” he begged, and this time, it was Elli who was laughing as she made a quick detour to where Markus was sitting.

“Okay, so I suck.”

With his eyes wide, he stood. Just to play off his nerves, he said, “You suck? Never.”

Elli waved him off, and that’s when he noticed a large envelope in her hands. “You’re too sweet,” she gushed, grinning up at him. “I heard you kicked some major ass today.”

Markus beamed. “I think I did.”

“Awesome. I’m superexcited, I feel good. I feel enthusiastic, like something is about to go down, and I can’t wait. But anyway…” she said, shaking the envelope in her hands toward his face. “This is yours. I forgot to give it to you earlier. It’s your welcome packet. It has the hotel voucher in it in case you want to use it, and then your team card that you signed for and own. Some other things, too. Everything is explained to you in the welcome letter.”

“Oh, thank you, but I’m staying with Jayden,” he said, reaching for it, and Elli smiled.

“Well, hopefully, we can sign ya on for good, and we can get you some good housing,” she said with a little wiggle. “At least, I’m hoping to God so!”

“Me too,” Markus said, holding his packet in his hand.

While he hated doubting his new boss, he couldn’t help but wonder if they wanted to wait until after this practice to see his performance. Could this have been his only practice…? Wait, no, he couldn’t do that. He was in. He was doing great, and he’d continue to do so. He’d impress, he had to, he couldn’t fail. He had already failed at so much.

6. Free therapy, three times a week. (Mental health is important!)

What the ever-loving fuck! Why was he thinking that?

Shaking his head free of the thought, he laid his packet down and then sat down beside it, his heart in his throat. His thoughts scared him. He didn’t need this right now. He was on the fast track to his dreams, though he couldn’t help but think about number six.

About maybe getting some help.

For what, though? He didn’t need help.

Or did he?

“I really appreciate this.”

Jace flashed Mekena a grin as Ashlyn climbed up his shoulder, wrapping her small arms around his neck, gnawing on his chin as he worked the key into the door of her cabin. “Of course, I’m glad you’re staying on the property with us. Makes Avery happy.”

Struggling to hold Mr. Right, she nodded. “Yeah, me too.”

She almost cried out in relief when the door finally opened. She knew it was rude to push by a man holding a baby, but her cat weighed a ton. Placing him on the couch, she regretted not leaving him with her mom, but she just knew he would die from the diet her mother would put him on. No, she and Mr. Right would work it out. They would figure out a way to lose the weight, together, as a family.

And hopefully, neither one killed the other.

Shaking out her arms, she looked up to Jace, who was laughing. “Heavy?”

“No, not at all.”

He gave her a knowing look that she promptly ignored while looking around the roomy cabin. The cabin was very rustic which matched the scenery outside. It was on the grounds, back in the back woods that surrounded the big mansion where Lucy and Benji would be marrying. It was a good hour from downtown, but Mekena thought the drive in was perfect, and the cabin didn’t disappoint. It was huge, two bedrooms, a full kitchen and a dining area, along with a sitting room. She knew it was a leftover because some aunt of Lucy’s and her family couldn’t come, and Mekena was thankful. There was no way she could stay at her mother’s house with her there.

Turning to the cat carrier, she opened it, allowing Mr. Right to exit, but he didn’t move. “Come on, sugar butt, let’s go. You can come out.”

He didn’t even open his eyes.

Rolling her eyes at the laughter coming from behind her, she turned to see her best friend’s husband grinning. “He must be worn out.”

“Yeah, that’s it,” he teased, handing her a key. “Okay, so you’re good? I gotta go meet Avery and my mom for dinner, and then we’re all meeting at the bar. I was told to make sure you go.”

She tucked the key into her pocket and nodded. “Yeah, Avery already told me. Have fun. I’m gonna get settled, and then I’ll meet y’all over there,” she said, but then she paused. By the door was a backpack and a pair of tennis shoes. Pointing to them, she glanced back to Jace. “Whose is that? Is someone staying here?”

He shook his head, looking down at the stuff. “No, this is the key Benji gave me for the extra cabin. I don’t know whose that is.”

She eyed it. “Should you take it?”

He gave her a confused look. “Why would I take it?”

“What if it’s some killer’s, and when he comes back, he thinks I’m stealing his stuff and kills me?”

“Then you’ll be dead. So don’t answer the door,” he said dryly as he pulled Ashlyn off his neck and tucked her up under his arm like a football. “Call me if he shows up.”