Megan felt like a shrimp with Chris's family. She was average height, but Chris and his dad were both over six feet tall, and Sharon was at least five eight or five nine flat-footed, and she wore heels when she dressed up.
Reached up, Megan touched the gold colored fabric around Chris's neck, signifying that he now held a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science, and smiled up at him. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” He returned her smile. “Next May it'll be your turn. I'll be your escort and hood you.”
Her breath caught for a moment, and she dropped her eyes back to the hood at his throat. “You might not be able to, though. You might be busy with the team.”
Chris had done well at the Regional Combines in Phoenix and gotten an invite to the Super Regional. He'd been drafted the week before in the sixth round by the Washington Mountain Lions. He was ecstatic, and they'd celebrated with a party with everyone who mattered that weekend. They’d decided to have their own private celebration and were leaving Monday for a week away together at a cabin in the woods now that he'd graduated. It was a little one-bedroom luxury cabin with all the amenities, including a hot tub. Its isolation made it perfect. No roommates or other distractions, just time to spend together. Since they would be doing the long-distance thing starting in July when Chris left for training camp, they wanted to capitalize on any and all time together that they could.
With a finger under her chin, he tilted her face up so she looked him in the eye again. “It'll be the off-season. I'll be back as soon as my team's done for the season. Even if we go all the way to the Super Bowl, I'll be home by Valentine's Day. You're not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Megan, you know you can come stay with us when he has home games so you can go see him,” put in Mike, drawing her attention.
Sharon nodded enthusiastically. “Of course. We won't take no for an answer.”
Megan smiled. “Okay.”
They made their way to the line for finger foods and cookies, chatting about Chris getting drafted. It was still such a new thing that it seemed surreal.
Megan had just filled her plate and was turning away from the table when Mike stepped next to her. “So, Chris tells me you had a solo art show at a local gallery recently.”
Nodding, Megan held her hand in front of her mouth while she finished chewing and swallowing. “Yes. It went really well, actually. My advisor set it up with a friend of hers who owns a small gallery downtown. I sold about half of my paintings, and have a couple commissions for more.”
She’d managed to follow through with the idea she’d had at the beginning of the year when she saw all the shirtless football players at the party. The studies in the lines of the body and contrasting skin tones had done very well. Chris and Matt and some of their friends had helped, posing for her along with some of the figure models she knew from her classes. She’d felt like an anatomy illustrator while she worked, but the end result was stunning according to all her professors.
Mike's eyes widened in admiration. “Wow. That's great.” He leaned closer, his voice lowering. “Chris told us about the falling out with your parents. I hope you know that we'll be there for you the way families should.” He straightened up. “Let us know when you have another show. Sharon and I would love to come. Especially next fall when Chris won't be able to attend as easily.”
Forcing a smile at him, Megan blinked rapidly to hold back her tears. She'd never known how it felt to have parents who supported her choices. How nice it must have been for Chris to grow up with that. They were happy that he'd graduated at all and didn’t care that his GPA was average or that he didn't get any honors. Her parents were disappointed with just about every choice she'd made since high school. When he'd told his parents about pursuing his dream of playing for the NFL, they'd offered to pay for his airfare to get to the Regional Combines. His dad had even flown down to support him at the Super Regional, not wanting him to go through the entire process alone.
Sharon joined them while Chris chatted with some of his former teammates who’d also graduated. “What are we talking about?”
“Megan's art shows,” Mike answered.
Sharon's face brightened, her blue eyes lighting up. “Oh, yes. I saw your paintings at the house. They're wonderful. Chris said your show went really well. Do you have another one lined up yet?”
Her mouth full again, Megan shook her head.
“Well, tell us when you do. And when you come visit, I'll see if I can introduce you to my client who owns an art gallery in Bremerton. She's always on the lookout for new talent.” Sharon worked as a CPA, and she had clients all over the Kitsap Peninsula according to Chris.
Megan's heart fluttered. Who would've guessed that her boyfriend's parents would help her art career. “Thank you. That would be amazing. I don't know when we'll be over that way next, but I'll make a special effort to come if you set that up.”
Sharon waved a hand like it was no big deal. “Of course. Anything we can do to help. I'll send Janice an email later and see when she has openings she needs to fill.”
Megan was blown away. Never had anyone just randomly offered her support and connections like this. Her art professors helped and supported her, but that was expected. Since her own parents didn't support her art pursuits, she didn't expect anyone else's parents to do so, much less offer to connect her with someone who could help advance her career.
Although, Megan's mom had come to her show. Alone. They'd spoken briefly, and neither of them had mentioned Megan's father. It was clear from her mom's attitude that he still wasn't acknowledging her. Her mom hadn't stayed long, but it was something, and Megan recognized it for the olive branch it was. Her mom had started calling a few times a month to check in since Thanksgiving. Their conversations were short and only happened when Megan's dad wasn't home, but it was more contact than they'd had for almost a year prior to that. Megan appreciated the strength it took for her mom to go against her dad's wishes. She couldn't think of a time when that had ever happened before.
Her relationship with her brothers had stayed about the same—occasional phone calls on birthdays and major holidays. The big difference was that now they'd stopped trying to convince her to listen to their parents and at least refrained from commenting when she'd tell them about her art shows. Logan had seemed impressed with her successes the last time they'd talked.
They stayed at the reception for another hour or so before heading back to the house she and Chris still shared with Matt so Chris could change out of his graduation regalia before they all went out for dinner to celebrate. Chris's parents went to their hotel to freshen up a little.
After tossing his cap and gown on the couch, Chris pulled Megan in for a kiss. "I can't believe this is going to be my last summer in this house," he said when he broke away. “We'll have to look for a place together before I go to training camp. That way Matt can get his own place, too.”
Megan gave him a coy smile. “What if Matt and I are planning on staying roommates?”
Chris's hands on her sides tightened possessively, and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Huh-uh. Nope. You're my little roomie, and I can't wait until we don't have to share a place with anyone else. And with my signing bonus and the salary for next season we can get a nice place for us.”
The smile slid off of Megan's face. She smoothed the placket of the black button-down shirt he'd worn under his regalia. “I still feel weird letting you pay for it all yourself.”
He sighed. “We already went over this. You need to save your money for school, especially since you won't let me help with that. I want to rent a place for us to stay together. I'd be renting a place here to be able to be with you anyway. This way you won't have to find another roommate. It's the most sensible thing to do, and it makes me happy.”
His grin was infectious, bringing a smile to her face, but only for a moment before she grew serious once more. “It's going to be hard having you gone for so long.”
He
wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her more tightly against him. “I know. But it's only for like six months, and we'll see each other as often as we can. I'll come back once the season's over, and we'll be together here until you're done with school. Then we’ll get a place in Seattle. You can build more contacts and paint while I play football.”
She nodded. They'd been talking about this ever since he got drafted. It was a good plan. She liked their plan. She was just nervous because everything was changing so much. This was her first serious relationship and the stress of being long distance, even if only for a fairly short period of time, would be a big strain. Chris believed they could do it, and things had been great between them so far, so she had no reason to doubt.
With a sigh, Megan leaned her head against him. Things were changing, but it was for the better. Matt had a great new job and a steady girlfriend—finally—Lance and Abby were great together—which gave her hope for her and Chris because if Lance and Abby could do it, then why couldn't she and Chris?—and she was already starting to grow her brand as an artist. Chris was pursuing his dream of playing professional football. Things were falling into place. And she had the love and support of the sweetest guy she'd ever dated and his parents on top of that.
She lifted her face to Chris, and he smiled down at her before pressing his lips to hers.
It had taken a while to get here, but she was finally getting everything she'd always wanted.
* * *
Matt’s story is up next. It’s a second-chance romance where he comes unexpectedly face to face with the girl he fell hard for one summer a few years ago.
Want to read the story of that first summer together before you dive in?
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ALWAYS YOU
CHAPTER ONE
Hannah straightened her burgundy blazer and stiffened her spine, the cold January air making her shiver as it slid through the door closing behind her. She steeled herself with a deep breath before approaching the receptionist who sat behind a large desk, her red hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, black rimmed glasses perched on her nose contrasting sharply with her pale skin. The receptionist glanced up and gave a polite smile. “May I help you?”
Giving a nervous smile in return, Hannah nodded. “Hi. Yes. I’m Hannah Glover. I start my internship today.”
“Welcome to Eco Utilities. I’m Alice. Let me know if you need any help with anything. I know it can be intimidating when you’re starting somewhere new, but everyone here is great. You’ll have your HR orientation first, then they’ll take you to your department where you’ll meet your mentor.” She gave directions to the HR meeting room on the second floor before glancing at the clock. “You better hurry! The meeting starts in about five minutes, and you don’t want to be late!”
Hannah gave her another smile, more genuine this time. “Thank you!” She hurried to the stairs Alice had indicated and took them two at a time. Sucking in another deep breath at the top of the stairs in a futile attempt to calm her racing heart, she held up her head and walked to the meeting room, faking the confidence she didn’t feel.
And stopped in the doorway with her heart slamming in her chest. The tingly feeling in her stomach that had been there all morning turned into full-on butterflies rioting in her abdomen. It seemed like everyone could see her chest moving from the strength of her heartbeat, and her skin must be writhing from the butterflies going crazy inside her.
“Excuse me.” A male voice behind her brought her out of her daze. She took a step into the room and another to the side, turning her head to look at the newcomer.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled and made her way to a chair where she kept staring at the man who’d made her stop in her tracks.
It was him. Matt. Her Matt.
He had shorter hair now, his face free of the stubble he’d worn when she’d known him before, his skin paler in the winter, without the tan glow of summer. He’d filled out more in the intervening years, his shoulders broader than she remembered under his white button-down shirt. Of course it had been three years since the summer they spent together. In some ways it felt like a lifetime ago, in others it seemed as fresh as if it had happened last summer.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him, wondering how his pecs and abs now compared to her memories. If the light fuzz of hair across his chest and in a line down the center of his belly had darkened or thickened in the last few years. What it would feel like to run her hands over him again with the freedom she used to have.
All they’d had was one summer when she’d just turned eighteen—meeting a week before her birthday. He’d been nineteen. Two perfect months that she’d spent with her best friend Elena’s family in Westport, Washington. Elena’s parents had gotten a vacation rental and taken the girls and Elena’s brother. Hannah had met Matt one day on the beach where he was teaching a small group how to surf. She’d approached him afterward, asking about surf lessons for herself, and he’d invited her to a party that night.
They’d spent the days on the beach, the evenings around fires, and more time than she’d ever thought possible in each other’s arms. He’d been her first, and she’d ended up comparing everyone since then to him.
Half in love with him by the end of the summer, she’d been crushed when he hadn’t stayed in touch. She’d emailed him for a while, but he only responded a few times, and eventually she stopped. Only Elena knew that he was the reason she’d decided to attend Marycliff. It had a great business program, and she’d gotten an academic scholarship, so her parents had never questioned her decision.
She’d never contacted him after she got to Marycliff, though. The fear of rejection too powerful, the feelings she maintained about their summer romance too precious to her to risk trying to make more out of it, especially when he hadn’t displayed any continuing interest before. No, she’d moved on and dated other guys, keeping herself busy with school and volunteer work. She hadn’t thought about Matt in a long time, and seeing him again shocked her, the feelings she’d had for him before rising up like they’d never left.
She supposed they hadn’t.
As she waited for him to look up from the papers he was arranging, she couldn’t decide if she wanted him to recognize her or not. She looked different now with shorter hair. And she’d matured in the intervening years as well. With a tiny shake of her head, she resigned herself to the reality that he probably wouldn’t recognize her. She obviously hadn’t meant as much to him as he had to her.
Forcing herself to look away, she reached under her chair to pull a pen out of her bag. One thing all jobs had in common was paperwork on the first day. An internship, even an unpaid one, wouldn’t be any different. She’d have to fill out paperwork to get credit for her program.
When she looked up again, her eyes locked with Matt’s. He stared at her for a beat, and she couldn’t tell if it meant he’d figured out who she was, or if he just thought she looked familiar and was trying to place her. It only lasted a moment, his brows drawing together, but then he shook his head like he was shaking himself out of a trance. Face clear, he started the meeting.
Well, that was that. From the way he went on like she was just another intern, she had to assume he didn’t recognize her. For all she knew, he was just checking her out since there were only two female interns in the room. The other three were guys. She didn’t know any of them. She’d hoped maybe one of her classmates from her other business classes might be here, but no such luck.
Matt cleared his throat. “I’m Matt Schwartz. I’m your intern manager. You’ll each be paired with a mentor in your department who you’ll work with directly, but they’ll send their evaluations to me. And I’m here to help you with anything you need. If you’re having trouble with your department, or you’re only getting assigned grunt work instead of actually learning, come find me, and I’ll meet with your
department head to get it worked out. You’re here to learn new skills and get experience, not to memorize everyone’s coffee order.”
They all chuckled, relaxing while he continued.
“Alright, since I won’t be seeing you every day, this is my chance to put your faces with your names. I’d like to go around the room and have you all introduce yourselves. We’ll do the standard college student questions: what’s your name, where are you from, and what’s your major? We’ll also add in what you hope to get from the internship.”
Hannah smiled despite herself, surprised to be enjoying an HR presentation. When her turn came, Matt kept his polite, neutral look in place, not even looking like he might recognize her at all. A wave of disappointment washed over her. Wow. It stung that he had no idea who she was, no memory of her, when she’d cared so much about him once. And she’d thought he cared about her. Too caught up in her own head, she didn’t even register anyone else’s name.
Thirty minutes after the round of introductions, the head of HR came in and distributed paperwork for them to fill out before taking them on a tour of the offices to find their assigned departments. Hannah felt eyes on her as she followed the others out of the room, and turned her head in time to see Matt staring at her, his expression unreadable. Well, if he didn’t remember her, she didn’t feel the need to help him out, so she just gave him a polite smile and left the room.
The rest of the afternoon went by in a whirlwind, keeping her busy and distracted so she didn’t continue to obsess about Matt. She spent most of her time being a gopher—getting coffee and taking files between people. Even though Matt had said she should be doing meaningful work instead of just fetching and carrying, it was only the first day. She wasn’t going to complain already. One of the marketing assistants took her around for the first hour, introducing her to everyone and getting her oriented to the office area, and she met Sandra, who would be her mentor.
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