a/n: here's the next part. hope you like it.
The rest of the week sort of blended together, but in a good way. If I ignored the stuff about the Landing Strip, the only new part of my life was Luke. It was nice, the whole having a boyfriend thing. Neither of us was really the clingy type, but we still hung out a lot. I'll admit it was a little awkward spending time with the football guys sometimes, just like I could tell he was a little out of his element around Ella and Julie. My favorite was when we were alone. I know what that sounds like, but most of the time we just talked. It was the best of both worlds being alone with Luke. We were so new to each other that every story or memory was new too. But at the same time, it felt like I'd known him forever.
There was no game that Friday night so the post game party just became the lack of game party. Matt was over at the Taylor's, so I offered to watch Grandma for a while so he could stay over there for dinner. I called Ella and Luke to let them know I couldn't make the party for a while. Ella gave me her usual "wet blanket" speech before telling me to bring Grandma to the party. Luke didn't seem that upset. "Coach is making us have early practice tomorrow since we don't have a game tonight. Probably shouldn't be out partying anyways."
"Look at you Mr. Responsible." I said.
"Yep. That's me. Hey make sure and tell your grandmother I say hello." He said.
"I would but she's taking a nap. She actually had physical therapy today so she's probably out for the night." I thought for a second. "Yup. Matty's gone and Grandma's asleep. Sure is boring all by myself."
"Is that right?" Luke asked. "Well what do you think about me coming over to keep you company?"
"Hmmm that sounds so much better than any stupid party."
"Well then I'll see you in about 20 minutes." As soon as we hung up I started to pick up the living room. It wasn't until I was done clearing off Grandma's magazines that I thought about my room. I'd never invited a guy into my bedroom before and I wasn't sure I was ready now. What if he expected something else? I went and sat on the porch to get some air until he showed up.
"Hey." Luke said.
"Hi." I said and gave him a kiss. "Come on in."
"Smells good in here." He said sitting on the couch.
"Oh I made chilli for dinner." I explained. "But Grandma ate at physical therapy and Matty's at the Taylor's so there's a ton left. You want some? I got some cornbread to go with it."
"Sure." He smiled. "Sounds great." I made him a plate and couldn't help feeling a little proud at the "mmm" sounds he kept making. The nervous feeling about my room faded away as we sat entwined on the couch and watched tv. I felt so comfortable that I leaned over and kissed him deep.
"Lydia." He jumped back. "What about your grandmother?"
"She's asleep." I said. "It's fine."
"I don't know Lyd." I almost laughed at how reversed this situation was playing out from what I'd been worried about. It didn't take much more effort on my part before Luke was on board and kissing my neck. We were getting pretty hot and heavy and I guess I didn't hear the front door.
"Hey y'a- Oh!"
"Shelby!" I said surprised and got off of Luke.
"I was just- I was driving by and I remembered I had some stuff I wanted to bring Lorraine. Some samples from the salon." She said still standing in the doorway.
"Oh that's um, that's nice of you. This is Luke. Luke this is Shelby, she's my, uh, my mother." I couldn't read her expression. Was she pissed? Was that a hint of a smile?
"G-good to meet you ma'am." Luke said, redder than his lions jersey.
"Mmhmm you too." She said, but never took her eyes off me. "Matt home?"
"He's over at the Taylor's for dinner." I told her.
She looked around. "Looks like he missed out on your chilli Lydia."
"We've got a lot left." I said getting up. "I can fix you a bowl."
"That's alright Sugar." She said heading for the door and I felt myself relax a little. "I was just passing thru. Oh but you know what?" She stopped and turned back. "Could you do me a favor, Luke?"
"Uh sure." He said, uneasily.
"If you could try and not get my daughter pregnant, that'd be just great. I feel way to young to be a Memaw."
I almost choked as Luke now turned beet red. "Oh yes ma'am. I-I mean no ma'am. 'Course not."
"Alright then." She smiled. " Y'all have a good night."
"Oh my gosh." I said burying my head into the couch when she was gone. "I'm so so sorry Luke. I'm so embarrassed."
"You're embarrassed?" He said. "That was my first impression on your mother. Your brother already thinks I'm a spazz and now your mother thinks I'm a slimeball."
"She doesn't really. That's just how Shelby is." I explained. "She's just sort of figuring this whole 'mom' thing out, but mostly she's like an older Ella."
"Oh great." He said sarcastically. "I don't think I have it in me for 2 Ella's busting my chops all the time. Downright scary."
I smiled "You don't mind a 300 pound kid running at you full speed, but you're scared of my mother and my best friend."
"I'm not scared." He said, looking so much like a 4 year old I couldn't stop a smile.
"Of course you're not." I said kissing his cheek.
"No way." He said pulling away. "I'm not getting caught again."
"Oh yeah you're totally not scared." I said sarcastically. "Look Shelby's not coming back, Grandma's out cold and my brother's probably busy making out with Julie Taylor…And now that you've made me put that image in my mind, the least you can do is kiss me."
"You're mighty persuasive when you want to be." He said leaning in. Right before our lips touched he stopped.
"What?"
He swallowed. "So tomorrow after practice we're getting our rally girls."
"Oh." I said in my most "I totally don't care" voice.
"Yeah." Luke said uncomfortably. "And well most of the guys, they just get whatever girl picks their number."
"And they say chivalry is dead." I said not quite under my breath.
"But see its kind of an unwritten rule that the guys are allowed to trade if they have a girlfriend and didn't get her."
I was suddenly all too aware of where this conversation was heading. "Look Luke-"
"I know you're not exactly the biggest fan of rally girls." He said, making the biggest understatement ever. There was a time I'd wanted to be a cheerleader, but even then I wasn't all for the rally girls. They were like football groupies. It seemed so pathetic. "But I'm not saying I want you to do all the normal rally girl crap. I wouldn't ask you to decorate my locker or bake me cookies on game days."
"Then what's the point of me doing it?" I asked.
"Cause you're the only one I want to see wearin' my number." He said. I actually wanted to hit him for being so perfect. It made it almost impossible to say no.
"Alright, Mr. Smooth-talker I guess I'm not the only one who can be persuasive."