Last year, Mark was at the heart of the rumors in the press, but this year it’s Brian and me. A bunch of guys on the team have reached out to show their support, but it’s the ones who have been silent that I’ll be expecting any potential issues to come from next season.
Assuming Brian and I will be playing for the Bandits next season. Rumors are swirling now, talking about shakeups in the Bandits organization, especially since Wendell announced his retirement as well. Though Mike Brady seemed to be on our side, there are no guarantees about what will happen.
Coach gave us a heads-up that there would be some news coming down the pipeline sometime today or tomorrow, whichis why I’m taking Brian on a special adventure to keep our minds off it.
“Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?” Brian asks from the passenger seat.
He’s been looking out at the snow-dusted fields for the last hour of our drive. I got off the highway early so he wouldn’t suspect exactly where we were going.
“Trust me?”
He rests his hand on my thigh. “Always.”
It’s wild to me that it’s only been a month and a half since we finally crossed the line and admitted our feelings. I’m still a little mad it took me so long to realize the depth of my feelings, but I’m trying to see the time before that as us building our foundation.
And that foundation is strong. I’m the first to admit I wasn’t a relationship guy before this. I always trusted the process and assumed when it was right, I’d know. Nothing has ever been more right than being by Brian’s side. I never have to question how he feels about me or where I stand with him. I want him to always feel the same.
The navigation tells me we’re almost there, so I slow down and flick my turn signal on, pulling into a driveway with a for sale sign at the end.
The bottom part of the driveway is nothing to write home about… it’s a little overgrown and the mailbox is plain, but as I drive up farther, we pass through open wrought-iron gates and the large house comes into view.
The winding driveway has two paths, one that leads to a semi-circle in front of the house, and the other that leads to a garage attached to the far side of the house. I take the semicircle option and pull up behind another car.
Brian’s looking around at everything as I shut the car off, his expression pensive.
His eyes are locked on the stone walkway and steps and the wooden front door as he silently climbs out of the car.
I follow him, a smile growing on my face. He already loves the vibe of the place, and he hasn’t seen the inside yet. Not that I’m totally surprised. I asked Frannie and Hallie’s mom to keep an eye out for any home upstate with lots of room and plenty of property for gardens. When she sent this one to me the morning of the Super Bowl, I made the appointment right away.
If we lost, this could be a consolation. If we won, it would be a celebration. I wasn’t planning on a distraction, but it works for that too.
The house is a traditional-style country estate. Not gaudy and overwhelming with endless park-like lawns surrounding it. It’s beautiful with clapboard siding, stone walkways, and trees and shrubs surrounding it. The land around the house is covered with a mix of wildflower meadows and trees. Except for the space behind the house, which Brian hasn’t seen yet. It’s the part I know he’s going to love.
The house is older and some parts are in minor to moderate disrepair, but the beauty and charm of it is all here.
“Where are we?” Brian murmurs, looking around. “I know this is for sale, but… where?”
“Just outside of Ida. About fifteen minutes from Frannie and Mark’s apartment and Hallie and Wilson’s house, and twenty-five ish minutes from Justin and Jade.”
The large front door swings open, and I take Brian’s hand as the realtor steps out and smiles at us, her light brown bob framing her face as she walks down the two stone front steps.
“Mr. Hardison?”
“That’s me,” I say, offering her my hand. “And this is my partner, Brian Ackley.”
“It’s lovely to meet you,” she says, shaking Brian’s hand. “I’m Jan. When I spoke to Cheyenne Baker, she had wonderful thingsto say about you. I’m thrilled to finally show off this gorgeous home. Unfortunately, there aren’t many people in this area in the market for a house this big with fifty-five acres of land attached.”
Brian’s head swivels to me. “Fifty-five acres?”
Jan looks between us, either concerned or confused.
“Sorry, I surprised him. He loves everything nature and quiet, so this is probably too much for his brain to handle.”
She laughs, and Brian squeezes my hand. “It’s not too much. It’s just… yeah. Everything I want. And fifty-five is my number.”
I squeeze his hand back. “Like it was meant to be.”
Jan takes us inside, and I’m instantly drawn in by the hardwood floors and open space. There’s a lot of natural light, even in the entryway.
