The Harder They Fall

Chapter 5: Family Function

Cole

''Archers, please take a seat on the couch!'' Jasmine shouted downstairs.

''Which one?'' I replied and placed the weight down.

''It doesn't matter, just make sure you're able to hear me!''

Grabbing a shirt, I left the gym and joined Jasmine and Gracie on the couch. She was wearing gray leggings and a shirt that went past her knees. I could tell she had just gotten out of the shower because her hair was tied up in a ponytail. That was the hairstyle she always did when she got out of the shower, and I loved it. She usually had her hair down and in her face, so it was hard to see, but when she put it up like that, I could see all of her face.

Nothing worked trying to brush this stupid crush away. I tried ignoring her. That didn't work. I tried finding something about her background that would make me less interested. That didn't work. I was doomed.

''Okay, so when it comes to my family, there are some things you should know. Not to burst your bubble, but you guys aren't really suited for my family. The Graysons show tough love, I guess you could say. They will chew you up and spit you out. ''

While she was talking, I got distracted by her legs. They were incredibly long. I was sure she was almost as tall as me. I still had a few inches on her, though. I imagined her long legs wrapping around m-

''Cole, did you hear what I said?'' Jasmine asked, bringing me back.

''No. Daddy isn't listening. He's going to fail the test, but I'm not,'' said a proud Gracie.

''Test? What test?''

''I'll take that as a no. If you were listening, you would know that I will give you guys a small test on my family. Like I said. They show tough love. My brother, Zander, is probably the nicest one. And that's only because he's twelve. Gracie, you probably won't be such an outsider but Cole... I'm worried about you.''

Gracie and Jasmine looked at me from head to toe in sync and gave me a worried look. Now I was getting worried.

''What? What's so wrong with me? How does my kid fit in, but not me?''

''Tell him, Gracie.''

''Daddy, you're too nice.''

Wow.

''Too nice? How the heck am I too nice? Have you seen me at practice? People say I'm too aggressive,'' I protested.

''We'll have to see it to believe it. Anyway, I'm going to tell you guys all the basics about my family, and you're going to take a quiz about it. We have only less than thirty minutes to do this. My family doesn't like late people.

She spent fifteen minutes going over things about her family. I was impressed by how much she remembered from her childhood. From what I heard, it seemed like her family was the exciting but chill type. Nowhere near my parents and me. It was only my parents and I growing up and the only time we had a lot of people in our house was when they threw parties. My mom was always busy with modeling, and my dad was obsessed with football. Before he retired, he was one of the biggest quarterbacks. I became a player in the same team he played for, The Baltimore Ravens; he was the reason why I wanted to become a quarterback. When he retired this year, I got drafted.

Gracie and I were taking the test Jasmine had written while she was getting ready.

''Done!" Gracie yelled. She gave me a death stare, and I returned it. One thing was for sure, I didn't like to lose.

''Gracie, baby, do you want some ice cream?''

''I'm not dumb, daddy. You can't bribe me with ice cream,'' she snapped and rushed upstairs. Before I knew it, she was running right back down with a gold star on her dress and smiling proudly,