The Game Plan

10 Years Later

I'm sure you're wondering what happened after that night at Nick's, right?

Well, we all managed to graduate - even Luke. I know, I was shocked. Kenz, Nick, and I went to UNC Chapel Hill.

Now for the big question, did I play football again?

I am beyond happy to report that I played sophomore through senior year and took freshman year to heal on the bench.

I majored in sports broadcasting and am now the sports newscaster for the ESPN. Luckily, I can continue to live in North Carolina and be close to my family and friends.

One Friday afternoon I hit send on an email I had been working on and packed up to drive home.

I pulled into the driveway of my house and pressed the button to open the garage door. I locked the car and walked through the door that led to the kitchen.

"Honey?" I called to my husband as I dropped my bag on the counter. It was already five and we were supposed to be a Matt and Kenz's house by six.

"Upstairs!" He called. I made my way up to the second floor and followed the voices into my daughter Charlotte's room.

"What are you two doing?" I asked, bending down to kiss my toddler.

Nick wrapped an arm around my waist and rested his hand against my pregnant stomach.

I was currently seven months pregnant with the second baby, a boy. His name had been an ongoing battle in the house. According to Nick we could not name him after my dog, but I claimed that Brady is a quarterback name and so is naming the baby Drew.

"How was work?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Slow day. Glad to be home with my favorite girl." I said, picking Charlotte up out of the crib.

"What time do we need to be at Matt's?" Nick asked, leaning against her changing table.

"Six." I said between kissing, making her laugh out loud.

"I can get her ready if you want to pack up?" He offered. As a married couple and parents, we made a great team. I was more organized and planned, while Nick was able to stay calm in stressful situations.

Thirty minutes later, I ran through the kitchen while throwing toys and bottles into a diaper bag.

"Nick! Hurry up!" I called without slowing down.

We were still working on time management skills.

"I'm just putting her jacket on!" I heard him yell back.

"Jacket?" I mumbled, thinking of the 90 degrees I had just read on the thermometer.

I walked upstairs and found Nick bundling up Charlotte.

"Its August, and it's 90 degrees out." I said from the doorway. My daughter smiled a toothy grin at me from her perch on the changing table.

"It will get cold." He argued.

I walked forward shaking my head and kissed him.

"Why don't you pack the snow gear." I compromised, knowing full well we wouldn't need it. I picked up my adorable baby girl off the table and rested her on my hip.

"I can carry her." He said, eyeing me and my baby bump.

"I can do it." I reassured him.

"All three of my favorite people in one spot." He grinned, looking at me and Char.

"Let's go see Aunt Kenzie!" I smiled, bouncing Charlotte. We walked outside and I buckled her up in her car seat before climbing in the passenger seat. Nick looked over his shoulder as he backed down the driveway and onto our seat.