GROUNDING 🏈 Nick Bosa

#FIFTY EIGHT.

"—Because I'm Mark Kinely, your dad." He says.

Joey turns completely around now and pushes him back a bit. "Look man, she says she doesn't know you. Back off, alright?"

Nick also turns around as well, and keeps his feet planted to the ground firmly, staring down the man "How did you even get in here?" He asks, looking around the parking lot.

"I'm here with some kids from my youth football team, they're on a tour of the facility." He answers, his eyes turn back to mine and he stands quietly for a moment. "It's funny that you picked a career involving football, Liliana. I am a high school football coach. I herd you were working for the Niners."

"—And what? After years of not being in my life you just decide to show up, because I what... work for the 49ers, and you think you can wiggle your way in here some how?"

"No! Of course not!" He replies, loudly. "If it wasn't for all the press about you and Joey Bosa... I would have never found you. I moved to Florida years ago, your mom kicked me out of your lives and refused to talk to me afterwards. I always tired to be there for you Lili, I always wanted to be your father, but after leaving the state it got even harder to locate you."

I stare him up and down. "How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know you're not just some creep?" I ask him.

"You don't know." Nick says, coarsely. "This man could be anyone."

"I can prove it." Mark says.

"—And how are you going to do that?" I look at him, sharply.

"Come to lunch with me tomorrow. I'll bring the documents." He replies.

"Hell no." Nick says.

"Yeah, no. fuck that, Liliana." Joey adds.

Mark looks between Nick and Joey. "Dang, you guys are a tough crowd, huh?"

I stand there silently, pondering the thought. I always wanted to know my dad, I always wanted a real family, but I had lived without him my whole entire life. I wasn't sure I truly needed him.

"Okay, I'll meet you tomorrow." I answer.

Nicks head snaps to the side to look at me, but he doesn't say anything. I think he knew better.

The next morning.

I wake up in Nicks bed and head down stairs into the kitchen where Nick was shoveling a fork of eggs into his mouth.

I immediately laugh.

"What?" His voice was muffled from the food.

"I swear to god, you are always eating." I tell him, leaning my back against some cabinets.

"Yeah, I have to keep my calories up." He shrugs, he finishes his plate and then places it into the sink. He turns back around and his brown eyes search over my face. "I can't believe you're going to lunch with that guy today." He says, in a slightly irritated tone.

I sigh. "Don't worry Nick, I'll be fine."

He crosses his arms, flexing the strong muscles underneath his smooth skin. "Oh, I know you will, because I'll be sitting in the parking lot."