Perfect by Design

31: Luca James

"Hey, pops!" I stroll right past him in the kitchen and head upstairs.

"Nice to see you too, Luca." He yells after me. He's pretty dramatic. We went on our usual 5 am run, so he just saw me a few hours ago.

I rush into the room, plopping down on the bed.

My mom giggles a little as I roll to face her. "You know, kid. I think you spend more time in this bed than your father."

"Yeah, I'd probably bring that up in your guys' next therapy session." I pat her shoulder.

She reaches behind her grabbing one of their millions of extra pillows, and smacks me with it.

"How was Toronto? You sure look like you had a blast." She nudges me. "Who was the leggy brunette on your arm? Cara, I think the post said."

"You should know better than to believe the internet, Mom."

"And my eyes... the ones that saw the photo."

"Yeah, well. I can see why you'd be inclined to trust your eyes. Turns out I did go out with a leggy brunette while in Toronto. Must have slipped my mind." I smile charmingly at my mom.

"Crazy how that happens." She rolls her eyes. "Will we be meeting this one?"

"Ah, the weather's not looking too great for that particular event," I respond to a quick business email before putting my phone on do not disturb. Nobody interrupts time with my mom.

"Why is that?"

"Well, because I didn't know her name was Cara until you just said it."

My mom laughs so loudly that it brings a smile to my face. I should probably have my assistant reach out to Cara. I did enjoy her company while I was in Toronto, and we do photograph well together. It doesn't hurt to have a friend in the city the next time I'm there. Not a real friend, but you get what I mean.

"I can't keep up with your schedule these days, but are you still coming with Dad and me to Gray's season opener this weekend?"

You know, I'm not sure why there's still such an allure with Grayson's season openers. He's been in the league for eight years now. I mean, I'm obviously going to go, but the thrill has definitely worn off.

Then again, I'll never pass up the opportunity to remind Grayson that he's only the superstar he is because football couldn't hold the attention of the other James (that's me). I was objectively better than him. Taller, faster, more accurate... better looking. I could go on forever. Even Dad and Uncle J said they hadn't seen talent like mine in a while. I just found playing football to be incredibly mundane.

"Were you and Dad planning on taking my plane without me?" I arch a brow at my mom.

"I carried and birthed you, kid. What's yours is mine."

"I suppose you need all the help you can get right now with your husband being unemployed and whatnot. What're you doing about this premature mid-life crisis of his?"

My mom chuckles again before playfully shoving me. "He's not unemployed, Luca. Also, he can be unemployed if he wants to. We're already set for life."

Right on cue, my dad walks into the room. "Hey, old man. I heard there was a change in travel plans for this weekend. Shame, my plane is much nicer than you and Mom's."

"We don't have a plane, you little asshole."

I nod and fight to hold back a laugh. "Much to my point." Dad chucks something at my head. I turn to smirk at my mom, who is doing a terrible job of concealing her amusement.