14. Chapter 11

I walk into my parents' house with a smile that won't quit. Brie said yes. I have no clue if Finn's plan will work, but Brie said yes.

"Hey, Mom." I walk up behind Lynn Owens in the kitchen and give her a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey, Josh. What's the reason for that smile? I need to find my sunglasses. You're blinding me." She has her hand over her eyes as if blocking out a bright light.

"Can't a boy just be happy to be having dinner with his favorite parents?" I chuckle, and head into the livingroom to see Dad.

"Suuure," my mom says, but there's something behind it. I look back at her and see her face scrunched up like I'm a problem she's trying to solve.

"Really," I protest, letting out a laugh, then continue toward the living room. When I walk in, my dad, Dennis Owens, is sitting in front of the TV, in his favorite chair, watching the highlights from last week's game.

"How is the team feeling about playing Baltimore on Sunday? Their defense is in the top five so far this year."

"The coaches and coordinators have put together a pretty good game plan that we just have to execute. If we do that we should be able to squeak out a win."

"That's what I like to hear." My dad turns his gaze on me and looks me square in the eyes. "Now let's talk about you. What was all that nonsense on the field last Sunday?"

I narrow my eyes at him.

"Don't act all innocent with me, Joshua. I saw you lose your temper more than once. How many penalties did you get?"

"Five," I say sheepishly.

"That temper of yours flares at the most inopportune moments. This season isn't the time for whatever is going on to get the better of you," he says gently. I know that my dad is only trying to help, but it never feels good to be called out. Especially not by the man you admire most in the world. "Were you hurt?"

My eyes widen. "How did you know?"

"Well, the blue tent was a huge giveaway." He chuckles. "But you also tend to be more short tempered when you're in pain. What's going on?"

"I hurt my shoulder." His brow wrinkles, and I hurriedly continue. "It's okay though, I had some tests done and it's most likely a bad sprain or strain. Either way it means a month of rest and some physical therapy."

"Well that's good news." He lets out a shaky laugh. My parents love watching me play but the sport itself is dangerous. There is always the fear that I'll get seriously injured.

"What's good news?" My mom asks as she comes into the living room.

"That Josh's shoulder injury is minor."

"What?" She yelps. I go to her immediately and put my arms around her, pulling her close.

"Mom, it's just a bad strain." I feel her arms wrap around me and squeeze. "I'm taking a month to rest and strengthen it."

"Well, that is good news." She gives me one last squeeze before letting go. "Dinner's ready. Are you two boys going to set the table?"

"Yes, Dear," my dad jokes as he heads over to my mom and kisses her on the cheek. She rolls up her dish towel and smacks him on the butt. He glances over his shoulder, with a look that I can only decipher as just you wait, and my mom giggles.

There was a time that I found all of this very annoying, and somehow inappropriate. I mean, they're my parents. But now I think it's adorable that they still love each other this much and are the best of friends. It's the relationship I want with my wife.

The way Brie and I push each other's buttons pops into my head. The smile that seems to find my face anytime I think of her appears. I glance up at my mom to see her looking at me with a smirk and narrowed eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing." She smiles and looks away. I shake my head and continue to lay the plates onto the table just as my dad starts bringing in dinner. Mom made our normal Friday night pizza. She makes everything from scratch. My mouth is starting to water at the smell of it all.

Just as we get ready to sit down I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from Susie.Susie: You two want to tell me what this is all about. hysterically laughing emoji>.

The text is to both me and Brie. I see a link to Tea Time and groan.

What now?

"Everything okay?" My dad asks and my mom's eyebrows dip.

"It's just Tea Time again."

"Oh," they both say in slightly high pitched tones and I stare at them. They each have these grins on their faces as if they're holding back laughter. I sit down just as my phone vibrates again.Brie: Nothing Susie!Brie: Can you stop enjoying this so much?

I smile at her response, it's so Brie. Taking a sip of iced tea, I almost spit it out as I read Susie's response.Susie: Finger pointing, mouth covering, laughing woman shaking her head no gif>Susie: Laughing woman wiping a tear from her eye shaking her head no gif>Brie: eye roll emoji>

I look up to find my parents both giving me curious glances. I put my phone down.

"What?" I ask with my brows and hands raised.

"Nothing," they say at the same time, glance at each other and then go back to eating.

I finally look at the Tea Time post and shake my head. Finn is going to love this. I'm actually surprised that he hasn't sent me a text yet to check on the status of #Briosh's dating status. Just then my phone vibrates.

"Do we have any idea who does Tea Time?" I look at my parents who shake their heads without looking at me. "Hmmm."

My phone vibrates again and I pick it up to see a text from Finn.Finn: So what's the verdict? #Briosh is HOT, HOT, HOT.

I chuckle and shake my head, then put my phone in my pocket. I'll get back to him later. Right now I want to enjoy my time with my parents.

"How do you think this injury will affect your contract negotiations?" My mom stops eating and turns in my direction at my father's question.

"I'm not really sure. Finn hasn't heard from the Mavericks at all yet. I'm trying not to worry but it's been nagging me a bit."

"You know it's not the end of the world if you end up with another team, right Josh?" My mom says softly.

"I know. I just always hoped that I would be drafted by them and then retire with them." I push my salad around on my plate. "I guess I should be happy that the first half happened."

"There's still time," my dad says encouragingly. He's a glass half-full kind of guy. "You know most negotiations happen during the offseason."

"I know," I shrug. "I'll be fine with whatever happens. I would just miss being able to spend time with you all as often as I do now."

Both my parents' eyes glisten a bit as they look at me. They get it. My dad recovers first.

"Get through this month, get your act together on the field, and keep playing like you have been. If you do that, the Mavs will be begging you to sign at the end of the season."

"You're right. Finn also has a few ideas up his sleeve," I hint at what's to come without giving any details yet.

"Oh?" My mom asks, eyebrow arched.

"Yup."

"Hmmm," my dad says. I look over and see them give each other one of their "looks", like they're having an entire conversation without saying a word.

"Seriously. What?"

"Nothing," my mom says softly. "So, do you want to tell us about this whole hashtag Briosh thing?" My dad spits out his iced tea and my mom glares at him. "Dennis! What have I told you about spitting on the food?"

"Lynn, I thought we agreed we were going to let him bring it up," he spits out in between laughs.

"Yeah, well. I couldn't wait. Plus Susie keeps asking me what I think."

"What you think about what?" I look at her, my eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar.

Are Brie and I the only ones surprised by Tea Time's antics?

"About you and Brie." She looks at me with a teasing glint in her eye. "Or should I say HashtagBriosh?"

"Mom!" I yell while holding back a laugh.

Dad is at the end of the table in tears. He takes a deep breath, looks at me and then starts laughing all over again.

"Briosh? Really?" He cries. "That is the stupidest nickname."

At that, the laughter I've been holding back erupts. I look at both of my parents and my heart swells with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the man and woman who have raised me and loved me.

And I wonder how they will feel about Finn's idea of me fake dating Brie. If this conversation is any indication, they're already wondering if something is going on between the two of us.

I chuckle and shake my head as I take a bite of my mom's homemade margherita pizza.