I chuckle, "I guess everyone settles down eventually."
"I guess," She whispers, and I feel her withdraw. Like she's scared to even think about that possibility for herself. "Just pull right there behind my dad's truck."
I slip into the spot as she instructs, taking a second to admire the house. A small cottage with a detached garage, beautiful landscaping, and flowers. A home.
"Happy birthday, Daddy!" Karly yells when her father appears on the front porch. Totally decked out in Georgia football apparel.
"I didn't know you were coming, sweet pea. What a surprise, and who do we have here?" He asks, "Another one of your victims?"
"Shaun, don't tease her. You must be Eric." Her mother smiles, stretching her hand out for me to shake.
"Guilty."
"So glad you could join us. That old bat–" She tosses her thumb over her shoulder, "is Shaun, and I'm April."
She steps a little closer to us, and I am fascinated by how much Karly favors her mother.
"It's nice to meet you both. Jole– I mean, Karly has told me absolutely nothing about you."
Her father, Shaun, booms with laughter, "Sounds about right. She hides us like we're embarrassing or something."
"I do not!" She argues, "I just never know what ya'll are doing."
April rolls her eyes, "Nonsense. You know you're always welcome."
Karly follows her parents inside, and I drop our bags in the foyer. Whipping around, she places her hand on my chest and whispers.
"Whatever ridiculous shit they say about me is lies."
I laugh, dipping down to kiss her cheek, "Stop worrying."
"Eric, you watch football?" Her dad yells from the living area, the game on tv.
I smile and mouth "told you" to her.
"Yeah, this is going to be a tough game."
It usually is when Georgia and Alabama meet. A huge rivalry game, one I was hoping I'd get to see. Not that I wouldn't rather spend time with Karly.
"That it is." He agrees, handing me a beer.
"You boys watch the game. I'm going to take Karly into the kitchen. We'll bring out some snacks."
They disappear into the other room, and her dad instantly cuts his eyes to me, "Who's Jolie? Don't think for a second that I missed that."
"Jo-lene," I enunciate while laughing, "is Karly. I've always called her that. It's a habit I can't break."
"You know Karly's middle name is Jo?"
"Yeah, I did, actually, but not until after I started calling her that."
"Her name was going to be Karly Jolene, but her mother insisted we shorten it to Jo."
"Really?" I ask, "What a coincidence. Why shorten it?"
"She didn't want her to be teased for her auburn hair or for stealing men."
I nearly choke on my beer, "Well, I don't do it to tease her. I guess I did it to flirt. Plus, I'm a bit of a Dolly Parton enthusiast."