"What's your username?"

I pull out my phone and look it up. I dismiss Shayne's puzzled look.

"Um, it's Princess B."

She giggles.

"Rowe," I offer.

Nineteen.

State joins us nearly thirty minutes later. He slides right in next to me and places a kiss to my temple.

"Love you," he whispers.

I turn to him with a leap of courage and kiss him on the lips. "I love you, too, number seven."

Eventually, I look up glancing in Martha's direction. Her eyes are puffy and most of her make-up has vanished. His dad greets me with a warm smile, yet Martha makes no eye contact.

We order our food. I wanted to order a ham and cheese sandwich off the menu, but after hearing the others all order steak and lobster, I feel dumb.

State squeezes the top of my thigh. "Want do you want?"

I look up to him and then point to the menu. He sends me a slight grin. State orders the largest steak with extra potatoes and a large salad. The waitress then glances at me waiting for me to place my order.

"She'll have the ham and cheese sandwich with fries, and a side salad with Italian dressing please."

I place my hand on top of his, squeezing it to thank him. I remain silent next to State staring down at the table most of the time while the football talk entertains the rest of the group. Momma Pete is the perfect combination to lighten the mood. She brings up Shayne's next competition and how she's in contention for Nationals this year.

State's mom beams proudly, going on and on about how proud of Shayne she is, and what an honorable young lady she is. I don't miss the jabs my way.

"What do you do, Baylor?" I look up at State's dad.

I clear my throat and try to speak, but nothing comes out. "She's enrolled at a community college majoring in pharmaceuticals, teaches dance, is a licensed masseuse, and works as a server."

"Wow, ambitious girl." He smiles back at me. "Martha's a surgeon. Both women in the medical field."

"Most students never finish schooling in the medical field." She shrugs coldly.

"Martha," State warns.

There's more meaning behind the use of her name coming from State. Tears begin to well up in my eyes. I don't think I can do this.

My phone lights up on the tabletop. It's a FaceTime call from Miss Tami.

"Answer it." State pulls his arm from my leg and wraps his arm around me.

"Are you sure?" I nod toward the rest of the party at our booth.

"Go ahead, sweetie," Momma Pete encourages me.

I slide the green button across and wait for faces to appear. Shayne leans in looking at the screen. Pretty soon one large eyeball fills the screen. It's Rowe.

"Baylor? Shrek?" She yells into the screen.

"Hold the phone back, Rowe." I hear Miss Tami's voice.

"Hey princess," State says loudly.

He holds his wrist up showing her the bracelet.

"I saw you on TV, and the bracelet."

"Brought me good luck, princess. I even scored a touchdown."

"I know," she squeals. "Miss Tami was screaming so loud."

Rowe continues to move the phone closer to her face, giving us the perfect view of both of her eyeballs and even a clear shot up her nose.

"Want to meet my coach and teammates?"

"Yes!" She squeals.

We both exchange shocked looks. It's football, and her heart is open and happy.

State leans the phone over to his coach. He takes it in his hands, with Momma Pete leaning over and waving.

"Hi." The coach offers her a weak smile.

"Do you like princesses?" I hear her ask.

"Sure do, and football even more."

I can imagine her wrinkling her nose back at him.

"Who else is there?"

We all share a muffled laugh when Rowe so easily loses interest in one of the most high-powered coaches in the nation. He passes the phone over to Ryder who holds Rowe's attention. I'm sure it's his good looks and can only imagine her adjusting her invisible crown on the top of her head.

"I'm the one who throws the football," he offers mid-conversation.

"I only like number seven."

State doesn't stifle his loud laugh at that comment. "That's my girl."

Ryder waves bye and offers the phone to State's mom.

"No." She shakes her head.

State pulls the phone from Ryder's hand. His pissed off glare instantly morphs into a genuine smile when he stares back at Rowe and a part of Miss Tami's shoulder.

"When are you guys coming home?" She asks with a hopeful tone to her voice.

He answers immediately. "Late tonight. You'll be tucked in and in sweet dreams, but we will share waffles in the morning."

"Pop Tarts promise."

"Pop Tarts promise, sweetie."

"Love you, Rowe."

"Love you, too."

We end the call and intertwine our hands again.

"You had to be what sixteen?" State's mom asks.

I finally find my voice. No one ever fucks with Rowe. "Excuse me, Martha?"

"You had to be what, maybe, fifteen when you had her?"

State begins to cut her off, but I squeeze his hand to stop her.

"No, actually. Rowe is one of THOSE orphan girls. Miss Tami and I took her in after she suffered unimaginable abuse." I don't break my stare with her. "Any other questions?"

Our food arrives and I've never devoured a meal so intently. Momma Pete brings the conversation back to football between her bites of lobster. Everyone seems to be professionals at diverting the real conversations of life and standing up for what's right. It's the first time I realize State being adopted may not have been all it seemed.

He devours his meal while keeping his hands all over me. He feeds me bites of his steak every once a while between quick kisses to my cheek. State fits with me, not his family.

His dad wraps me up in a hug before I climb into the car. Martha remains in the background. State doesn't offer her a hug or even a good-bye, even though they're catching the redeye in the morning.

"I'm sorry." He slams the door and picks up his phone. He doesn't offer anymore explanation to me. His knuckles go white around the steering wheel.

His voice is harsh and clipped. "I told you to respect her, that you didn't have to understand it, but I demand nothing but respect for Baylor. You were a heartless bitch, mother. I hate saying it, but you forced it. I don't want to hear from you until you have an apology."

I hear her voice scramble on the other end of the phone.

State only replies with. "I don't give a shit. Apology or nothing. I don't want to hear from you until then. Got it?"

He throws the phone down on his console, slams the middle of the steering wheel, and then tosses his hat into the backseat.

"State, you didn't have to."

"Bull fucking shit," he growls.

"Don't do this. You'll ruin everything with your family."

"You're my family and all I need. End of story."

I know I should reply with something, but there are no words. He's defending me. The only way for me to fix it would be to walk away, but I'm selfish and will never do that.

Twenty.

The house is dark and silent when we walk in. We're careful not to make any noise getting to my bedroom. I'm thankful for my personal bathroom off my bedroom. I flick the lights on and lock my bedroom door.

"I'm going to get ready for bed," I offer.

State sits on the side of my bed with his face buried in his hands. My heart hurts for him right now and I want to take away his pain. It's a tough thing to do when pain brought us together in the beginning. I shed my game day clothes and slip into a white cami, then go about washing my face and applying moisturizer.

There's a light knock on the bathroom door. "Can I come in?"

I reach over and twist the knob, smoothing in the last of the lotion. Our eyes connect and there's a fire in his. His hands are on my waist, tangling in my panty line before he lifts me up to sit on the counter. He stares down into my eyes, not taking advantage of my mouth.

"I'll fucking protect you from anything."

"It's hurting you." I brush my finger down his jawline.

"It's fucking hurting me that someone had the nerve to talk to you like that."

"I'm a big girl." I smile up at him.

He places both hands on either side of my hips, palms down. "Nobody will disrespect my queen."

I cup his jaw in my hands. "Thank you."

Our lips connect, and we kiss hard and fast. It's been way too long since we've been alone. I float back to him on the field, ruling it. I edge toward him. scooting my butt to the end of the countertop.

"You were so damn sexy out on that field, State."

"That was the best game of my life. It was like my world finally came full-circle."

"Mine too." I smile. "I actually learned a little bit about football."