Andrew, as he opened the door, heard the unmistakable fake laugh of his grandmother: DeDe.
'Why is she here?' Andrew thought with a grimace.
Honestly, he didn't have even the slightest energy to deal with her right after practice and a long day at school.
Was it a bit cold to think that way about his own grandmother?
Not really. He had never had a deep relationship with DeDe. In fact, if he really thought about it, she was probably the person he felt the least connected to in the entire family.
And when Andrew thought of family, he meant the entire family: the Pritchetts, the Dunphys, and the Tuckers.
With the Tuckers he always had an excellent relationship, even living in another state. Whenever he traveled to Missouri for the holidays, the house filled with laughter and huge meals.
Barbara Tucker, Cam's mother, had been a true grandmother to him from day one. Affectionate, proud, and attentive to every detail. She always stuffed him with food and gave so many hugs it bordered on overkill.
Merle Tucker, his grandfather, was old-school just like Jay. A tough guy with firm principles and few words, but a huge heart.
Andrew bonded with him immediately. Probably because, in his previous life, he had been raised by a grandfather with similar values, so it was easy for him to get along with people like that, and of course, playing football helped connect with these tough old men.
Merle cared about him, although he wasn't the type to show affection easily. You could tell through gestures, not sweet words or the typical displays of warmth.
He also had a good relationship with his Tucker uncles: Paul, Mauria, and Pam, and with all his cousins. The whole family lived in Missouri, and although distance made visits harder, the bond was genuine.
Then there was his closest nucleus: the Pritchetts and Dunphys: Claire, Phil, Jay, Alex, Haley, Luke, Gloria, Manny, and even Phil's parents, who were very good people.
But DeDe was another story entirely. Ever since he was little, she had never made the slightest effort to connect with him.
And although Andrew never took it personally, her preferences were obvious: Haley, Alex, and Luke were the real grandchildren.
He, on the other hand, was the adopted one, tolerated more out of obligation than affection.
Over the years, the distance grew, and then came the infamous incidents that sealed their relationship.
Incident 1.
Location: Jay and Gloria's wedding.
Context: DeDe, completely drunk and out of control, tried to destroy the wedding cake. Andrew, drunk after being betrayed by his own team, ended up knocking her out hard.
Luckily, DeDe didn't find out in the moment that he was the one who knocked her out. Andrew had done it from her blind spot, and she was too drunk to remember, and no one told her.
But things didn't go the same way in...
Incident 2.
Almost a year later, DeDe tried to make amends with Jay and Gloria and apologize for what happened at the wedding.
Gloria, in a sincerely generous gesture, forgave her, and everything seemed like it would end well, but that simple act triggered in DeDe a fury worthy of a category-five hurricane.
Andrew, trying to protect Gloria from what looked like an imminent outburst, stepped in and tripped.
The result: another knockout.
DeDe, once again on the floor. But this time, she did remember it when she regained consciousness.
Since then, she looked at him as if he were a walking threat, or as if at any moment he might try to tackle her again, going for the third takedown.
But DeDe had problems with almost everyone, not just him.
Her relationship with Jay and Gloria was outright toxic, with Claire it was a constant battle of criticisms and resentment, with Cam she made passive-aggressive remarks about his weight, and with Phil, silent contempt.
The only ones who seemed to get along with DeDe were Haley, Alex, Luke, and Manny, though no one really understood why.
And Mitchell, who kept a more diplomatic relationship, although everyone knew DeDe subtly manipulated him whenever it suited her.
So yes. Andrew didn't feel guilty about his indifference. In a family where everyone had a story with DeDe, at least his was entertaining, and came with a knockout record.
"I'm back," Andrew said loudly as he closed the door behind him and dropped his backpack on the couch. He walked straight toward the kitchen, where the voices were coming from, loosening the tie of his school uniform.
"Hey, sweetheart!" Cam exclaimed the moment he saw him appear, with his usual enthusiasm. "How was practice? Nervous? Did Bruce give you a motivational speech? A moment of sunset bonding? Oh! And I saw your speech at the Mater Dei cafeteria! You're a great motivator, son!" he said all in one breath without even half a second of pause.
Andrew barely had time to smile, raising his hands so his father would slow down. "Yeah, yeah… it seems that online motivation course I bought actually paid off."
Cam gasped delighted, taking the comment completely seriously. "Did you really take one? I knew it!" he said as he served him a glass of juice.
Andrew shook his head, amused. He still couldn't believe that his little improvised speech had gone viral.
It had only been thirty seconds of stating the obvious about confidence and teamwork, but on Twitter they were already treating him like some kind of supreme leader.
"Great words, son… and look who came to visit us… unannounced," Mitchell said with a half-smile. He emphasized unannounced in case anyone needed the reminder, this time his mother's visit wasn't his doing.
Andrew finally looked toward DeDe, who was sitting with a newspaper open in front of her, a cup of coffee, and that smile that looked kind but, underneath, was nothing more than poison wrapped in politeness.
"Hello, dear," she greeted without standing up. "Quite the star, huh? I've already seen you in three different newspapers these days, and even on television. And now giving inspirational speeches. A real leader… though I do wonder how your fans and teammates would react if they knew you tackled your grandmother twice."
Andrew stared at her for a few seconds, unflinching. "Hi, DeDe," he finally replied, putting clear emphasis on her name so she'd notice he would never call her grandma. "I think they'd handle it well. Honestly, if I'd uploaded it to YouTube it would have been one of my most-watched videos… especially once they learned why I had to tackle my grandmother who has anger and alcohol issues."
DeDe looked at him in silence, her smile unchanged. Andrew smiled back politely.
Mitchell sighed and shook his head. "Please, you two… enough," he said, with the weary tone of someone who already knew it was pointless.
Andrew let out a small breath through his nose, still not looking away, "So, what brings this unexpected…?"
"Pleasure?" DeDe completed, raising an eyebrow.
"No," Andrew said immediately, shaking his head. "I would definitely not use that word."
DeDe rolled her eyes, as if already used to these comments.
"But anyway," Andrew continued, "what brings you here?"
"I came to Los Angeles to watch my grandson's game tomorrow, the one that'll be broadcast nationally. I wouldn't miss it for the world. And since I was already in town, I wanted to visit the people I love."
"And they weren't home?" Cam asked with a serious tone, as if the doubt was genuine.
The comment made Andrew burst into a brief laugh, looking at his father as if to say good one. Cam chuckled softly and tilted his head in acknowledgement.
But they noticed DeDe's expression harden as she looked back at her newspaper.
'Maybe we went a little too far…' Andrew thought, hiding his smile and adopting a neutral expression.
"So, how's life in Canada?" Cam asked, trying to change the tone.
"Great. Everything with Chas is wonderful," DeDe replied, more relaxed now, while filling in a crossword in the newspaper with the pen Mitchell had lent her.
She wrote a word, looked satisfied, and said cheerfully, "I'm on fire."
"Soon you will be," Andrew muttered under his breath, barely audible, as he set his empty glass in the sink.
"By the way…" DeDe continued, not raising her voice much, "I need tickets. Two. Could you get them for me?"
She set the newspaper down on the table and looked at Mitch and Cam with her hands clasped, like someone asking for a favor.
Mitchell watched her for a few seconds before answering with a resigned tone. "Mom, the game is tomorrow. They're already saying it's going to have the biggest attendance in the stadium's history. And even though it's high school, ESPN is broadcasting it nationally. The tickets must've sold out days ago."
DeDe made an innocent face, her signature blend of pity and manipulation. "I didn't have time to buy them since I was traveling here."
Then she turned her gaze to Andrew. "And I suppose for the team's star quarterback it shouldn't be too hard to get a couple, right?"
Andrew thought about it for a few seconds. He saw his father's tense expression, clearly not wanting the argument to continue, and sighed.
"Alright," he said at last, crossing his arms. "I'll see what I can do. But I'll warn you now: they won't be free."
"Perfect," DeDe replied, smiling triumphantly. "I'll be delighted to pay."
She took her purse, put the newspaper inside, and stood up with elegance. "Well, I'm off. I don't want to leave Chas alone in the hotel for too long, with how sociable he is, he might end up talking with someone… or with everyone."
'Even older people can feel jealousy and insecurity in their relationships' Andrew thought, holding back a mocking comment.
Cam smiled politely. "I'm sure he will."
DeDe said her goodbyes, and once she left the house, Mitch closed the door quickly, as if keeping it open a second longer might let her slip back in.
"Well, that went better than I expected, in a way…" Mitchell said, sighing as he turned around.
Cam, who had walked with him to the door, nodded. "Yes, but I'd really like her to get into the habit of letting us know when she's coming over… Is a simple text message so hard? I need to mentally prepare myself to endure her."
Andrew, leaning on the doorway to the living room, commented, "If getting her two tickets saves us from having a pre-game dinner with her and her boyfriend, I'll buy them, even if they cost me more than two hundred dollars."
Mitchell and Cam couldn't have agreed more.
At least they had managed to get DeDe to leave without insisting on staying, just by promising her the tickets for the game. It was definitely a better outcome than having to sit through a dinner with her and Chas in the mix.
Besides, that same night Cam was preparing a special dinner at home: Jay, Gloria, Manny, Phil, Claire, Haley, Alex, and Luke would be coming over. Including DeDe would have turned the evening into a full-on family battlefield.
Cam headed to the kitchen to finish the last details for the dinner, humming absentmindedly.
Mitchell took the chance to wrap up some work documents. And Andrew went to play with Lily in her room while sending a few messages to secure the tickets.
It was easier than expected. He explained they were for his grandmother and got an extra pair, though not for free. But at least at regular price. They were seats in a modest section, far from the area reserved for the main families. Perfect to keep DeDe and her boyfriend well away from Jay and Gloria during the entire game.
After playing with Lily, and with about thirty minutes left before dinner and everyone arriving, Andrew was in his room editing the video of the prank he had pulled on Claire. He edited calmly, taking his time.
At one point, he heard two soft knocks on the door. He stopped looking at the screen and turned around in his chair. "Come in."
The door opened, and his dad, Mitch, walked in. "Am I interrupting?"
"No," Andrew said, shaking his head. "I was just editing the prank video for Aunt," he added with a smile.
Mitchell couldn't help but smile as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Of course Andrew had already shown him Claire's prank video.
And Mitchell had loved it. Especially Claire's pale expression when she learned Haley was "pregnant."
He had watched it four times already and still wasn't tired of it. He would've paid to have been there and seen it happen live.
"I still can't believe she's letting you upload it to YouTube," Mitchell said with a faint smile.
"Yeah," Andrew replied, because he hadn't expected Claire to approve it either. "I guess she knows how to recognize a good prank the world needs to see."
Mitchell laughed, then his expression turned serious. "Nervous about tomorrow?"
"That's the fifth time I've been asked today," Andrew said with a tired smile.
Mitchell crossed his arms. "This isn't just any game. It's the first final in eight years for Mater Dei, and you could win the first section title in more than a decade. You've played section and state finals before, but this one is different."
Andrew couldn't help but nod, agreeing with his father's words. "I guess this time I am a little nervous," he admitted.
He told Bruce, there was no reason to hide it from his father.
Mitchell motioned him closer with his hand. Andrew stood up from the chair and sat beside him on the edge of the bed.
"More than thirty thousand people in the stadium," Andrew murmured. "It's going to be insane. I've never played in front of that many people."
"And with ESPN broadcasting nationwide," Mitchell added. "Probably two million viewers watching from home."
Andrew nodded, looking up at the ceiling. "There's that too… everyone keeps saying it might beat the rating of LeBron's game. And even though I trust myself and my team, I can't help feeling pressure. It's not fear-nerves, it's expectation-nerves. Everyone expects me to do something big, throw five, six, seven touchdowns."
He paused.
"And I think that if we win, but I only throw two or three, people will see it as a disappointment."
Everyone was expecting a show.
In games of this magnitude, quarterbacks typically finished with two or three touchdowns, and that was already enough to shine. In fact, a QB who threw three could be unanimously named MVP.
But with Andrew, it wasn't like that. People wanted more from him. At least four. His average was above five, and even if he didn't say it out loud, he felt that pressure. Maintaining that level, week after week, without slipping.
Mitchell watched him in silence for a few seconds before speaking. "Listen to me, son..." he said gently, and Andrew looked at him.
"Whether you win throwing two, three, or seven touchdowns, or even if you lose… I'm going to be proud of you. Cam will be too. Everyone in the family will. You've made us enjoy every game and every play. Tomorrow, just do what you always do: have fun. Whatever happens, happens, and it'll be a lesson."
"Thanks, Dad," Andrew murmured with a soft smile, genuinely moved after a few seconds.
Mitchell smiled back and patted his shoulder. He stayed there for a couple of seconds, as if hesitating to get up.
Andrew noticed. Cam always said that physical affection didn't come easily to Mitch. For Andrew either, especially when it required being the one to initiate it, though with Cam that was never an issue.
But this time, he didn't overthink it and hugged him.
Mitchell was surprised for a moment, but quickly returned the hug. "I love you, son," he said almost in a whisper.
"Love you too, Dad."
Mitchell stood up, still smiling, and headed toward the door. "Dinner will be ready soon."
Andrew nodded, and his father stepped out, closing the door softly behind him.
Out in the hallway, alone, Mitchell paused for a second. He stared ahead, took a deep breath, and discreetly pumped his fist with a satisfied smile.
"Yes!" he whispered to himself before walking toward the kitchen to tell Cam and brag a little.
Dinner was lively, filled with laughter and Cam's special cooking. No one mentioned the big game tomorrow, even though it was on everyone's mind.
For Andrew, it was a relief. Being surrounded by his family helped him disconnect for a few hours from the media noise, the constant mentions on social networks, and the expectations.
After dinner, Andrew went to bed early. And finally, the day of the Southern Section final had arrived.
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