Beating Heart •Luke Kuechly•

Chapter 25.

Pulling up to Luke's parents home with Luke's much larger hand holding mine, I looked at him as he gave me a reassuring smile. I feel my heart beating out of my chest and I wonder if he can hear it too.

"Were here," his mom Eileen tells us.

Luke's dad, Tom, helped us with the luggage as we get out of the car while I'm getting my back pack out. I had texted my mom that we had landed in Ohio at the airport and she had told me to have a good time. Walking up to the house, I could already see Luke growing up here. We decided to stay here for a week and then go back to North Carolina because of Luke's football practices. I was still looking for jobs in nursing, but it was hard. Hospitals weren't hiring where I lived and I didn't want to move out of North Carolina just so that I could find a job.

I was going to take some time off for now was what I decided once I found out that I had to have heart surgery again. I didn't want the stress of starting a new job and not being able to really concentrate on it and give it my all. It wouldn't feel right. Luckily, my parents are understanding. They didn't want me to over do it.

As we walked further up to the house that Luke grew up in, I could see him living him. I suddenly understood his love for Ohio because it was such a nice place from what I could tell already. Eileen opened the door to their house and Luke was immediately engulfed in a headlock as another guy jumps on his back earning a groan from Luke as he falls to the floor. His dad has an amused smile on his face and I'm guessing from the pictures that Luke has shown me that they are his two brothers, John and Henry.

"Alright boys, let's give Luke some space now," Eileen told the two of them. 

They get off of Luke and straighten out their clothing as realization shows on their faces that I'm here.  I just stand here awkwardly, not really knowing what to do.

"John, Henry," Luke clears his throat, "this is my girlfriend, Callie." Luke says as he walks over to my side giving me a smile and I smile back.

"It's nice to meet you, Callie. I'm John and this is our very annoying brother, Henry."

I laugh. "It's nice to meet you guys too," I smile.

...

Eileen was showing me around the house and I couldn't help but notice pictures of all the boys, especially Luke. There was one in particular where he was a little boy in a basketball jersey. She caught me staring at it for too long as she had a warm smile on her face.

"He did basketball?" I ask her.

"Yeah, he did for a few years, but he loves football more. Let me show you to your room."

"Okay. Your house is really nice."

"Thank you."

Walking further in the hallway, the flooring is a dark wood along with tan painted walls. She opens up a door that leads to the guest bedroom.

It's a bright yellow color that fills the walls with a beach theme. Beach pictures, beach blankets, and pillows.

"Is this okay?" Eileen asks gesturing towards the room.

"It's perfect, thank you."

"Your welcome." She says with a smile.

She looks hesitant like she wants to say something or doesn't want to leave quite yet.

"I didn't want to say anything, not in front of the guys anyway. I'm sure Luke told you that we know about your health," I swallow thickly not sure where this headed, "but just know that we're here for you. I don't want you to over-do yourself while your here so if it ever gets too much for you, you can always have some time to yourself."

"Thank you, Eileen. So much. For being understanding and letting me stay here."

"Your welcome. If you don't mind me asking, Luke told me that you have never had before him?"

"No, I haven't. I just wanted to tell you that you raised a really great guy."

"Thank you," she replies as her voice cracks in the end and gives me a hug.

"Dinner will be ready in a while.  The guys normally will play football out in the backyard together until then if you want to go out there," she tells me after she pulls away.

"Do you need any help in the kitchen?"  I ask her.

"No, I'm good.  You can just do whatever you want until dinner." 

"Okay, thank you," I say.

"Your welcome." 

With that, she walks out of my bedroom and I set my suitcase on the bed and hang up my clothes.  I can't stand it when I leave my clothes in my luggage than they have to and then they end up all wrinkled.  After I've completed that, I decide to head out in the backyard and watch the guys play some football. 

I open the door and sit down in a chair pulling my legs up to my chest.  Looking to my left I see Tom chuckling to himself as he watches his three sons together. 

"They were quite a handful growing up," he tells me.

"They seem really close.  Like my brothers," I say with a smile.

"You have brothers?"  I nod.  "How many?"

"I have four and one older sister.  I'm the baby in the family."

"Wow, that's a big family.  What's that like?"

"You never get a quiet moment, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  My oldest brother, Wesley, is in the military like John is."

"Really?"

"Yeah, and my dad along with my grandpa."

"Your grandpa is the offensive coordinator for the Panthers, right?"

"Yeah, he loves it."

"How did he get into that?"  He asks me.

"I don't really know all the details of how he actually got the job but our family has always been into sports.  College football is my favorite to watch but for my grandpa it was always the NFL."

"Dinner's ready everyone," I hear Luke's mom call out.

All of us walk in and head into the dining room.  On the table I see plates of lasagna, salad, and some French bread. 

"Thank you for dinner," I tell Eileen

"Your welcome." 

We all start to eat the dinner and I can't help but wonder why I was so nervous to begin with.  I should have known that if Luke was great than his family would be just as well.