Breaking Tackles: A Taking Flight Novel Read Online Free PDF

completely shocked.
     
    “How could you not have discussed it?” Mrs. Kistler asks.
     
    I feel a flush creeping up my chest and know that soon my face will be the color of a tomato.
     
    Adam doesn’t seem to have an answer for his mom and suddenly I hear myself say, “We have time.”
     
    “I understand you’ve been through a lot of excitement in the last couple days,” my mom says gently. “But Vicki is right. We need to talk about plans and details if you two are going to get married and moved before Adam has to report for training camp.”
     
    “Whoa,” I say, sitting back hard in my seat. “Who thinks we’re going to get married this summer?”
     
    “Well, that’s what makes the most sense,” my mom says. “I figured that’s why Adam proposed the day after the draft.”
     
    I look to Adam and he looks as dumbfounded as I feel. Now I’m realizing the fact that we haven’t discussed this at all is An Issue. Our families assumed this would be some sort of whirlwind wedding.
     
    I haven’t really thought about it, but given my current terror at the thought, I’m guessing that is not what I’m thinking.
     
    “I proposed because I love Courtney and wanted her to know that just because I’m moving doesn’t mean that I’m leaving her behind,” Adam says. “While I wouldn’t mind getting married quickly, I don’t want to overwhelm everyone.”
     
    “You really want to get married this summer?” I ask him as quietly as I can. It’s no use, though—our families can totally hear us.
     
    “Sure,” he says. “Why not, right?”
     
    “Adam, I’m nineteen. That aside, what would I do in New Orleans while you’re at football camp and team meetings and weight training?”
     
    “Whatever you wanted. You could transfer to Tulane.”
     
    “No.”
     
    It comes out of my mouth before I even register that I’ve had the thought.
     
    “Courtney, why don’t you think about what Adam is saying? It makes sense,” my oldest brother, Tony, says.
     
    “Because I don’t want to go to Tulane,” I say, suddenly furious. “If I had wanted to go there, I would have applied last year. I want to go to Mizzou.”
     
    “But things are different now,” my mom says.
     
    “How? Because I have a ring on my finger? All that changes is the fact that I now have some shiny jewelry that tells other dudes that I’m off the market. Adam and I are still together. Sure, he’ll be in a different place than me, but that doesn’t entirely change the nature of our relationship.”
     
    No one says anything and I look around the table, trying to find someone who will back me up. I know my brothers won’t be any help. Tony is married to his job, Kent is in a relationship but doesn’t seem like he’s ready to pop the question yet, Rob and his college girlfriend just broke up, and Ryan is a commitment-phobe. I move on to Adam’s brothers, and catch Jason’s eye. He gives me an indecipherable look, so I move to Mike.
     
    “What do you think?” I ask him.
     
    Mike shifts uncomfortably in his seat. “Well, my situation was different,” he says. “I’ve been out of college for quite a while. Same for Ashton. When we got engaged, we didn’t have to worry about finishing school. Ashton just planned the wedding and told me when to show up.”
     
    I sigh. That’s entirely unhelpful.
     
    Luckily, we’re saved by food. When everyone’s breakfasts are brought out and placed on the table, everyone digs in and no one brings up moving or wedding planning again.
     
    But I know that I can’t escape the conversation for long.
     
    Adam and I really need to talk.
     
     

Adam
     
    “Okay,” Courtney says, pacing the length of the hotel suite.
     
    After it became painfully obvious that we have no idea what we’re doing with this whole engagement thing, our families decided to go sightseeing after breakfast so that we could have some time alone.
     
    “Okay,” she says again. “What do you think our