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His father did the sa slap on the back – it was a guy thing

“It is so good to see you,” Stella said to Mercedes as she hugged her tightly before taking her hand and leading her toward the exhibit on the other side of the roolanced back at Xander and his father who had fallen into step behind the women “As do you, Mr Boone”

“I definitely don’tlady calls me Mr Boone, but I prefer Stan, Ms Bryant” Xander’s father teased Mercedes,her blush

“Stan,” she tacked on, followed by, “How are you feeling?”

The four of them came to a stop in front

“Much better,” he told her as Xander glanced over at his father “Let’s get this show on the road, shall we?” Stan redirected

Mercedes aze, and she knew asive his father a brief reprieve for a few minutes, but he fully intended to ask him for the details The real details this ti his h the reats and the nuame It was true, he had been there once before, but even now, he felt a bit nostalgic

No, he didn’t miss his football days Not in the least He had s, and he didn’t have to worry about a potential life altering injury changing the course of his career He’dbefore that could happen

“How about so around

“I could handle lunch,” Xander told her He wasn’t starving, but he would get the chance to talk directly to his father And he knew his father was doing his best to avoid Xander’s questions, which hy he’d been hearing all about football for the last thirtymore than a snack bar with chairs and tables, but Xander wasn’t picky It didn’t hurt that they were the only people in the place aside frouy behind the counter Ok, soto stay awake because it was clear today was not a day he was hustling to keep up

The four of them ordered and then took their seats at one of the few tables Once they were seated, their little baskets of food and bottles of water in front of theood a ti?” he asked It was the saed to avoid earlier, but as far as Xander was concerned, he didn’t get a good enough answer

Stan sighed “I guess it’s safe to say I’ fro over at Mercedes She was staring at his father ide eyes When she looked over at him, he smiled at her and just shook his head