Seeing as the Johnson's don't live near any of their extended family and neither do we, they invited the six of us over to spend Thanksgiving at their house. Realistically, Payton feels more like a sister to me than a friend anyway and of course I'm happy to get to spend the holiday with my boyfriend.

Mom and Mrs. Johnson have been down in the kitchen cooking and gabbing all morning to get the feast ready. Even though there will only be ten of us for dinner, they're prepping food for a small army since we all know the boys can eat. Not sure Mrs. Johnson knew what she was getting herself into when she invited us over. Sure, she's used to Tyler having a large appetite, but now she's got three more bottomless pits to feed.

"What do you think they are talking about down there?" Payton asks me, referring to my brothers and Tyler who are in the basement alone.

"Honestly, I don't even think I want to know." I joke.

We've been hanging out upstairs in Payton's room watching the Thanksgiving 'Friends' episode.

"Does it freak you out that it's three against one down there? I know they weren't thrilled to find out you two are together again."

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little worried about what they're up to. But at the same time I'm oddly at peace as well. I'm glad my brothers know that Tyler and I are together and that they've gotten to meet him. Even if they aren't one hundred percent onboard with the idea of me dating, I do know they at least were pretty impressed with how Tyler handled himself at my birthday. I think they saw that Tyler really is a good guy after all and cares for me. That's what matters most to them."

"I for one am loving that they are giving TJ a hard time!" Payton laughs to herself. "It's good for him. Nothing wrong with making him sweat a little, keeps TJ on his toes and makes him prove how much you truly mean to him."

I blush at Payton's comment. "Yeah, hopefully it doesn't backfire on me and he decides the package deal of me and the three stooges is too much to deal with!" I joke.

Just then my phone gets a text.

"Speak of the devil, he just texted."

: Hey beautiful, you and Pay busy right now?

: No, why? You need us to come rescue you?

: lol no. You think I'm gonna let these three intimidate me? You clearly forget who you're dealing with. It'll take way more than that to stop me from being with you. 😏

: ☺️

: Anyways, you and Payton need to get changed into something that can get dirty and meet us downstairs in ten minutes.

: What? It's Thanksgiving. We're gonna eat soon. Why are we getting dirty??

: Just trust me and do it. It'll be fun. You'll see.

: Guess I don't have any other option.

: 😘

"Uh Pay, the boys are up to something again. Tyler just told me we need to change into clothes that can get dirty and meet them downstairs. Can I borrow something?"

"Yeah sure. He didn't say why?"

"Nope."

****

"Alright listen up. It's three on three, two hand touch football. I'll be a captain and Tyler will be the other one. Then we can finally see what this D1 QB really has in him." Charlie smirks to Lucas and Tuck.

Lucas pulls a quarter from his pocket. "Tyler, you can call it."

"Heads."

Lucas flips the coin high into the air before it lands with a thud onto the grass of the Johnson's backyard.

"Tails. Looks like I get first pick. Alright, I pick..... Lies." Charlie gives Tyler a big mischievous grin.

"What are you doing? You never pick me first, you always go for Tuck." I whisper to Charlie when I come stand next to him.

"What? We both know Tyler was gonna pick you first if he had the chance, so I beat him to it." Charlie whispers back, unable to hide the smug smile on his face.

"Of course." I scoff. I knew my brother would never pick me first unless he had some ulterior motive.

"I'll take Payton then." Tyler calls out.

"We'll have Tuck with us. Lucas, that makes you with the enemy....I mean, the Johnsons." Charlie laughs.

Dad and Mr. Johnson made their way to the backyard when they found out what we were doing. I guess they figured watching our game of football would be more entertaining than watching the Lions getting creamed like they always do inside.

"So what's the plan then?" I look at Tuck and Charlie while we huddle.

Playing football wasn't my idea or something I thought I'd be doing today, but now that we are, my competitive side is coming out.

"Tuck, you cover Lucas. I'll take Tyler. Lila, you run as fast as you can to the end zone and get yourself open. I'll pass you the ball so be ready." Charlie gives Tuck and I orders.

"Charlieee, just remember this is touch football, not tackle." I warn.

"Relax little sister. It's Daniels Rules football, I'll try not to be too rough, but no promises." Charlie winks at me as we break apart to line up.

I say a silent prayer in my head that one of my brothers doesn't end up giving Tyler another concussion over this silly yard game and then find my place in the line up.

"Ready, Set, HIKE!" Tuck snaps Charlie the ball.

I dash past Payton as fast as I can, barreling toward the patch of yard we marked with spray paint which is our end zone. When I'm midway there I look back to see Charlie faking right, then left, as he dodges Tyler who's covering him. As soon as Tyler realizes that Charlie is planning to pass to me he switches course, backing off him and flying like a bullet towards me and Payton. Charlie sends the ball soaring through the air in my direction and starts racing after Tyler but he'd already gotten a head start toward me and is much faster than my brother anyways. I make a giant leap for the ball just before Tyler gets within reach. By some miracle I manage to catch it and now I'm running as fast as I can towards our end zone with Tyler right on my heels. I can hear the sound of Tyler's heavy breathing getting closer to me with each step.

"Gotta be faster than that pretty girl." Tyler taunts me just before he grabs my hips and throws me over his shoulder in one swift motion.

"You sure about that? Looks to me like you just carried me right into my end zone buddy." I raise the football still in my hands high into the air in victory.

"What?" Tyler looks down at the ground. He did in fact step into our end zone with me in his arms. "But I tagged you!" He rebuttals.

"Refs, what do you say?" Charlie calls out to our dads on the sidelines.

"The touchdown stands. One point for Lila's team." Mr. Johnson calls back with a giant smile and shrug to Tyler.

Tyler puts me down and I of course have to do the most obnoxious victory dance around him to rub it in.

"Alright, so that's how this is gonna go. I see how it is. Payton, Lucas, huddle up!"

Tyler goes jogging towards his teammates while Tuck, Charlie and I are still carrying on high fiving and celebrating our touchdown.

"Listen, we're on defense now, everybody needs to guard their person. We can't get sloppy and give up a TD, we got lucky on that one." Charlie goes back into coach mode.

"I want to cover Tyler, not Payton." I tell my brothers.

"Listen Lies, you just had a killer catch in all, but Tyler really is good. I think it'd be better if you let Charlie handle him." Tuck says.

"Will you just trust me? I have a plan, ok? If it doesn't work, then next play we can try it your guy's way."

"Alright, fine. Let's see what you've got." Charlie says.

We all line up at center field. I'm staring directly at Payton who's only a few inches away while she gets ready to snap the ball to her brother.

"Ready, Set, HIKE!" Tyler calls out.

Charlie crosses over to cover Payton, Tuck is all over Lucas who's running for a long pass and the middle gives way for me to run toward Tyler. Our eyes meet and he gives me his devilish grin, trying to provoke me. Tyler starts zigging and zagging with skill as I try my best to reach him before he can throw the ball to Lucas down field. He pumps his arm with a fake and I leap into the air to intercept the ball. When I land, I come down hard on my left leg. I wince in pain and roll to my side.

"Babe! You ok?" Tyler rushes over to me, putting the ball down on the ground next to me.

Everybody else stops where they are down field from us, not totally sure what just happened.

I grab the ball off the ground, push Tyler over while he's caught off balance and start running as hard as I can in the opposite direction towards my end zone.

"Oh snap! Run, Lila, run!" I hear Charlie and Tuck chanting as everyone realizes that I just faked an injury to steal the ball.

I make it across the line and spike the ball in victory! Tyler who is still on the ground where I left him is in utter disbelief. He starts arguing to our unofficial ref dads on the sidelines.

"The play was stopped. I thought she was injured. That TD doesn't count!" His hands are in the air, waving around violently.

"Actually, nobody called a time out so the ball was still live. I merely recovered the ball you fumbled and ran it in." I give my counter argue to Mr. Johnson and my dad.

"Fumbled?! I didn't fumble the ball! You tricked me into thinking you hurt yourself and like the good boyfriend that I am, I came to help you!"

"The point still stands. The ball was live, I can't help that you're gullible." I tap my hand on Tyler's chest with a playful pat and evil smirk.

Our two dads talk amongst each other for about two seconds and then turn to the six of us on the field.

"Lila's not wrong. The ball was still technically live. The touchdown stands. Sorry about your luck Tyler, she got you on this one." My dad gives the verdict and me a high five. Tuck, Charlie and I beginning cheering and they hoist me onto their shoulders chanting "Daniels, Daniels, Daniels!"

"Oh come on! You've got to be kidding me!"

Tyler throws his hands up in the air and I try not to laugh too hard in his face. I know that was totally a cheap move, but I couldn't help myself. All is fair in Daniels Rules football after all.

****