Page 89 of Cocky Player

I’d risk everything for her.

“To be more honest,” he continued, and his gaze met mine.Green eyes that reminded me of Brenna were narrowed on me.Tension lined the edges of them.Stubble on his cheeks telling me hadn’t shaved in a while.“I didn’t think you were the man for her.Not that first day you were at her place.Not the day after when she spent most of it staring at a wall in her room.”

“I love your daughter.”It hurt he didn’t think that much of me.He’d never alluded to that but sitting across from him, I saw it.He didn’t think I was man enough and that fucking stung.

“I didn’t say I don’t think it now,” he continued like I hadn’t said anything.Like I wasn’t giving him everything I had.Frustration bubbled beneath my skin like an itch I couldn’t reach.I took a large swig of my beer.

“Why am I here, David?”

“I want my daughter back.I want her healthy and whole and frankly, thinking back over the last month, the only time I’ve seen a glimpse of the little girl she used to be…was I think attributed to you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Because you haven’t spent thirteen years watching this girl, this sweet little girl who danced and laughed and played pranks on people and was smart as a whip but sassier than anything you ever saw lose herself daily.You haven’t watched her fight for life and to get past what happened to her.You haven’t seen her fall to the depths of despair where you had her hospitalized for suicidal thoughts foryears, Connor.And I’m only telling you this because we all saw it the last few weeks.Her sister, her brothers.We’ve all seen something different with her and we figured it was a man.We figured it was something…and we were right.”He leaned forward and pushed his beer out of the way, dropped his voice.“I think the reason she was truly lighthearted and playful for the last few weeks was because ofyou.And if you give her that, if you can sit here right now and tell me you’ll spend every moment you have with her trying to give her that, then you’ve got my respect.You have my permission if it means anything to you.But what I need from you is to start trying harder to get her to see you.”

“I’m worried if I push her too hard, she’ll run the other direction.”

“Possibly.”He frowned and reached into his back pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper.“I guess we’ll see.”

He slid the paper across the table.I didn’t hide how desperately I wanted it and snatched it up.

It was thick card stock, not paper, and once I unfolded it, bright-colored balloons grabbed my attention first before the wordsHappy Birthdaysnagged it next.

It was a birthday invitation for her niece.Next Friday night.

I’d fight the Devil himself to ensure I could make it.

“You want me to show up?”

“I’m giving you a chance.Don’t blow it.”

The house was mayhem.The adrenaline assaulting my senses was worse.Another week without hearing from Brenna, but I’d scaled back in anticipation of tonight.I still texted her, but I didn’t call and I didn’t stop by.I texted her about my day and practice.I texted her when I saw Shannon.I texted her every stupid little thought I had.My entire text string to her was an endless story of my boring as hell life, spilled out like a journal for her to read.I didn’t even know if she had her phone on and received them.

I still had no idea what to say when I saw her.I suppose I’d let her lead the way with that when she saw me.

David didn’t tell her I was coming.He called me twice during the week and gave me an update which was really nothing.“Still sad.But thinking about heading back to her apartment soon.”

Which meant she was feeling better in one way at least.

“You made it.”

I turned toward the voice, only to see her oldest brother Aiden.His hands were loose at his sides, but his posture depicted anything other than someone who was relaxed.No, he looked like he wanted to shove his fist into my face for the hell of it.

“I did.”

“You hurt my sister and I’ll take you out at the knees.”

I tried to brush it off.I assumed I’d have a whole group of overprotective Kempers on my ass as soon as I stepped through these doors but as the oldest, I figured Aiden would be the worst.“You take out my knees, that ruins my career…your dad’s season.”

He didn’t hesitate.“Brenna’s more important.”

I stepped toward him and then leaned closer.“Yeah.She is.Where is she?”

“Still upstairs.She’ll be down soon.Our sister Eva took her some wine a few minutes ago.She doesn’t do well with noise after these…episodes.”

“Good to know.Anything else I should know besides the physical threats to my safety?”

He sneered and then shook his head.“No.The rest you’ll have to learn for yourself, by taking care of her the way she deserves.”

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