Page 76 of Mad Rivals
And then we celebrate. Naked.
I’m sad when Sunday rolls around and I have to head to the airport. He’s staying through the day tomorrow to get in more workouts with his local friends, and I’m glad he’s finding people to bond with on his new team. He drives me to the airport to drop me off, and he kisses me goodbye from the driver’s seat.
I don’t know when I’ll see him again. I don’t know if his brother is still staying at his place, and I can’t exactly invite him to my place since I’m living with my parents.
But after this weekend, I have this lovely, strong feeling that we’ll find some way to make this work. It feels like San Diego is our safe haven, and I can’t wait to get back there with him to make more magic. Sooner rather than later, preferably.
That feeling is shot to hell the minute I get home.
My dad sent a ride from the company for me, and as I walk through the front door with my suitcase, my father is standing in the foyer as if he was waiting for me.
“Why were you photographed with Madden Bradley leaving a hotel in Carlsbad?” he demands.
My heart palpitates. “Excuse me?” I ask, setting my hand on my chest.
“You were supposed to be in Los Angeles. You checked into a hotel there. So why were you at Madden Bradley’s hotel in Carlsbad, a full forty miles from the Aliso Viejo office?”
“Dad, calm down,” I say as I feel anything but calm. I scramble to come up with some excuse. “We were working out some details for SCS while we were both in town, and we met for dinner halfway between San Diego and Aliso Viejo.”
“I will not calm down. Are they opening an office there? They can’t win that town, too. I won’t allow it,” he hisses.
“They’re opening a branch in San Diego, yes. With Madden moving there because he’s playing there, his father wanted him to have a local office so he can continue working on his projects while he’s in season,” I say.
“Why do you know so much about this, Kennedy?” he thunders at me.
Jesus, Dad. I haven’t even set my suitcase down yet.I take the opportunity to do that.
“Because we’re working together on SCS, and sometimes conversation drifts, okay?” I say. It’s clear that he would never, ever be okay with me being in a relationship with Madden.
To be perfectly honest, I’ve never been all that close with my father. And the way I already feel about Madden in such a short period of time…well, the choice is pretty clear. If it comes down to some ultimatum, I’ll do what I have to do to put my own happiness first.
And maybe spending less time with my father would lead me to a little more happiness. The kind of happiness I experienced in San Diego.
But I’m just starting to warm up to the idea of running VBC. If I choose Madden, or, rather, if Idon’tchoose my father…then what the hell will my future even look like?
CHAPTER 31: Madden Bradley
My Girl
Over the next month, we see each other as much as we can—which is actually quite minimal since Dex thinks he lives with me now. On more than one occasion, I’ve rented a hotel room for the night so we could meet somewhere for a quick dinner and a long fuck before we each had to head home.
San Diego felt so much easier. We were away from all these stupid pressures and expectations and could focus on the two of us.
But it feels like she’s not going anywhere, and neither am I.
Well, except for San Diego. My house is ready, and I need to get there, move in, and get ready for OTAs, which start next week already.
It’s two weeks of team activities, and since I’m new to the team, I need to be there. Clay’s going, too, along with Spencer, DJ, Trey, and Zach. It’ll be a chance for the six of us to bond. Together we’ll start learning plays, and I’ll focus on getting to know my new playbook, working out, and figuring out my place with my new team.
I’m hopeful I’ll be a starter. I have been my entire career, and I don’t see that slowing down now. But Chicago didn’t exactlyhave a winning record, and they made changes from the top down. One of those changes included trading me.
It’s the night before I’m leaving. The place I rented comes furnished, and I ordered anything else I thought I’d need to arrive the day after tomorrow. I’ll get set up over the weekend, and that’ll be it. Home sweet home.
And rather than spend tonight at my place with my brother, I got a hotel for my girl and me.
Yeah,my girl.
Over the last month, that’s how I’ve started referring to her in my mind.
