Page 90 of Undeniable
He chuckled. “At our age, none of us do. But I will say this. You’ll be a great dad. You’ve always taken care of others, me included when I was spiraling after my family died. You kept me sane. You even made sure I ate. And don’t get me started on your mom. You nursed her out of a depression, and you were only a teenager.”
I leaned my elbows on my knees. “What about the NFL?”
“What about it? You can’t possibly be thinking about giving up on football.”
“We don’t know if I’ll get drafted. I have to plan ahead now and find a job, and I can’t leave Mazzie to take care of our child while I’m off playing football.”
He straightened. “I hear you. But don’t give up on football. The game could be your saving grace to help you provide for a kid and family.” Softness crept into his features. “Remember what we said as kids since we could throw a football?”
I laughed bitterly. “We said a lot of shit.”
“We said we would go pro together. Play for the same team. Tear up the league on opposite ends of the field. Me and you, man, winning games and Super Bowls.”
We’d always pictured playing on Sundays on the same field, wearing the same team jersey. But with Mazzie and the baby on the way, I wasn’t sure I could play in the league and keep all of us together. And the thought of choosing terrified me.
“Those were the days when we didn’t have responsibilities and worries,” I said.
He rubbed his chin. “True. But we made a pact that we would show up every single day and do our best on the field. We wouldn’t let anything stop us. Don’t let fear be the reason you erase your dreams.”
My phone rang, and I glanced at the counter where I’d left it but didn’t move. I wasn’t ready to deal with the outside world.
After the ringing stopped, he pushed to his feet, rounding his gray eyes on me. “I’ll say one last thing. Whatever happens, please don’t give up on football. You have a network to help you, including me.”
“Thanks for always being there for me.” I gave him a hug.
“We’re family. Brothers in every sense of the word.” He grabbed his keys that had been sitting on the island. “I need to meet my aunt Kari. Are you going to be okay? I can postpone.”
I waved him off. “I need a shower, and I need to address my messages.”
“If you need me, I’ll be out at the ranch house. You’re welcome to head over there later.”
“I’ll think about it.”
As he left, I grabbed my phone, and my gut twisted at the sight of Mazzie’s name on my screen. Or rather, her contact name of Midnight. I went up to my room then opened her text message, ignoring the recent voicemail from what looked to be Shane’s number.
Mazzie
I’m on my way to see my mom. Thinking about you.
My fingers hovered over the letters, but I didn’t know what to write. I wanted to have a clear head before I said something that I would regret or yelled at her again like I had after she’d told me about the pregnancy. But I also didn’t want her to get the sense that I had abandoned her. She was just as frightened as me, even more so.
I sat on the bed, wallowing in my own panic when hers must be far greater than mine. She’d been raising Kaylee, working two jobs, dealing with her mother’s problems, and acing her premed classes. Now, a baby was on the way.
Good luck with your mom. When do you want to talk?
While I waited for her to respond, I listened to Shane’s message. “I’ll be at your place on Monday at two rather than one, as you wanted. Make sure you have all the money your old man owes me. Oh, and text me your address.” The asshole sounded like he smoked two packs of cigarettes a day.
As I sent him the address, I prayed this was the last of my father’s crap that Mom and I had to deal with.
A text came in from Mazzie as I was about to set my phone on the bed.
Mazzie
I’m really busy this coming week with exams. I know we agreed to have a tutoring session the week your outline for history class is due. Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. Maybe meet at the Armstrongs instead of the tutoring center or library on Wednesday.
We needed complete privacy if we were going to talk. The Armstrongs had a big enough place that we could carve out a private place, but we still ran the risk of someone eavesdropping.
Why don’t we meet at my place on Wednesday? I’m free between eleven and two.
