“No, I mean why are you setting her up with your teammates?”
“Why is that a problem?” I watch my brothers drive away while my mom waits patiently for my father in his car.
“I invited her tonight for you, dumbass.”
I knew it. “Why would you do that when you know I have a serious girlfriend?”
He scoffs. “I’d suggest you reserve that role for a woman who didn’t get knocked up by another man minutes before dating you.”
My jaw goes tight as I stare down at the pavement. “I love Roxy. I know you find this to be a difficult concept.”
He adjusts his cufflink. “Look, she might be a hot piece of ass, which is doubtful after pushing out a kid, but you’re delusional if you think I’m going to welcome her with open arms. Klein told me point blank that he won’t take you on his roster in January if you’re all wrapped up with some trashy girl and her kid. He saidyou could have the best season of your life, but the optics don’t work for him.”
The optics don’t work for him.
Hands clenched, I take a deep breath so I don’t break his nose too. “You know how they say money can’t buy happiness? Apparently, it can’t buy class either. Tell Klein he can go fuck himself. And you can join him.”
I stalk toward my car as my father yells, “Get rid of her before she ruins your career!”
Heart pounding, feeling sweaty, I drive aimlessly.
I still hear my father’s voice, telling me that now, when I’m so close to achieving my dream, I’m going to flush it down the drain. But that can’t be right. In what world would I have to give up the woman I love to play a game I love?
At some point I realize it’s getting late.
There’s no way I’m crashing at my parents’ house tonight.
But then I remember I need to swing by to collect my textbooks. I got a ton of homework done on Friday night after I ate dinner with my mom, but it won’t do me much good if I don’t bring it to class.
Fortunately, everyone’s asleep, so I duck into my room and shove all my crap into my bag. Hopefully I didn’t forget anything.
Then I hit the road again. I don’t want to go to Roxy’s because she’ll take one look at me and know I’m upset. I can’t tell her what happened with my father because she’ll be crushed.
So I head to the Stallion Station. The guys will let me crash there so I can get my shit together.
49
ROXY
When the doorto the apartment opens late Sunday morning, I try to keep my good news in check. I had a follow-up doctor appointment with my OB-GYN on Friday afternoon, and she gave me the go-ahead to have sex.
I’m not sure I’m ready to dive into the deep end of that pool right away, but I’d love to dip in my toe. Maybe that would help bridge this weird distance between me and Billy. While sex can’t fix everything, it certainly couldn’t hurt.
I wanted to give Billy the news in person, and since he left after practice on Friday to visit his parents, this is the first chance I’ve had to talk to him.
I expect a smile and a big hug since he’s been gone for two days, but his solemn expression immediately sets off warning bells.
“How was your trip?”
He shrugs and dumps his gym bag by the door, where his suit jacket is probably balled up. “Mom was happy. My father was a dick. What’s new?”
He heads straight for the kitchen and rummages around in the fridge. I suck in a breath, a little hurt he didn’t notice Idressed up. Well, clean clothes and makeup, which constitutes getting dressed up for me. My hair is done. For once I feel like a woman and not a baby-wearing robot.
I finally fit in my old jeans. They’re snug, but it felt so good to get some of my body back, I did a little jig in the living room this morning to celebrate.
Of course, my shape is different. I’m only about ten pounds heavier than I was before I got pregnant, but my boobs, thighs, and ass seem way bigger than that. I hope Billy likes my new normal because I’m definitely thicker than I used to be.
Walking over to him, I motion behind me. “Marley is with my parents this afternoon.”
