He’s not wrong. Before I gave the man a cardiac episode, Coach gave me strong “get the fuck off my team” vibes. Like I had personally offended him.
Like I was his biggest disappointment.
That’s not a new sentiment. I seem to inspire this emotion in people.
My father shakes his head. “Of all the girls to fuck around with. You had to screw with the Saint’s daughter? Why can’t you date someone like Samantha Schilling? She’s beautiful, smart, motivated, and child-free.”
Why the hell’s he bringing up Sam?
I’m not going to try to convince the asshole that I’m serious about Roxy in a way I’ve never been serious about anything, except maybe football. I reach for the door handle. “So you’re saying you don’t want an invite to Roxy’s baby shower?”
“Cut the crap, Billy. What are you going to do? Marry her and raise another man’s baby?” He laughs darkly. “Twenty-two percent of marriages fail within the first five years.”
“I get it. The odds are stacked against us.” But I love her, and I’m not letting her go without a fight.
As my shredded knuckles indicate.
He sighs. “It might not seem like it, but I’m trying to help you. Contrary to what you seem to think, I want you to succeed in life.”
It’s so foreign to hear him say anything remotely positive to me, I sit there speechless. “I appreciate your concern, I do. If you got to know Roxy, you’d see she’s an incredible woman.”
He shakes his head. “It doesn’t matter how smart, resourceful, or attractive this girl is. You’re looking at a long shot at best. When it’s fourth and twenty, you punt.”
I should be used to his grenades, but this one hits hard. I scramble to look for a bright side. “You and Mom have made it through hard times.”
“By the skin of our fucking teeth, if you want to know the truth.”
“Maybe if you spent more time withher—”
“Don’t be obtuse. You know how much time I have to put in at the office. Now get out. I have a long drive home.”
And I’m dismissed.
The second I close the passenger door, his tires squeal. I stand in the rain and watch his taillights zip down the street like he can’t get away from me fast enough.
I trudge up the stairs, resisting the urge to grab the railing. My knees and quads are sore as hell. It didn’t help that I couldn’t ice them when I was locked up. With the back of my arm, I wipe the rain from my face.
Jesus, I’m ripe. They don’t exactly offer you toiletries when you’re in lockup.
Pausing in front of the door to our apartment, I take a moment. I need it. I almost fucked myself ten ways to Sunday by hitting Ezra. But now I get to come home to Roxy, and that’s everything.
When I open the door, I frown when I see her asleep, hunched over several stacks of paper on our small dining room table.
“Babe.” I brush the hair out of her face.
Her eyes flutter open, then widen. “Billy!” She leaps out of her chair and into my arms. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. It’s over. For now at least.” I kiss her. “How’s your father?”Please don’t tell me he died.But then sheprobably wouldn’t be happy to see me if something horrible had happened.
“He had a blockage, but doctors caught it in time. He should make a full recovery.”
Thank fuck. “That’s good news, biscuit.” Coach is a surly bastard, but that doesn’t mean I want him to die.
Leaning back, she takes my face in her hands and kisses me again. “When did you get out?”
“Just a little while ago. Ezra changed his story and retracted his statement. It was the damnedest thing.” A triumphant smile spreads over her gorgeous face. “What?”
That smile turns into a smirk. “Let’s just say that Ezra and I had a little conversation yesterday.”
