Mom tilts her head. “This sounds serious. Let me grab some chairs.”
I brace myself. I should’ve done this a long time ago.
My parents sit down, and I take a deep breath. “Billy isn’t Marley’s father.”
They look at each other. At me. Blink. Finally, my mom’s eyes bug out. “Mija, does Billy know this?”
“Of course. He’s known from the beginning.”
Coach shakes his head again and again. “But that day in my office when I first found out you were pregnant, he told me he was the father.”
“He was upset that you yelled at me in front of half of the football team and made me cry. He was trying to protect me.”
My mom elbows my father in the gut. “You made her cry? You never told me this.”
“You don’t need to get mad at Dad. I should’ve come to you guys long before then. The truth is Marley’s biological father doesn’t want to be involved. While I didn’t know that then, I had a strong hunch. And that made me ashamed. So Billy stepped in.”
Coach looks like he’s going to explode. There’s an angry vein in his temple that’s a little scary. “Roxanne.” He wipes his mouth. “I gave that boy so much shit this year because of you.”
My face flames in embarrassment. “I know, and it was totally unwarranted. He’s a really good guy who was just trying to stand up for me.”
Mom holds up her hand. “I’m confused. So are you two really dating?”
“It didn’t start out that way, but we’re together now.”
“Oh, good. Because I really like him.”
I smile. “I do too.” A knot forms in my throat as I think of all the ways Billy has supported me. “He was even willing to let me put his name on the birth certificate.”
My mom’s eyes water. “He’s such a sweet boy.”
“Marlena, that’s called fraud, and it’s illegal,” my father says, ever the pragmatist.
“You both will be relieved to know I finally came to my senses. That wasn’t the right way to go about things.” When Marley and I hopefully take Billy’s last name someday, it won’t be because we’re fudging a birth certificate.
Coach motions to the baby. “So who’s the father?”
I bite my bottom lip. “I can’t say, Dad.”
Silence.
“Is it one of the players on my team?” he asks in a deadly quiet voice.
“I’m not telling you. Just know that he couldn’t care less that I had his baby.”
Coach points at me like I just dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone. “That’s too fucking bad. He created this problem, so he needs to man up and be responsible. He should be paying you child support.”
“Dad, lower your voice. Studies show that stress can affect babies.” I snuggle Marley closer to my chest. “Besides, my babyis not a ‘problem.’ She’s the sweetest little angel on Earth, and I’m honored to be her mother. And I’m not chasing after a man who doesn’t care about our child. That’s on him. All I can do is love my daughter and try to give her the best life possible. Besides, Billy loves the bean. And he loves me. He treats me like a princess.”
My mom nods. “He really does. I can tell he loves you.”
Dad reluctantly agrees, but then sighs. “Billy’s been a stand-up young man through this whole pregnancy.” He tugs at the neckline of his shirt. “I feel like an asshole.” I laugh and Mom snorts.
“Then make it up to him,” I suggest. “You can start by looking at his QB stats in high school. And consider how hard he’s worked at every position he’s had at Lone Star, roles he didn’t ask for. Every time the team got a new coach, he got the shaft. But he worked his ass off to fill those roles. He could’ve transferred, gone to a different program, but he stayed here because he’s loyal and loves the Broncos. Aren’t those the very characteristics you’re always touting?”
Coach’s lips flatten as he considers what I’m saying. “Since Ezra is staying, I have more quarterbacks than I know what to do with this fall.”
I do my best to not flinch when he says that name. “A wise man once told me you can never have too many QBs.” I smirk because he used to say that all the time.
