Page 119 of Unstoppable Love

My now-former coach.

He reached out and clapped my back firmly a couple of times. “It’s been an honor having you on my team. And we all know that whatever you choose to do next, you’ll do it with the integrity and character in which you’ve led this team.”

I cleared my throat. Damn, this was hard. Harder knowing the women I wanted to comfort were crying, even if they were a mixture of happy and sad tears.

“Thanks, Coach.” A frog had somehow leaped into my throat, making speech difficult.

Clearing it again, I turned back to the microphones. “I’ll take a few questions, if there are any.”

Clicks of cameras erupted, and hands shot into the air.

Next to me, Coach Callahan chuckled. “Guess that’s a yes.” He pointed to a reporter sitting near the front row.

She immediately stood. “First, I’d like to say Colorado will miss seeing you on the field, but I’m guessing you’re not going far?”

There was a shine in her eyes at the question.

“Is that your question?”

“People want to know what you’re doing next. Any plans?”

I looked to Ava quickly, who was biting her bottom lip. Streaks ran down her now-dried cheeks and her chin wobbled, but there were no more tears. “I’m heading home.” I adjusted the microphone and leaned in closer. “Right now, the plan is to go back to my hometown and work with my family. Anything after that, we’ll see.”

“And does this move home have to do with your family? Or your current girlfriend?”

News broke about Ava and me being together as soon as Jimmy’s arrest hit the local news. Of course, that news hit because it was New Haven, and people were always curious about my family and how we lived and the town we grew up in. Once the connection was made between him, Ava, and me, there’d been a decent swarm of media attention surrounding us.

It’d calmed down, mostly with the help of Ava’s insanely intelligent and incredible lawyer.

Since Ava and I had already talked about keeping her mentioned as little as possible, I only replied, “Like I said, my plan is to move back and help my family. But it’s always a good thing to be surrounded by people you love who love you back.”

I flashed a grin, one that never had a problem helping me get the attention of women or rendering them speechless.

It worked, too, because the reporter sat down, and someone else immediately stood. My jaw tightened, and a loose growl slipped from my throat—something low enough only Coach could hear it. From the side, I caught the way he glanced in my direction.

But this dipstick standing up was the same guy who’d pushed me about taking the bench early last season.

“It’s been said you’re really leaving the sport because of the alleged assault against your girlfriend. Any truth to that?”

That low growl turned louder, and next to me, Coach cursed. I wrapped my hand around the microphone and wished it was this guy’s throat. “I believe I’ve already said why I’ve chosen to retire.”

The asshole’s head cocked to the side. “But that’s not the whole reason, is it? Any comment you want to make on the fact her alleged assault came the same night you were out of town? The night you yourself were injured? Is that why you’re really retiring? Because you’re too afraid to leave your girlfriend alone?”

Alleged. That word had never sounded so vile.

And yes, yes, it was. It wasn’t fear, it was the burning need to keep Ava safe that burned deeper than anything else I cared about in my life.

But this asshole…

I leaned in, not bothering to hide my glare. Let him and everyone else see how much the question pissed me off.

The microphone was tugged out of view, and then Coach was saying, “As previously discussed, there will be no questions or comments regarding the legal matter of anyone connected with Mr. Kelley. This conference is solely to discuss his decision to retire. Do you have anything specific about that?”

The reporter opened his mouth, but Coach didn’t let him finish. “Next question,” he said, and gestured to someone on the opposite side of the room. “Go ahead, sir.”

Another reporter stood, and as I turned, leaving the first guy slowly sinking back to his chair, the room went cloudy and hazy before clearing.

“Mr. Kelley, you’ve noted retiring due to your injury. Can you tell us why it is you don’t think you’d be able to make a full recovery?”

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