Page 35 of Quarterback Keeper

We didn’t say anything until her door clicked softly closed, telling us she was out of earshot.

“I’ll stay here while you go to practice. If he shows up, I’ll threaten to go to the press.”

Kylian stood and crossed the distance between us in two long strides. I was in his arms before I knew his intentions. I sank into his embrace, shaken from the day’s events. I was still stunned by what a raging asshole his father was.But… politics.I should have assumed he was a jerk behind the façade.

“Thank you.”

The deep rumble of his voice traveled through his chest and into mine. I couldn’t control the shiver that raced up my spine, telegraphing too loudly for my peace of mind the effect his touch had on me.

“We’ll stay here tonight.” He released me and moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “I’ll try to get back as soon as I can.”

I shrugged. “You don’t need to rush. I’ll make dinner for your mom and hang out with her this evening.” Honestly, I was gladwe were staying there. I was entirely too freaked out about the guy I’d seen on the dock. He’d looked at me oddly. I could have imagined it, but the way my skin crawled, I didn’t think so.

“Don’t worry about anything, okay?”

I nodded, questions poised on the tip of my tongue. He’d told his mom our relationship was real and that we planned to get married earlier because of the circumstances. I wanted to ask him when because I was almost desperate for the protection he offered. I rubbed my hand over my heart for the second time as he left with instructions for me to lock the door behind him. Doing that simple task was easier than addressing the weird ache in my chest and what it meant.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

KYLIAN

Practice was brutal but good. I needed it. We were ready for the game against Alabama, and I was determined to make that the defining moment to get a foothold in the NFL. The right scouts would be there. The buzz under my skin made it tight as I entered Mom’s apartment. It was late. After practice, I had film to watch. Mom was used to it, and Gia never complained about how much time I put into football—but why would she?

I shook my head, struggling not to confuse the relationship more than I had. I craved her. I even liked her. But too much was at stake, and I couldn’t get carried away. No matter how much I’d come to care about or desire her, Mom’s well-being was the most important thing—and that was being threatened.

Dad had left a message while I was at practice, and after what had happened that morning, I returned the call.

“What do you want?” was my opening when he answered.

“Getting down to business, good.” Dad chuckled. “We have that in common.”

“Doubtful.” I was nothing like him. Never would be.

“I’m offering, for the last time, to pay for your mom’s treatments if you drop this girl and take up with MelanieHoneycutt. If you don’t, I’ll find any dirt in that girl’s background and destroy her. And as for your mother… well, I don’t think you need me to spell that one out.”

Fuck.I hated him with everything in me. No one mattered to him. Everything he did was for his own gain. This conversation got to me more than the others had, and I felt myself giving in, too worried about paying for Mom’s treatments. I didn’t want to give up on Gia, but I couldn’t figure any other way out of his demands. “Fine. I’ll date Melanie—after you make a lump-sum payment to keep Mom in the treatment program for the next six months.”

“Deal. I’ll have my assistant send over the payment confirmation once it’s done. But only after I see you out with Melanie and get a report from her father.”

He had me by the balls—this time.I couldn’t do, or say, anything else, so I hung up. The weight of what I had to do was almost too much to bear—or it was until I thought about what would happen to Mom and Gia if I didn’t go along with his demands.

Things were out of control, and my gut clenched from the terms we’d discussed. At some point, I would have to tell Gia about the tentative deal I’d made. It didn’t change the one I had with her, except it did. She would still get the money, and Mom’s treatment would be paid for, keeping her in the experimental program. Not only that—Dad had threatened Gia and backed me into a corner. I couldn’t let her suffer because of my fucking father.

I followed the soft glow of the kitchen light, stomach rumbling and curious to see who was awake. When I entered the tiny room, I stopped, surprised to see Mom at the table, wrapped in a blanket, with a glass of water in front of her.

“Couldn’t sleep?” I forced myself to move as if nothing was bothering me. After gripping the door to the fridge, I opened it.

“No. Not after that bomb you dropped on me earlier.” She stood and hip checked me like she used to. “Gia made a fabulous dinner. Even with my limited appetite, I had to eat some of it.”

“Really? That good, huh?”

She gave me a sly look. “You should know.”

I should, but I didn’t. And Mom couldn’t know that. “She’s practically a chef. I’m not surprised her food made you hungry.”

I moved back so Mom could pull out the plate they must’ve made for me. She set it in the microwave, hit a few buttons, and returned to her seat. I busied myself getting some water then the food from the microwave before sitting at the table with her. The loud growl from my stomach made Mom chuckle. I dug in. She was right. Gia knew what she was doing.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”

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