Page 14 of Quarterback Keeper

He won’t find me. I’m safe.I silently repeated the mantra until I believed it, and the tension slowly drained out of me.

“How ya doing, sweetheart?”

I smiled at Val, the waitress who’d filled my coffee twice already. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Want anything else? Or just more coffee?”

“One more.”

“You stay here as long as you want, darling.”

I smiled, grateful as she filled my cup to the brim. I added creamer and stirred until the coffee was a caramel color.Calm down. He won’t find me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

KYLIAN

Iturned down another street, looking for Gia after she stormed out of the condo. The droning sports station host I had on in the background cut out when my phone rang. I hit Accept before checking who it was, hoping it was her—worry eating at me because I’d caught her skittish reaction to the loud noise and it hadn’t sat well with me. Something had happened to that girl, and she was clearly suffering ill effects.

“It’s about time you answered me, Kylian.”

Fuck.It was Dad. I slowed then pulled over to the curb. “I’ve been busy. Are you calling to find out how much Mom’s treatment costs so you can help?”

Something rustled, then a door shut, and I knew he’d done that so his very young wife wouldn’t hear him refuse to help. Jillian, Dad’s wife, wasn’t a bad person. She’d just hitched herself to a corrupt and much older one. And I already knew she didn’t like the idea of Mom suffering if Dad could help in some way.

“I’ve gone above and beyond to help your mom,” Dad growled. “I got her into that new treatment, which was no easy feat.”

“Yeah, you did, and we’re both grateful for that. The problem is she might not be able to stay in it if we can’t pay the bills.”

“Your mom is no longer my responsibility. That’s what divorce is all about, but if you want me to help, you know what you can do for me.”

“Are you kidding me?” I slammed my palm on the steering wheel. “You have more than enough money. Helping Mom wouldn’t put a dent in Jillian’s shopping allowance.” A low blow against her, but it was true.

“You better watch your tone about your stepmother.”

My stomach clenched in distaste. “She’s five years older than me. And I already have a mother. One who’s dying—and you could do something about it.” My gut cramped. I felt sick.Why can’t I make him see the big picture?“I’m running out of money. I can’t pay for more treatments. We need your help.” It killed me to ask him for anything.

“As I’ve said before, you know how to get it.”

“Fuck you, Dad. I’m not dating some contributor’s daughter to keep the funds rolling in for your campaign.” I didn’t wait for his response, hitting the end call button on the dash with more force than necessary.

He wouldn’t help without significant strings attached, and dating whoever that girl was would lead to marriage. It’d already been dropped casually in conversation with him, and the pressure was getting worse each time we spoke. I wouldn’t put it past him to announce my engagement to the press before I’d even gone on a date with whatever wealthy, entitled girl had her sights set on me so he could get what he wanted.

Dad expected me to trade my freedom for money. And I gladly would if I had no other options to save Mom’s life. But I did—I just needed an invite to the combine, and I would enter the draft early.

CHAPTER EIGHT

GIA

My spoon clinked against the saucer as the diner’s bell chimed. The air felt electrically charged, as if a storm was rolling in. I didn’t even have to look up. I knew it was him. Awareness tingled on the back of my neck. My senses heightened but not like they had with the panic attack. I didn’t know why, but I felt him when he was near. Before Kylian, I’d never experienced anything like it. With him, it just was.

He folded his large body into the seat across from me. Val zeroed in on him, but he declined to order anything. Then she was gone, and it was just us. He was heated. His shoulders were tense, and the muscle along his jaw jumped. I set down the spoon and lifted my eyes to meet his. I wouldn’t speak first. It didn’t matter. I didn’t have long to wait before he spoke.

“I’ve been looking for you for hours.” He waited for a beat.

I didn’t respond.

“Come back with me. I want to talk about everything. Explain.”

---