Page 34 of Quarterback Keeper

“But for how long?” That man had an agenda. I knew people like him. There would be no stopping Danbury Wilder from getting what he wanted. It wasn’t over. I should run, get away as quickly as I could. Definitely before the press got ahold of whatever story he would put out about me or find from snooping into my past.

“I don’t know how long. It’s probably not a good idea for us to stay on the boat tonight. I need to return to my mom’s, and I want you to come with me.”

“Are you sure? It might be easier for you if I left and you made the same deal with that girl your dad wants you involved with.” I refused to name Science-Nerd Barbie.

“No. That’s not happening. We made a deal, and I’m holding you to it. My dad will move on. He made his point, and I made mine.”

I got the sense that there was more to the story, but I left it alone, deciding to trust him instead. Sinking into his side, I borrowed his strength. I felt safe with him and didn’t want to ruin it by pressuring him about details or what came next. “Okay, just let me grab my stuff.”

With my bag stowed in his SUV, he drove us to his mom’s place. Leaning back against my seat, I studied him. Tension rolled off him in waves.

“Can you get notes for your missed classes?”

“Yeah, I got it covered. This is more important. I can’t skip practice, though.”

“I can stay with her when you have to leave.” I shrugged. “It’ll be good to hang out with her anyway, and I can cook.”

“That would work.” He grinned then pulled into an open spot about a block from his mom’s brownstone.

We didn’t say anything more as we hurried from the SUV and into her building. While we waited for her door to open, I struggled to not let him hear how out of breath I was after climbing all those stairs—at his superhuman speed—without using the railing to pull myself up. I mentally rolled my eyes because, of course, Mr. Superstar Athlete wasn’t suffering with me.

The door opened, and Kylian’s mom’s joyful smile settled my discomfort.

“Well, isn’t this a nice surprise? I didn’t expect you today.” She stepped aside. “Come in.”

A tremor ran through Kylian’s body as he hugged his mom. I rubbed my chest, trying to ease the ache at seeing someone who exuded so much confidence look scared, despite the way he shouldered his dad’s threats with ease.

I shut the door behind us and stepped fully inside the apartment. Kylian ushered his mom to the couch and sat beside her, angling so they faced each other. I leaned against the door, not knowing what to do.

“Dad hasn’t stopped by or called, has he?” Kylian stretched his arm along the back of the couch.

“No.” Evalyn pulled her discarded blanket over her legs, her eyes narrowing. “Why?”

“He’s threatening to kick you out.”

“What do you mean?” Her voice sharpened, and I shifted from foot to foot. “Explain. Don’t hide anything from me. It’ll only come back around to blindside us if you do. And, Gia, please have a seat, hon.”

I took the only other seat in the room, her recliner, which she probably spent the most time in. It felt wrong to sit there, to be a part of the intimate moment between mother and son.But if I were his fiancée for real, wouldn’t I be present for something like this?I held as still as possible, trying not to be a distraction.

Kylian didn’t waste time. He relayed what had happened at the campaign fundraiser his father had asked him to attend and his pressure on Kylian to make one of his benefactors happy by threatening to throw Evalyn out on the street. “I can’t imagine he’ll do it. Displacing you would make him look bad.”

Evalyn scoffed. “You’re right. No man who wants to be a senator will risk bad press by tossing his terminally ill ex-wife to the curb.” She laid a hand against his cheek. “I’m proud of you, but maybe we should talk about this wedding, since everyone in the room knows it’s not real.”

“Mom.”

My mouth fell open, and I met his apologetic gaze with my wide one.

“No offense to you, dear.” Evalyn took in my shocked expression and grimaced. “You’re lovely, and I would love nothing more than to call you my daughter-in-law, but the timing is suspect, and I know my son. He’ll do anything to make me happy.”

“Our engagement is real, Mom.” Kylian’s voice didn’t even waver. “Maybe we would have waited to set the date until after I settled in whatever city and team I sign with, but there are extenuating circumstances.”

I sucked in a slow breath, appreciating how he didn’t say what those were—not only about his mom’s terminal illness but my homeless situation.

“We can talk about it later.” She leaned against the couch as if it took too much strength to sit up without its aid.

“Evalyn.” I cleared my throat to get rid of how shaky my voice sounded. “I would love nothing more than to be a part of your family.”

“In my heart, you already are, Gia.” She smiled, stood slowly, then bent to hug me. “I’m tired, but you’re both welcome to stay. I’m going to take a nap.” She turned to Kylian at the entrance to the hallway that led to what were probably the bedrooms. “Don’t worry about your father. He won’t throw me out and risk the press catching wind of his actions. He’s not that stupid.”

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