Page 42 of Quarterback Keeper

Fuck.She raised me. I got the message loud and clear, and I turned my head and flashed her what I hoped was a convincing smile. Dad was in the waiting room, pandering to the press he’d allowed to accompany him. The hospital wouldn’t let them near my room, but they didn’t stop the circus going on not far from it. Nor did they stop the giant flower arrangement, courtesy of Melanie, then Dad’s text scolding me for not letting her—my future wife, according to him—in to see me.

Dad was using me again. My misfortune generated headlines, and with my connection to Danbury Wilder, he was getting even more coverage, which only helped his campaign. The dull pain in my shoulder went ignored. I blocked as much of the bullshit from my dad as I could because Mom was right—she’d raised me. Not him. And she taught me not to wallow, or at least not for long. I had to pick myself back up and get to work. Ihad drive in spades, and nothing would stop me from achieving my goals.

“Ah, there he is.” Mom’s voice had softened as she stared at me, and the smile curving her mouth made her look younger than the disease ravaging her body usually allowed. Some color had returned to her face, even if her shoulder-length brown hair still looked dull. “He worked a miracle on your kidney and expects a full recovery. Focus on that. The damage to your shoulder wasn’t as bad as it appeared. Don’t listen to the general surgeon’s worst-case scenario. You know the orthopedic doctor’s prognosis is favorable. I know you. You’ll overcome this. You’ll miss games this year, but you still have your senior year and the combine then.”

“It’s not good enough. I need to be out there sooner. I’ll use some of the money left from Grandad’s trust for PRP injections.”

Aurora had released me from the contract’s terms the night before the fight with her ex. It felt wrong in the back of my mind, but I needed the money. I could help her in other ways. She would have a place to stay and my dad off her back, and I would make sure the fridge was stocked. And somehow, I would figure a way out of the Melanie deal so no obstacles would stop me from being with Aurora.

“Platelet-rich plasma injections might not get you there faster. But”—Mom sighed—“I support your decision. However, you’re not going to use your trust fund. I’ll talk to your father. He’ll pay for that and stop pressuring you to do whatever stupid scheme he’s concocted.”

She must have seen the doubt written all over my face because when she squeezed my hand, that steely determination that colored so much of my childhood blazed from her eyes. If Mom wanted something to happen, she always made sure it did. I just hoped whatever plan she was cooking in that brain of hers wouldn’t cause her body additional stress and a relapse.

“When do you speak to your docs?” Mom asked.

She’d had great news when I’d woken from surgery. And it was something that made me even more determined to fight for her and my dreams. Her terminal cancer was responding to the new treatment and shrinking. Her body was going into remission. She still had more treatments to undergo. We had bills to pay and living expenses to worry about. But for the first time, I had a hope that she might survive.

“Later this week,” I said. “But don’t worry about any of that. We got a win. We’re going to focus on that and your recovery.”

Mom’s phone rang, and she squeezed my hand, whispering that it was her doctor’s office and she would be back in a minute.

I clicked through a few channels on the TV until finally settling on a game show, and then a soft knock sounded. Everything in me relaxed when I spotted Aurora through the small window in the door.

“Hey.” Relief at seeing her batted some of the darkness away, letting a sliver of sunlight warm my foggy brain. “Are you okay? I thought you were right behind the ambulance.”Three days ago.It was ten in the morning, and I couldn’t figure out what had detained her, but I’d been worried something had happened.

“Yeah, I-I’m sorry.” She offered a shaky smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I wanted to see you, but your family was here, and I didn’t want to intrude. Not after everything that happened.”

“What are you talking about? I wanted you to come.” My hand closed around hers, needing the anchor because she was acting strange. That same vibe from the beginning, when she would run rather than talk to me, emanated from her.

“I need to tell you something.” She sniffed and yanked her hand free to swipe at her eyes. “I was scared. Desperate. But the truth is, I used you, and I can’t keep doing that. I never shouldhave gotten involved with you. I should have left when you found me on your boat and never made that deal.”

I was stunned into silence. My world was already uncertain, thanks to my injuries, and I could barely process her words.

She trembled as she slid my engagement ring from her finger and turned my hand over to press it into my palm. My fingers closed around it automatically, the diamond biting into my flesh.

“I’m sorry.” She choked on the words, whirled around, then fled from the room.

Stunned, I lay there, staring after her, unable to do a thing about her leaving.She never cared about me?Her words repeated through my head until I finally put two and two together. I might never play football again. It made sense. Her saying she didn’t care at this precise moment. She must have found out about the doc’s prognosis. He would have told her, since she was my fiancée.

The door opened slightly. Mom called after Aurora, then the door shut without coming in. Muffled voices filtered through. Trapped in the hospital bed, I had to endure parts of her speech all over again.

Seconds passed of blissful silence, then Mom entered my room, and I turned away, not wanting to see the sympathy in her gaze.

“I’m sorry, Kylian.”

I made the mistake of looking at her, and she winced.

Her hand curled around mine. “I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.”

My gut churned. It wasn’t a misunderstanding. My growing concern had been right—she’d used me. Aurora had never loved me or felt any of the things that I had for her. I was a fool. I was tired of the games. I’d been played, but Mom needed to know everything so she could let go of Aurora too.

“It’s not a misunderstanding. I need to tell you something.” I met her eyes, letting her witness the truth in mine, no matter how painful. I was done with the lies. “Our relationship was fake. I got her to go along with it because she needed a place to stay and my boat was an easy solution for that.” I explained the contract, the business agreement we had. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to give you everything you wanted so you wouldn’t have to worry about me.”When you leave.I couldn’t say that part. I didn’t know if I ever could.

“Oh, Kylian.” Mom sighed, sadness flooding her eyes. “I only wanted to know you would be happy after I left. That you had someone to take care of and love you. I didn’t mean to put so much pressure on you, and for that, I’m so very sorry. But?—”

Another knock sounded, and a spike of irritation shot through me at the interruption. I clenched my jaw before I lashed out at whoever the visitor was.

A man entered, his gaze skimming over me then latching onto Mom. Interest sparked in his eyes, and a crooked grin curved his lips. It was enough to distract me from how my world was crumbling around me.

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