Page 46 of Quarterback Keeper

“You did not ruin his career. It wasn’t you who hurt him. And the doctors said that Kylian is making excellent progress. He has every reason to hope he’ll throw a ball again. He just needs physical therapy and a little more time to heal, and he’ll be back to where he was in no time.”

“That’s great news.” I smiled, but I knew it was weak. It didn’t change the fact that I’d brought danger to the table by accepting the fake relationship we had. On that, his dad was right. It would have been better for Kylian and everyone if I’d never climbed onto his boat. And he would be better off if I disappeared from his life.

“I know about the contract between you and my son.”

“Oh.” My face heated. “It doesn’t matter. Without both of us wanting to honor it…” I shrugged.

I wouldn’t make him stick to that, and verbally, I’d already released him from it. Besides, it wasn’t legal. I hadn’t signed the contract with my real name.

“Honey, you might be surprised by what Kylian wants to stand by, and you’ll never know if you don’t give him a chance to explain.”

With that, she patted my arm, got to her feet, and hopped onto the pier. Her words stuck with me even after she was long gone.Did Kylian tell her he wanted to talk to me?I knew how busy his schedule had been before he got hurt, and it had to be even worse with all the PT and makeup schoolwork he had.Plus, he would still be going to practice and doing some stuff,wouldn’t he?I imagined so, since it was such a huge part of his life.

I busied myself, putting the groceries away and straightening up. The day after the incident, I’d cleaned the blood off the floor and cabinets and even made some minor repairs. The place looked as if nothing horrible had happened.

Even with finding things to occupy my time after Evalyn left, I couldn’t get what she’d said out of my mind, and I ticked through the list of reasons why I shouldn’t see him.

It would be a risk.But his bills had to have been paid by his dad for most of his recovery, right?And his mom was doing amazing.Could his dad still hurt them if I talked to him?If Kylian’s career did end before it even began, that would be my fault. Well, technically, it would be Dayton’s, but I couldn’t avoid some of that blame. Still, the need to speak with Kylian was suddenly overwhelming. Screw it. All those reasons should stop me from risking it, but they didn’t.

I missed his smile, his strength, the way he took care of those who mattered to him, and all the times we’d talked. He could bring me to my knees with just a look or touch. With that reckless decision made, I hurried to shower and change into a sundress. I didn’t have a car, so I called for a ride to his condo.

The entire time, I berated myself for such a rash decision. I would have no one to blame if he refused to see me and I had to spend an equally large sum to pay for a ride back to the boat.

My stomach was a bundle of nerves, and my palms were sweating as I thanked the driver and hopped out of the car in front of Kylian’s building. When I pivoted to go toward the doorman, a flash of blond hair caught my eye. I jerked to a stop as Melanie Honeycutt—a.k.a. Science-Nerd Barbie—walked into his building.

I half turned, not wanting her or the doorman to see me or how much her being there hurt. Because I knew what that meant—he’d chosen her. I wasn’t enough for him to fight for. What I’d done—who I’d brought into his life—was enough to sever any feelings he might have had toward me. It was all my fault. Sort of. Maybe.

A rush of pain shot through me, so much that my knees threatened to buckle. I almost turned and fled. But I couldn’t. I loved him enough to fight for him. Enough to tell him about his father blackmailing me to see if, together, we could find a way around it. I straightened my spine. We had something unique, and I had to try to make things right one last time.

Decision made, I hurried toward his building just as the fine hairs on my arms and along the back of my neck rose. Dread pooled as I got the eerie sensation that someone was watching me. Worrying it was the press, I scanned the area. My gaze hitched on the tall blond man across the street, just out of sight of the doorman, looking directly at me. My stomach churned, and I had to swallow several times to avoid throwing up from the combination of fear and the need to run. I had my answer—Dayton was alive. And he’d come for me. But instead of running, I changed course and walked toward him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

KYLIAN

Could this day get any worse?I stood at the island across from Melanie Honeycutt. With her index finger—I was surprised it wasn’t her middle one—she pushed her black-rimmed glasses higher on her nose. I’d only opened the door because I was surprised by her appearance. It was a mistake to let her inside, and I knew that by the big envelope she’d slapped onto the counter.

Her blond hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and her black-framed glasses gave her a sexy-librarian vibe. Didn’t matter, though. I felt nothing. All I could picture was what Aurora would look like with her dark-brown hair like that, wearing a pair of those glasses and nothing else.Fuck. Why won’t she get out of my head?

The door opened, and Ares entered. Liam followed, and the door slammed shut behind him. Neither looked pleased at seeing Melanie. That made three of us.

“Saw Aurora at the café.” Ares went to the fridge, ignoring Melanie as he grabbed food to make a sandwich.

I read the disapproval loud and clear. Liam sauntered up to Melanie and threw an arm around her shoulders as he whistledunder his breath. “What have we here? You came to see me, didn’t you?”

“Get off me, ape.” Mel shoved at Liam.

He moved aside only because he wanted to. She was more like a gnat trying to move a mountain.

“I have no interest in anyone other than Kylian. And that brings me to why I’m here.” She shot a pointed look at my roommates. “If we could have some privacy, please.”

“This is a mistake.” Liam rapped his knuckles on the island before he headed to the couch and the remote, ignoring Mel’s eye roll. “Make me one, too, Ares.”

“Already did.” Ares grabbed the sandwiches and followed Liam but not before shooting me a disapproving look.

I got it. They were team Aurora, despite everything that’d happened.

“I still don’t know why you’re here, Melanie,” I said.

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