Page 144 of It's Always Us

“What if she hates football or thinks I’m uncool or a complete imbecile? What if she’s really smart like Garrett, and I can’t keep up? Or she doesn’t take to me like Liv latched on to you right away? What if it takes years before she sees how cool and fun and smart I really am?”

I take a breath.

“Jeez, Mark.”

“I know.” I rest my head in my hand. “I need her to want me to take care of her.” This is the truth of it, and what if she doesn’t? What if she doesn’t want me to be a part of her life?

“Is that what you want?” His blunt question strikes.

I don’t have to think about it. “Yes. I don’t know her, but . . . I want to give her what I didn’t have. I understand more than ever why you did what you did for Maggie and the kids.”

“How old is she?” I’m certain Shane is rubbing his temples, trying to sort out my meltdown.

“Nine. She’ll be ten soon.”

He sighs, likely thinking about his family. “Just be yourself. Not the hyped-up life is grand guy. Be you. She’ll love you. And show her that she can count on you no matter what. She needs to trust you. One hundred percent. All the time.”

I think about it. I can do that.

“What’s happening there?” He pauses, and I know what he’s asking.

“Her court date is coming up. There’s a stack of charges. It doesn’t look good for her.”

Shane grunts.

“She doesn’t want me to be Bree’s guardian.”

“She shouldn’t get a say. What’s the social worker say?”

“Wait for the court date. You know how this goes.”

“What are you doing about it?”

Shane asks the question I’ve been wondering all damn day. There’s a lot at stake here, and the main thing is Bree’s life and safety.

“I need Maggie’s lawyer’s number. I could use some advice.”

“Yeah. I’ll get it to you.” He’s quiet for a second before he clears his throat. “You need to get her to change her mind.”

I pull in air and let it out, hearing him say the exact thing I don’t want to hear. I don’t want to see my mother. I don’t want to face or ever ask her for a single thing.

“This isn’t about you anymore. You have a little girl who, from the moment she walks in that door and knows you’re someone important to her, will rely on you to protect her and put her first.Thatis what you have to do. It’s what you’re doing for those babies.”

“You know what that means.”

“Sure do. And you can handle it. You are the best damn quarterback in the NFL. You’ve fought, overcome, and accomplished things little boys and grown men all over the world dream of doing.” He pauses. “Get your ass in there and tell her where to sign. You’re not asking.”

He makes it sound so simple.

“Who knows? Maybe it’ll help relieve some of the anger, too.”

I’m not sure that’s possible. “Don’t let me forget to put a word in for you when Dr. Phil retires.”

“Hang in there. You’re gonna do just fine with this kid and those babies. When it all settles, bring her out. These kids will show her how to really make you lose your damn mind.”

Bree, meeting my family sounds like too much to hope for at the moment.

“Thanks. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

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