Page 98 of A Quarterback for Christmas

“Because I could see a teen pregnancy in my future, and I didn’t want you two to become another statistic. You both deserved more than that.”

I’m floored. Metaphorically, of course. Sitting in this chair, I feel like I should flip the table over and scream. Not only were timing and fate working against my relationship with Drew, but my dad was too.

Instead of throwing my arms dramatically, I fold them and lean back onto the chair. I need to be rational in this conversation since there’s still potential that I could get Drew back on the team. “Bit dramatic, don’t you think, Dad?”

My dad adjusts his hat. “You try being a father to a teenage daughter you see daily at work. Do you think I don’t know how guys your age talk about girls like you?”

“Drew’s not like that.”

“Exactly. And he’s been through enough with his dad. I thought I was done with you and Drew after high school. If I had known he was still harboring feelings for you, I would have let you stay in London until he left for the draft.”

“What are you talking about?”

He lets out a low, sarcastic chuckle. “Guessing he didn’t tell you about prom?” I shake my head, not sure what he’s referring to. “He came to our house once wearing a shirt and tie, asking to speak to your mother and me? He looked like a skinny accountant but had this whole speech prepared about how he wanted to ask you to the formal. I was hesitant to say yes, but the boy gave me a timeline, so I knew when to expect you home and contact details of everyone you would be with.”

Was this the formal Drew mentioned before? The one where he had to go with Becca because I went with Jimmy instead?

“I reluctantly said yes. Figured he must be serious about you if he was willing to risk our relationship to date you. It was only after you came home squealing about that idiot Jimmy that I realized you had turned Drew down.”

I didn’t turn him down. He never had the chance to ask, but I’m still unsure how I would have reacted back then. “I thoughtthat was the end of it, but then I noticed that whenever you were at games, he seemed distracted and wasn’t as invested in winning.”

The pieces come together, and I’ve never felt more betrayed than right now. My own father stifled my happiness because he thought that was what was best for me. “Is that why you essentially banned me from home games?”

A sad, sympathetic smile forms on his face. “Honey, I love you, but I didn’t want Drew to lose out on the opportunity of a scholarship over a girl that barely noticed his existence.”

Oh, I noticed his existence, alright. I always have.

Would things have been different between us if I had known all this at the time? If he had the opportunity to ask me out? Would I have said yes? Would we still be here right now, or would we have ended before?

“How many people know that it’s you in that video?” Panic instills in his face, but I’m too busy trying to piece together everything to care about it. It’s not like any of this matters without Drew here.

“No one knows except you and Drew.”

His shoulders slump, that little piece of information offering him some relief. “You’re sure no one else knows? You haven’t mentioned it in passing?”

I raise a brow. “How would I mention that in passing?”

“Bella, if this video spread as fast as I’m told it has through campus, then there’s a very real possibility you could have mentioned how it ends.”

I wince and swallow down the vomit because this is the worst conversation to be having with my father. Ever.

“I have not told anyone about the ending of the video,” I say calmly but stare at my toes. “I only went out once with Drew on campus a few days before the video came out.” My dad’s face flushes red with anger. “I didn’t just hang out with Drewthat night. Jacob, Reese, Justin, and Jonah were all there too. I don’t think anyone would remember it was Drew I was with.” I know because I made sure of it. As much as I wanted to prove that Drew was mine, subconsciously opening myself up to the scrutiny was too hard, and I just ended up hanging out with anyone but him.

Grabbing my shoulders, my dad bends down to look me in the eyes. “Bella, this is serious. You have to promise me that you won’t tell anyone that it’s you. If you’re asked, you will deny everything because it’s a bad enough scandal that one of the players was caught in that position, but if it comes out that the coach’s daughter was involved, we will lose everything.” I can hear the panic in his voice, and the realization that I majorly fucked up finally hits me. I’ve not only ruined Drew's life and any chance I might have to be with him, but I’ve put my father’s career on the line. He gave me the key, after all. “If anyone finds out it’s you, or worse, that you lured Drew into it, this could come down like a pile of shit on the both of us.”

“If it came out, I wouldn’t let that happen. I would say I stole the key and did it. You and Drew don’t deserve the punishment. I do.”

His brows crease, and he looks at me incredulously. “Belly. You’ll lose everything if you admit this. You can’t.”

I shrug. “Losing everything doesn’t seem so bad when you’ve lost the one thing that means the most.” Wow. Out of everyone, I didn’t think my dad would be the first person I’d admit that to. His face softens. “Drew doesn’t deserve to take the full heat on this.” Or Brianna, for that matter, as I’m pretty certain everyone has already decided it’s her in the video, which I know Drew would have denied vehemently, but that probably made it look worse.

It’s finally time I take accountability for my actions and stop blaming everyone else. I don’t care if Drew thinks it’s over; it will never be over between us. I will fix this.

“Where’s Drew? I need to talk to him.”

“Isabella,” he warns, and I know he means business since he only uses my full name when I’m in trouble. “Don’t do anything stupid. We need to talk about this before you gotalkingto Drew again.”

“No offense, Dad, but Drew’s the one I should be talking to about this. We’re together.” It’s a little white lie, but I’m not letting Drew slip through my fingers so easily. Not this time.

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