Page 14 of Bound and Blitzed

“Then what happened?” she asks quietly.

“Then, I fucked off. Everyone thinks I ruined Mila’s reputation while mine somehow remained unscathed, but that’s bullshit. I mean, I did hurt her reputation. She lost her job because of me.”

Valentina winces.

“There was too much tension, a conflict of interest.” I flick my wrist to indicate there was more. “I came out on the other side as the champion quarterback. Sexiest Man Alive. Super Bowl winner,” I rattle off accomplishments that don’t fill me with the sense of pride I thought they would. “But it’s my reputation that is truly ruined. No one fully trusts me. They cheer me on because I can throw a football now. Not because they respect or admire me as a man. And the more I understood that, the more I lashed out. Partying, women, no consequences.”

Valentina watches me, her expression carefully neutral. I can’t tell what she’s thinking, so I forge ahead.

“I don’t want to be that man. I haven’t for a long time. And I’ve been working on it, on myself, for the past few years. I made peace with Mila. I tried to help Raia and Cohen find their way back to each other when they nearly broke up. I show up for my team and try to be the leader they need me to be. But…I want more, Lena. And I know after everything I just said, you probably won’t believe me, but I swear to you, I can be that man for you. If given the chance, I won’t stray. I won’t fuck around or fuck off. I’ll show up; I’ll be your constant.”

“But what’s in it for you?” she repeats, still looking bewildered.

“The opportunity to prove to myself that I can be the right kind of man. One my grandpa and dad can be proud of. The kind of man people admire for more than football.”

Valentina pushes out a deep exhale, her cheeks puffing out. She seems to consider this for a beat before saying simply, “I believe you, Avery.”

I tilt my head, calling her bluff.

“You just did your confession and it’s as if you want penance. Any man willing to put himself in that position is being honest. At least, I know you mean your words. We will have to wait to see how you do with your actions.”

“I won’t hurt you,” I swear.

“But you won’t love me either,” she whispers. And then, her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“It’s okay. We should be honest. I don’t know about love. I don’t know if I’m capable of it. Hell, I don’t think I was truly in love with Mila. If I was, I wouldn’t have cheated on her, and she’s the only woman I’ve ever had a real romantic relationship with.”

“You’re capable of it, Avery. We all are,” Valentina replies. “I just never imagined getting married without being in love. It’s…something to wrap my head around I guess.”

“Yeah,” I say, understanding where she’s coming from. “I can promise you my friendship, my honesty, my home, and my family and passport.”

“You’re really serious. You would do this.”

“For you and for me.”

“Wow, okay,” she murmurs. “I can offer you my friendship, my honesty, my overbearing family, and my terrible cooking.”

I grin. “Sounds perfect.”

Valentina laughs, her cheeks flushing a delicate pink. “How do we tell people? No one will believe it.”

“I have an idea but it’s truly awful,” I offer.

She lifts an eyebrow.

“We’re going to have to lie. To a lot of people,” I say slowly.

She winces. “Tell me.”

“We get married in secret and we don’t tell anyone. Instead, we let our families, our friends, think we’re dating and it’s getting serious quickly. You’ll move in with me or I’ll move in with you.” I shrug. It hardly matters which, it’s only two floors difference. “And after a few months, when I propose, our families and friends will think we fell quickly and had a whirlwind romance, and our marriage will be believable even though we’re already married.”

“But the timing won’t match up with my paperwork,” she points out.

“Do you think a few months will matter?”

“For your country’s immigration department? Yes.”

“Right.” I sigh. “A pregnancy scare?”

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