Page 61 of Fumbling for Perfection

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

RILEY

Since I’m supposed to be on my honeymoon and I don’t feel like explaining why I’m not onvacationto anyone at work, I stay holed up in my apartment. With the bags of groceries Walker had delivered, it means I don’t have to leave all week if I don’t want to.

I’m touched by the gesture, especially since he ordered all the foods I love. Berries and bananas, fresh vegetables, and protein. He even ordered a box of Cheerios and two gallons of milk. I chuckled at first. There’s no way I can drink two gallons by myself.

I understand the message though. After what he witnessed yesterday, I’m sure he’s worried I’m not taking care of myself, thus hurting the baby. Even though my appetite is gone, I make myself a bowl of cereal and slice a banana on top.

Normally, I’d rather read over watching television, but I don’t have the mental capacity to focus on the words, so I turn on the TV for a day of staring mindlessly while I binge watch reality shows.

The local news is covering an upcoming event, and I make a note to contact them for more coverage for the 5K this fall.

“Curtis. We hear you have breaking news in the world of sports. We’ve got good news coming to Boston, don’t we?” Monica, the news anchor, leads as the camera cuts to Curtis Pennington, the local sports reporter.

“We sure do, Monica.” The camera zooms to Pennington and I absently shovel cereal into my mouth. “Boston Revolutions’ GM Shawn Saunders reported this morning that they signed San Francisco's star running back, Walker Bankes, onto their roster.”

I drop my spoon in my bowl and don’t even care about the milk that splashes on my lap. The camera cuts to a press conference with Walker, Saunders, and the Revolutions’ head coach, Danny Hayes.

The room is filled with reporters, and the sound of cameras clicking, and constant chatter fills the air until Walker leans into the microphone. “Thank you for such a warm welcome. I’m thrilled to be here in Boston.”

My heart races in my chest and I feel my cheeks warm. He looks good. So good. His warm smile fills the screen and he plays with the bill of his Boston Revolutions’ baseball hat.

“Miami and Dallas were offering you twice what Boston is paying you. What made you decide to low ball it?” a reporter asks.

I cover my mouth with my hand and try to slow my breathing before my heart beats out of my chest. Was this why he came to the city so many times over the past two months? To negotiate? But why would he settle for less money?

“It would be insulting to the millions of hard-working Americans to complain about the salary I’ll be earning. I chose to be here. I want to be here. Money shouldn’t always be the end goal.”

More cameras click and reporters ask about his teammates in San Francisco, if he left on good terms, and who he’d like to see join him in Boston. I don’t realize I have tears in my eyes until the television blurs in front of me.

I wipe my eyes and take advantage of having Walker on the screen in front of me, studying all his features. Those stormy eyes and the slight wave in the front of his hair that is past due for a haircut.

“You have family in New England. Is that why you decided to settle for less money? To be closer to home?”

Walker keeps his charming smile fixed on the reporter who asked the question, but I can tell by his slow blink and the way his throat moves as he swallows that he doesn’t like answering questions about his family.

Hell, he didn’t even talk tomeabout them. Not that it would surprise me now. He hates me. Despises me. And I can’t blame him.

I wait at the edge of my seat for his response. In reality, it’s only seconds, but in my mind, and I’m sure in his, it takes forever for him to speak.

“Boston is a beautiful city, and the Revolutions are a respected team. It’s my honor to play for coach Danny and Shawn Saunders. I hope to make them and all the Revolutions fans proud of number thirty-three.” He winks to the camera, touches the tip of his cap and walks away from the podium.

When the news cuts back to the sports anchor, I turn off the television. Walker is here to stay. All the times he came to Boston, it was to meet with the team. I’m sure of it. I understand why he kept his career a secret. I can’t imagine how many women throw themselves at him purely for how handsome and sexy he is.

Add in his status as an NFL player and the millions that he earns, and that equals gold diggers and fake women and men who want to befriend him for the wrong reasons.

I don’t blame him for keeping his identity a secret, and it explains some of the looks he gets when we’re in public. From the women, it’s a no brainer. He’s beautiful. From the men, they must have recognized him.

Since Boston isn’t in the same division as San Francisco, we don’t hear as much about their players.

I can’t help but wonder if his decision to play here is partly because of me.Yeah, right.I don’t mean that much to him. If I did, he wouldn’t have treated me so coldly yesterday. Not that I blame him for that either. He thinks I purposely got pregnant. I couldn’t deny it completely. The thought entered my mind.

Jackson and Kendall pushed the idea, and I liked it. Not that I can blame them either. No one else was in the room with Walker and me when we had sex. But I was honest with Walker. I didn’t lie about not being protected, even if I thought about it for a hot minute.

Whatever happened in the past, we need to move forward.

Walker living in Boston will make it easier and harder. He still hasn’t responded to my texts I sent yesterday, and Jackson’s visit last night didn’t do much to fix the rift between Walker and me.

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