Page 35 of Red Zone

“That’s the thing,” Uncle Tommy said, his voice low. “They swear Jackson was clean. He passed every drug test we gavehim. I’ve even seen the tests. They keep pointing to preexisting conditions, overexertion—anything to explain it away. But none of it feels right.”

I nodded slowly. “And the other players? Have they said anything?”

Uncle Tommy’s jaw tightened. “Not a word. They’re loyal to their coaches. They’re defending them, saying it’s all legit. But loyalty only goes so far. If something else is going on, someone will slip eventually.”

“It’s a tightrope,” Aunt Eileen added, her gaze flicking between us. “If there’s nothing to find, pushing too hard could fracture the team. But if there is something…” She trailed off, her lips pressing into a thin line.

Uncle Tommy leaned back in his chair, staring at his coffee. “I put some feelers out. Steve Mack, Jackson’s position coach, was in talks with another college for a head coaching position. I just want to do right by these kids. But I don’t even know where to start.”

I placed a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. “I’ll help you, Uncle Tommy. Whatever it takes, we’ll figure this out.”

His eyes softened, and he gave me a faint nod. “Just… be careful, Skye. If there’s nothing to this, I don’t want you stirring up trouble that could hurt the team. And if there is something…” His voice hardened. “The people involved won’t take kindly to being exposed.”

“I can handle it,” I said.

Aunt Eileen’s sharp look told me she wasn’t convinced. “I know you think you can,” she said, her voice firm. “But this isn’t something we want you digging into because you took on an internship that involves the team.”

“You might feel connected because you were the one who found Jackson, but this isn’t something we want you lookinginto, Skye.” Uncle Tommy leveled a stern gaze my way. “Leave it to the police to figure things out.”

I hesitated before nodding. “I promise.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LIAM

Kylian, Ares, and I got to Coach’s house early to help with any needed prep for the mostly indoor gathering. It was an unseasonably warm day and most of us wouldn’t mind being outside—which I was sure his wife would appreciate.

Since Kylian was the team captain, he’d planned to be there first thing anyway, and it just made sense for Ares and me to ride with him. Besides, I couldn’t wait to see Skye and her adorable daughter again. Our kiss yesterday had played on repeat in my mind all night long. It was innocent, and I could’ve sworn it affected her the same way it had me.

I felt like I was walking a tightrope whenever I thought about it. The NFL was everything I’d worked for, but with Skye, it was like someone had tilted the balance, making me question what mattered most. I didn’t have room for distractions, but maybe she wasn’t one. Maybe she was the thing holding it all together.

During the car ride, Ares and Kylian grilled me about yesterday’s photo shoot. I hadn’t told them much, just that I’d learned Lily’s dad wasn’t in the picture—which left an opening for me to get closer to Skye. Her having a kid didn’t scare me. I liked spending time with the little spitfire. If anything,Lily made me want it even more—to prove I could handle the responsibilities off the field as well as I did on it. But wanting and having were two different things, and I couldn’t let my emotions screw up the biggest shot of my life. But I had thought it weird that Skye said the dad wasn’t present, as I knew she and Mav were still close.Could it be that he isn’t the father after all?

As Ares steered the conversation to the photo shoot, I tried not to let my face give anything away.

“Man, you’re already halfway to playing house,” Ares teased, leaning over the seat. “You and Skye tag-teaming bedtime stories yet?”

I rolled my eyes, but the thought hit harder than it should’ve. “She’s got a kid,” I said, lightening my tone. “Doesn’t mean I’m stepping in.”

Kylian chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, but you want to. You’re not fooling anyone, Liam.”

Maybe I wasn’t.

It was the first gathering Coach Becket had held since he was hired my sophomore year. The team meant so much to me—everyone except Calvin, the second-string quarterback who was unfortunately present—and we’d all been there for each other through thick and thin. Aside from being with my sister, hanging out at Coach’s house gave me the definition of family.

We helped Coach’s wife set out the side dishes where we would be eating inside, and I chased Lily around the yard when she burst through the back door and made a beeline for me.

When I headed into the kitchen, Eileen handed me a stack of plates to carry to the tables inside, her gaze lingering on me longer than it should’ve. “You’ve got a way with kids, Liam. Natural, even.” Her tone was light, but her eyes told another story—like she was piecing together a puzzle I didn’t know I was part of.

“Kids are easy.” I shrugged it off.

“Not always,” she replied, her eyes flicking to Lily, who’d followed me in. “But you seem to have a knack for it.”

Thirty minutes later, the rest of the team had mostly arrived, packing the yard with athletes. Skye found me and Lily just as Calvin strolled by, pausing with his signature asshole smirk as he checked her out.

“Hey, baby. When are you going to do a feature on me?”

I tensed, setting Lily down but keeping a grip on her hand so she wouldn’t take off and get trampled by one of my teammates tossing a ball around. “Second string doesn’t draw the crowd, Calvin.”

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