Page 2 of Their Perfect Daddy

My phone goes off in my hand, our parents texting me to ask what’s going on. Apparently, the broadcast of the game has cut out while they assess the damage. I text them back to say I don’t know anything yet.

“Micah!” I turn at the shout, my wide eyes meeting Finn’s sad ones. “They’re here to take you to him.”

It takes me a second to focus on the man standing at the end of the aisle. He’s wearing the team colors and has a badge that I recognize from when Cherise helped me around the stadium.

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

I stand on shaky legs, following him down the tunnels to the locker room area. It’s empty now, the team still on the field.

We make it back to the room where a few beds are set up and medical equipment is strewn about.

“They’ll bring him down in a minute. He’ll need initial scans to decide if he’s going to the hospital.”

“Hospital?” I ask pitifully.

I’m not even sure what happened or how he was hurt. Thinking of him going to the hospital hurts.

The man waits with me in silence as I try to process what to do and how I feel. I’m just about to ask what’s taking so long when the noise around us ratchets up several decibels.

A flurry of movement bursts through the door as Monty is brought in on a stretcher. I see he’s awake. And he appears to be in a shit ton of pain.

They put him on one of the tables, then set to work cutting him out of the uniform. I keep to the side, my gaze never leaving his too still form.

This isn’t my brother. He doesn’t stop moving, not even asleep.

“Fuck,” he cries out as one of the men works to remove his shoes.

I’m about to cry myself, the worry over him making me sick. And it’s not just for him. We watch as they finally get him stripped enough to assess the damage. Even from where I’m standing, I can tell it’s bad.

Bone isn’t meant to poke out of skin.

CHAPTER 1

MONTY

Months before The Injury

There are two very significant moments in my life when I thought I had it all figured out. The first was when I found out I was going to get a stepbrother and a new parent. The idea of having a traditional family made me so happy.

The second was when I was drafted to the Bulldogs. It felt like the universe allowed me to stay in Bellport despite having interest from other teams.

Years later, I still use those moments as a guidepost for when major life events happen. I compare everything to them, asking myself if I’m just as happy now as I was then.

I’ve been chasing the high for ages. Nothing comes close. I’ve reached the pinnacle of happiness already.

No matter the number of friends I have or the parties I throw to keep myself surrounded, it’s all a loss. It’s all pointless.

But then my brother decides to come to one of my games.

And I get that feeling again. The one that sends excitement racing through my veins.

I play my heart out on that field, showing him his little brother is pretty fucking awesome—if I do say so myself. After we demolish the other team, I invite him to a party at my place, to which he actually agrees. I’m more than a little excited to get to tell everyone he came to support me.

Since I do so well on the field, the guys ply me with drinks as soon as they arrive at my place. By the time Micah shows up, I’m more than a little drunk.

I spot him from where I’m propped up in the kitchen when he struts in with a guy by his side. A really hot guy.

Fuck.

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