Page 102 of Second Down Darling

It’s my turn to hug her. “Whatever you need, anything at all, I’m here foryou.”

“Thanks.” For the first time, her voice wavers. “I want to keep it, but that means giving up cheerleading, and I’ve worked so hard forthat.”

“I guess you couldn’t go back to it in the fall after you have the baby, could you?” The moment the words are out of my mouth, I want to yank them back because I know how demanding a newbornis.

She snorts. “Sure. I’ll breastfeed athalftime.”

We look at each other and start laughing. It’s that maniacal, ‘it’s too late to be questioning the big questions in life’ kind oflaugh.

After wiping her eyes, she shakes her head. “Not sure how I’ll manage my senior year with a kid intow.”

I grab her hand and give her a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be challenging, but it can be done. You’re the toughest girl Iknow.”

She sniffles. “I am kindabadass.”

We smile, and I give her ahug.

Now I just need to dig deep and find my ownbadassery.

I hope it’s in there somewhere. I’ll need it to deal with mysister.

41

JAKE

It’safter midnight before I manage to kick out Dakota and get Asher to bed. I immediately reach for the phone and try calling Charlotte, but it goes directly tovoicemail.

I’m sick about what happened tonight. I can only pray that Charlotte hears meout.

“Babe, it’s me. I’m so sorry for how shit went down. I had no idea Dakota was stopping by. I didn’t even realize she was in Texas. And IknowI didn’t handle your… your news… very well, and I apologize. I was caught off guard. We’ll make this work. Whatever it takes.” I wonder if she’ll even listen to my message. “I love you. Please call meback.”

I obviously hurt Charlotte’s feelings, and the thought keeps me up all night. I don’t blame her for being upset with me. She’s the last person I’d ever want to cause anypain.

Dakota spewing her nonsense didn’t help. She loves to pour salt in people’s wounds. I was so caught off guard by the pregnancy tests, I didn’t really hear much else in that conversation, but I can guess it wasn’t pleasant forCharlotte.

Ironically, last night I’d had some good news. A top-notch agent had reached out to me. I can’t sign with anyone until the playoffs are over, but I’m psyched he wants to repme.

So when someone knocked on the door, I thought it was Charlie and didn’t look through the peepholefirst.

Big fuckingmistake.

Like a record scratch, my head goes thereagain.

Is Charlotte really pregnant?The thought bombards me for the millionth time. Admittedly, my first reaction was notexcitement.

I don’t want to give NFL teams the impression I’m the player who goes around populating the earth with my seed. I’m not that guy. I’vealwaysworn condoms. I figured if I had kids with Charlotte someday, we’d both be well into our careers and settled. Not struggling to afford pull-up diapers and groceries andchildcare.

Coach will probably flip out when he finds out I’m responsible foranotherunplannedpregnancy.

I groan, feelingconflicted.

I love Charlotte. With all my fucking heart. Seeing my ex only solidified how I feel about my cupcake. She’s amazing. So positive and loving. So sweet and thoughtful. Literally everything I want in agirlfriend.

Definitely everything I want in awife.

But we’re not thereyet.

Got to get her to talk to mefirst.

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