Page 36 of Personal Foul

That fucking blue cast.

I walk over and sit down on the edge of the bed and run my hand through his hair.

“Hey honey,” I say softly.

Nick rolls over, frowning. “Ma? Why are you home? You’re not supposed to be home yet.”

“Nickolas, did you really think I wouldn’t come home knowing you were hurt?”

“I’m fine, Ma.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s up for me to decide, and that cast says otherwise,” I deadpan.

“It was an accident, Ma. Accidents happen. I’m a boy.”

“We will talk about this tomorrow, okay? You get some rest.” I lean forward and kiss his forehead. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Ma.”

I walk to the door and stop, looking over my shoulder to just look at him.

He is everything.

I shut his door softly and make my way downstairs.

“How is he?” Garrett asks.

“He claims he’s fine.”

“Broken bones goes with raising boys. Your dad already broke three by the time he was Nick’s age,” Pops chimes in.

“I’m so sorry,reina.”

“Dad, Pops, I would like a moment alone with Garrett.”

“Sweetheart,” Dad tries to get my attention.

“Go.”

“Go easy on him, sweetheart.” Pops pats my shoulder and follows Dad upstairs.

I wait until I know they are upstairs.

“What in the fuck were you thinking taking him to the field? That’s no place for a kid. What the hell were you teaching him?”

“He asked me to, besides we’ve played catch before. He wants to be a football player. If he’s going to do that, he needs to know the right techniques.”

“Obviously you don’t know them. How else did he end up with a broken fucking arm, Stone?”

“It was an accident, Reagan. I didn’t do it on purpose. He landed wrong. It was an unforeseen event. I would never purposely hurt him.”

My emotions are going haywire. I can’t even think straight. That’s the only reason that I can give for the next words out of my mouth.

“Just like you would never let your QB get hurt, right? Isn’t that what you said about Alonzo Sanchez. ”

I see the change in him immediately. It was a low blow and I know it.

“You’re scared and hurt right now, so I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that. That you didn’t use my confession against me.Reina, you mean the world to me, as does Nick. You know I wouldn’t let him get hurt on purpose.”

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