Page 12 of More Than A Game

God, he smells good.

“She was so pissed at me when I met her at the doctor’s office. It was like she didn’t want me there, but she told me where to meet her and what time. She told me that I’d better be there and then got pissed when I showed up. It was like she didn’t think I’d come.”

I shift so I’m facing his profile.

Murphy stares out into the distance as if he can’t bring himself to look at me. “She was pissed at me for being there but grabbed my hand once the doctor came in and never let go. It was the strangest thing. I barely know her.

“One minute, she was mad as hell, the next minute she was clinging to me like I was a lifeline, and all I kept thinking was this has got to be one of the worst moments in my life.”

He breathes deeply before continuing, “There’s no baby.

I don’t know why I feel the overwhelming relief that I feel. But I’m so grateful about that, I think I could cry.

Murphy pulls me from my thoughts when he keeps going. “They said she didn’t miscarry. The doctor said there never was a baby. Her blood levels were normal. They did a sonogram, and everything was normal. They called it a false positive. The tests she took were wrong. They might have been expired.”

He glances at me before looking back out over the field. “Tessa started to cry. I thought she’d be relieved. I was relieved. This was the best possible scenario for me, but she seemed heartbroken. I held her and let her sob until she calmed down. Then she slapped me across the face and told me she never wanted to see me again.”

Finally, Murphy turns his green eyes my way and holds them there. “I could have cried because I was so relieved, and she was crying out of complete devastation. Why? Why would she be devastated?

“We’re freshmen in college. What the hell do we know about having babies and raising kids? Why would she want that now? And why with me?

“She doesn’t know me. She can act like I’m the bad guy here, but we both got what we wanted the one and only time we hooked up, and it wasn’t like I was the only one who didn’t call. Now all of a sudden, I’m an ass, and her heart is broken.

“What the fuck am I supposed to do with that? What the hell did I do wrong?” Frustration is written all over the hard planes of his face as he runs his hands through his messy hair.

I itch to touch him and offer comfort, but that’s not me. That’s not the relationship we have. “Murphy, I hope I’m not overstepping here, but you’ve got to be careful about girls like Tessa. I don’t know her well, but I know of her. She lives on the same floor in my dorm, and I’ve heard her and her suitemates talk. You’re a big-time football player here, and people have already started talking about the pro potential of the freshman players on the team.

“You’ve been photographed at Philadelphia Kings games with Nat and Coop’s dad. Girls talk. It’s sad, but there are a whole group of girls who think the potential to land a future pro athlete is the best part of this school. They don’t have any life goals beyond being a trophy wife. It’s disgusting.”

“Yeah, I guess. The coaches talked to us about that shit earlier too. It’s just fucked up. I don’t know if that’s what she was thinking or not, but I feel like a shit, and it’s pissing me off. I’m a decent guy. I don’t want to be the reason a girl cries, but I sure as shit am fucking relieved as hell that I’m not gonna be a dad yet.”

He seems to come back to himself after that. It’s almost like life comes back into his eyes. He glances down at the brown leather watch on his wrist. “Sabrina...what the hell are you doing out here at nine at night by yourself? Shouldn’t you have Secret Service with you or some shit?”

“Ha ha. Hilarious. My dad’s a senator, not the president. I don’t get a Secret Service detail, thank God. I was running the track. The lighting is better here at night than the trails.”

“Why the hell were you running alone at night? Seriously? You’ve got to know better than that. It’s not safe.” The glint in his eye has gone from sad to pissed-off.

What the hell?

“You’re kidding, right? It’s a half mile from my dorm to this field. The field is lit until...well, late, I guess, because it’s still lit now. I only run at night once or twice a week. Most of the time, I try to get it done in the morning. It isn’t too bad, I swear.”

Standing up, he extends his hand toward me. “Come on, Princess. I’ll walk you back to your dorm.”

I eye his hand. “The last time you offered me your hand, I ended up in the pool, Aiden. I really don’t feel like being pushed down the steps this time.” I stand up, untie my hoodie from my waist, slip it over my head, and then walk down the bleachers ahead of him.

He stands there for a minute before following me down. “I wouldn’t have pushed you down the stairs, smart ass. I’m still walking you home though. My momma taught me better than to let a pretty girl walk home alone.”

I shake my head but smile, seeing the Murphy I’m used to making an appearance.

“Sure. Why not.”

What could go wrong?

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