Page 45 of Cruel Love

It bothered me a lot that Grandad was being such a stubborn asshole. If he didn’t put the past behind him by the time our baby was born and apologize to Aspen, I would find a way to get through to him and make it happen. I knew how hurt he’d been by the rift with Aunt Linda and her family. He would want to be a part of my daughter’s life, and I wanted that, too, minus any controlling tactics. So for the time being, Aspen and I would give him space.

Shane, Mom, and I had a lot of shit to wade through with Joe, and we were making slow progress. It messed with my head that he’d followed every aspect of our lives from afar. Part of me wanted to call bullshit and be done with him, as I had in the past. Instead, I’d promised Shane I would give him a fair chance. He was flawed like the rest of us and hadn’t put our family over a shiny career, if it would even have come to that. He should have confided in Mom, but he hadn’t, and it had cost him—all of us, really.

But that wasn’t my objective today. Nor was the discussion we needed to have about targeting West Coast NFL scouts. My life and career depended on where I got drafted, but so did Aspen’s, and I wanted to tip the scales in any way I could. Coach had contacts, and one day soon, I planned to sit down with him and go over my options.

He wouldn’t like the other plan I had, but getting drafted early would be best for both my career and my family. I wanted be able to provide everything Aspen, our baby, and Mom could dream of, and I needed to attain that goal sooner rather than later. The risk of injury wasn’t something I took for granted, either, and Aspen and I would figure out a financial plan to save as much of my salary as we could in case my career was cut short. I didn’t want to entertain that, as the game was such an integral part of my life, but it was important.

But those topics weren’t as urgent as what I had to tell him.

The semester was ending, and Aspen couldn’t stay in the dorms any longer. I could pay her bill from the money I’d made off the bogus fight, but that wasn’t the only problem. I was done with underground fighting, and the money we had left would go fast. Once she went into labor, we would have even more bills. I toyed with a way to get her under Mom’s amazing insurance until I had my own from my dream job.

“Thank you for updating us on your medical progress, Phoenix,” Coach Jones said. “We look forward to a healthy season with you next year.”

“Me too. I’m determined to make next year and my third year something this school has never seen.”

Coach’s eyes sparkled, and a slow grin curved his mouth. “That’s what this year was supposed to be about.”

“It was. There were extenuating circumstances, as you know. But nothing will stop me. I know what I want, and that’s to get drafted in my junior year. I would like to strategize with you about the best way to make that happen.” I knew my part, and he was aware that I would give a hundred ten percent, as he’d witnessed it in the last month.

“I’m open to discussing that.”

I laughed. Coach knew me well from watching tape and listening to me analyze the game when I was redshirted.

“But there is something we need to discuss. He tapped a pen against his desktop, a deep frown marring his face. “I’ve heard rumors that some of my players are involved in underground fights.”

I said nothing. The mask I’d perfected settled over my features, and my emotions remained in check. Coach studied me, waiting for me to say something, but I wouldn’t. Incriminating myself wouldn’t do my future any good.

Coach sighed then tossed his pen down. “Are there money issues?”

I had to tread carefully here. “Not immediate ones, no.”

“Okay, Phoenix. Let’s get to the point here, because I know something’s going on with you since you called this meeting. What’s it about?”

Good. I needed to get down to what problems would face Aspen and me soon, and I hoped that Coach could help somehow. “My girlfriend is pregnant and can no longer afford to live in the dorms. Are there any strings you could pull to help us?” Silence stretched between us, and Coach’s eyes bored into me before he sighed and let his hand fall onto his desk with a thud.

“You’re young, so I hesitate to ask this question, especially with the fame you’ll be faced with, which can lead many men astray… How serious are you about this girl?”

I didn’t flinch, because I meant every word. “Since the accident and all the family drama lately, I’ve gained perspective. Life is too short, and I want to live it fully, not letting opportunities slip by. Aspen is the one for me. I know it. Fame and greed will not get in the way of what we have together. She’s my light, and our kids will be too.” Not a single cell in my body had any doubt.

“Okay, kid. There’s an option that I could rope into your scholarship. We have limited married housing if you want to go that route.”

* * *

I pressed the doorbell to the Savage residence. It was strange, as we’d always just gone in, but I wanted to talk to Uncle Lucas, and it felt like the right move. I could hear Raelyn telling Louisa, their housekeeper, that she would get the door. She opened it with a wide smile. Her hair was dyed a rich brown instead of blond, and it threw me for a second because of how much she looked like Riley.

“Phoenix, it’s so good to see you. Come in.” She held the door wide. “How are you feeling?”

“Great. And thank you for visiting me in the hospital.”

“What?” She waved away my thanks. “You’re family. Of course we would be there for you.” We walked inside, through the kitchen, and down the hallway that led to Lucas’s office. She rapped her knuckles against the door. “Lucas mentioned you would be stopping by to talk to him. Go on in.”

Raelyn squeezed my arm as she left and headed back the way we’d come. With a turn and push, I opened the door and entered my uncle’s spacious office. Built-in bookcases filled with legal texts lined the wall behind his large desk. There was a discreet bar to the left of the door and a few chairs around a small circular table.

He shut his laptop when I approached his desk, stood, and came around to envelop me in a bear hug. “I’m glad you stopped by. Is everything going okay?” His blue eyes darkened with concern.

“I’m fine. I wanted to talk to you about something going on and get your opinion if you still have time.” He ran multiple companies and still practiced law. He rarely had a free block of time, but I knew he tried hard to be available when we needed him.

Uncle Lucas rolled the sleeves of his white dress shirt to his elbows. Sans tie, he looked relaxed as he waved us over to the club chairs in the corner of his office. It was a more casual setting, which I appreciated. Sitting across from him while he was at his desk would have made this more difficult.

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