Long: A Secret Baby Sports Romance(62)

27





Gibson





I had Avery on my mind the next day. Avery was the only thing I could think about. She came over early that morning, took my vitals, and walked with me to class.

Things seemed easy. We talked, joked, and laughed like nothing had happened. Five thousand dollars in cash was still stashed under my bed, but that didn’t seem to matter anymore.

As I went through class, I kept thinking about the mafia and that man. He had asked me if I wanted to throw an entire game for more money, but he made it seem like I had a choice. And I knew what my choice had to be, especially considering the way Avery had reacted.

I had to say no. Even though that money could set us up, there had to be other ways. I couldn’t risk alienating Avery again, not when we seemed to be moving past that first issue.

Classes dragged by, and I just kept thinking about Avery. When they were finally over, I headed back toward my apartment, knowing she’d be meeting me there.

I had never felt like this before. I’d been with plenty of girls in my life, but Avery was the first one who made me excited to just be around her. I wanted to strip her fucking naked and lick that pussy until she screamed, sure, but I also wanted to talk to her after. I wanted to make her laugh, and I wanted her to make me laugh. I wanted to be close to her and to feel her breath against my chest, and that was something I’d never really wanted before.

I didn’t get close to people. Too many times in my past I got fucked over by people close to me. And ever since I got famous playing college football, people wanted things from me. It was really hard to tell who was a real friend and who just had their hands out, wanting more and more than I was willing to give.

Cathy was like that. She just wanted to be around because I was a football player. She didn’t really give a fuck about me at all, and that was clearer and clearer every day. She only ever threw herself at me when I won games.

It was different with Avery. She didn’t seem to care about football all that much, and she barely asked me about it. She seemed more interested in asking about my past and getting to know me as opposed to learning about my football insights.

That was so rare for someone like me, and that just really drew me toward her. It made me think she was real.

And the baby inside her was real, too. That was the realest thing in my life. Before, I had myself to worry about. I had to worry about making the pros because that was my dream. But now I needed to make the pros because I needed the money to take care of Avery and our baby. I wasn’t playing for just my team and myself anymore. I was playing for Avery and our baby.

That motivated me more than anything else could have.

I got to my apartment and stepped inside. I changed into my practice clothes real fast, and not long later I heard a knock at the door.

I pulled it open, expecting Avery. Instead, the mafia man, Rafa, from the other night was standing there, smiling at me.

“Hey there, Gibson,” he said.

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking up on you.”

“You can’t be here.”

“Relax,” he said. “I’m just here to chat.”

“I don’t have anything to say.”

“Well, we left something important between us. I wanted to hear your thoughts on that.” He smiled that confident smile. “Let me in?”

“No,” I said, stepping out and closing the door behind me. “My roommate is in there.”

“Okay. Then we’ll talk in the hallway. Have you considered my proposal?”

“No,” I said. “I’m not doing it.”

He grinned and nodded. “I thought you’d say that. I figured you were having second thoughts.”

“If you’re here to convince me, don’t bother.”

“Well now, there’s a problem, Gibson. You see, we want you to throw a game for us.”

“I said I’m not doing it.”

“Yeah, I know what you said. But if you don’t do it, I’ll leak our little secret to the media, and maybe I’ll break your fucking knees for good measure.”

I stared at the man named Rafa, surprised by the anger rising up inside me. This man was dangerous, probably a killer, but the only thing I wanted to do was beat his ass down into a bleeding little pulp. I figured I could do it, too, though I wasn’t sure if he’d actually kill me or not.

I didn’t have to make that decision. I heard someone come up the stairs and stop at the top. I looked over, and Avery was staring at us.

Rafa looked over at her and then back at me. “Consider my proposal, Gibson,” he said. “Decide fast.” Rafa walked away, nodding at Avery as he passed.