“Kayla—”
“Even after we got together, White. I felt like you did it to try and save me or something.”
“Well, you were planning crazy shit. Someone had to step up.”
“Exactly. So here was White to the rescue, not because you returned my feelings, but because you cared about me and I was a responsibility.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Was it? I don’t think you realize how many times you let it slip that you were giving me a baby.”
“But…”
“How many times you said ‘I’ll give you what you want. I’ll make sure to give you your baby.’”
“I think you’re being unfair here. I don’t think I said those things, or if I did, at least not word-for-word and only at the very beginning.”
“But those are the words that sunk in. Those are the words that I digested and the ones that made me decide to stay on birth control.”
“So you’re saying it’s my fault you lied to me?”
“No. That’s all on me, but you inadvertently helped.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you let me go to the doctor and give a fucking sperm sample as well as a hundred other things.”
“I should have spoken up sooner.”
“Damn straight you should have.”
“I know, and you may not believe this, but I really did try. I just always chickened out.” White takes a breath and releases it loudly in the room. He rubs his hand over his face and closes his eyes. It’s then that I see the small, scruffy beard he’s growing, the lines under his eyes from lack of sleep, and a hundred other things that I hadn’t taken the time to notice. “You look tired.”
“I don’t sleep good without you in the bed.”
“I don’t either.”
“Tonight, you’re back with me.”
“What about Rachel?”
“I don’t give a fuck. I told you the baby is not mine. You just told me you believed me. We’ll wait it out and prove her wrong when the baby is born. I was only going after this so hard to prove it to you. I didn’t want you to have another reason to put distance between us.”
“I don’t want distance, White. I love you.”
“Then you’re in my bed tonight.”
“I’m in your bed tonight,” I agree, and really giving in is easy because I need it even more than he does at this point.
“Thank fuck for that at least.”
“Is your career really over?” I ask, walking to him. He pulls me down on his lap.
“Yeah. I’ve been facing it for a while now. I just didn’t want to admit it. I got the last doctor report back yesterday. I’m finished, Buttercup,” he says, his fingers tangling in my hair, and he holds me close.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I know how important football is to you.”
“I can’t remember you calling me sweetheart before. I like it.”
“I’ll make note,” I laugh, enjoying the feel of being in his arms and having him touch me.
“Do that. And, I’m not going to give up football completely. I have a few offers on the table.”
“You can’t play again, White. I won’t have you risking your health. It’s not that important. You can find something else you love; it will just take some time to adjust.”
“I didn’t mean playing, Buttercup. I have a few offers to coach, and I could always go into broadcasting. Lord knows those sports networks could use some colorful analysts that actually know about football.”
“As long as you’re happy.”
“I’d be happy if you and I didn’t have to leave this room.”
“God, me too.”
“I have one thing to ask of you, Kayla,” White tells me. I do everything I can to still the fear inside of me. This is White. I have nothing to fear with him.
“What’s that?”
“Someday, when you’re ready, you’re going to tell me what your stepfather did to you.”
“White…”
“I need to know, Buttercup.”
“It’s not what you’re thinking. He didn’t sexually touch me.”
“Thank God for that.”
“It’s… still, I don’t like to think about it or talk about it.”
“I’ll be here when you are ready.”
“Maybe we could get—”
“Fuck, White. You’ll never guess what Luka just found out for us,” Black says bursting through the door, and we both turn to look at him. He’s holding his phone in his hand and when he gets to us, the picture he has pulled up floors me.
Holy shit.