Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89658 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Sounds like you’re in good hands.” Dr. Stern nods at me, smiles at my girl, waving at the phone, and leaves us alone.
I turn the camera back to face me. “I’m sorry,” I say before she can.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. If anyone needs to be apologizing, it’s me. I avoided you, and then there’s my mom….” Her voice trails off.
“I love you, Josephine Henderson.”
Her brown eyes soften, and once again well with tears. “I love you too.” She huffs out a breath, looking up at the ceiling. When her eyes find mine again, she’s composed herself. “I’ll be at the airport. Is that okay? If I wait there for you?”
“Yes.” There is nothing that I want more.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” she asks again.
“You heard the doctor. I’ll be just fine.”
“Have a safe flight. I’ll see you later tonight.”
“We’re wheels up in three hours later.” Caleb tells her. That’s if everyone showers, and gets through their press interviews in time. I hope it’s sooner than that so I can get to her.
“I’ll be there.”
“Love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you too.”
The flight did nothing to ease my headache. It didn’t help that Dr. Stern, Caleb, and Coach Matthews all kept checking on me, as well as some of the other guys. It didn’t go unnoticed to me that Coach Henderson wasn’t one of those people. Hell, I’m not even sure he was on the plane. I took a seat in the back and closed my eyes, willing the flight to be over.
I see her before she sees me. She’s sitting outside the Starbucks with her Kindle in her hand. I know she’s engrossed in whatever book she’s reading. My girl loves her stories. With my suitcase wheeled behind me, I take a seat next to her. She turns to smile kindly, but as soon as she sees that it’s me, she launches herself into my arms, only to pull away just as quickly.
“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” Her eyes take me in once again, looking for injuries now that she can see me in the flesh.
“It hurts me that you’re not still in my arms.”
She smiles through her tears. “I’m so sorry,” she says, her voice cracking.
“None of that,” I tell her. “We’re good, Sunshine. I promise you. We’re good,” I repeat.
Caleb stops next to us. “You two ready to head home?” he asks.
“Yes. I took an Uber here so I could ride with you.” She stands and slides her Kindle into her purse.
“Take me home.”
She helps me stand from the seat, and I place my arm around her shoulders, leaning some of my weight on her but careful not to give it all to her. Slowly we make it toward the exit.
“Which one of you drove here?” Joey asks.
“I did. Let me help,” Caleb offers, taking my suitcase so I can hold onto his sister a little better.
“I’m fine. Just got my bell rung. I’m better now. You two can stop fussing.”
“Oh, so you can walk on your own?” Joey tilts her head to look at me.
“Yeah, the dizziness has passed, but I’m not letting go of you.” There is no room for argument in my tone.
“I didn’t ask you to,” she sasses.
With a smile on my face for the first time in days, we make our way to the parking garage. As soon as we push open the doors to the parking lot, we’re swarmed with media. Cameras flash and microphones are shoved into our faces.
“Brock, what do you think about the trade rumors after only a few games with the Ramblers?”
“Brock, is she worth it?”
“Brock, how can you compare mother and daughter?”
The three of us ignore their questions as we push forward to Caleb’s car. He opens the back door, and Joey and I both climb inside. He rushes around and slides behind the wheel, locking the doors. Thankfully he has dark tinted windows.
“What in the hell was that? Why are they talking about a trade? Am I being traded?” I ask Caleb, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror. I know there were rumors, but I thought that’s all it was. Rumors.
“Fuck, man, I don’t know what’s going on.”
“It’s our sperm donor,” Joey speaks up. “He not only wants to control my life he wants to ruin it.”
“Let’s get home, and we can figure this out. We need to get away from these leeches.” Caleb puts the car in Drive, and slowly, we move through the swarm of media.
“I can’t believe him,” Joey seethes as she tosses her tablet on the couch next to where she’s curled up next to me.
“This is low, even for him,” Caleb agrees.
“And the bastard won’t answer his phone,” Joey hisses.
When we got home from the airport, Joey got me settled on the couch, and ran upstairs to get her tablet. It didn’t take her long to find an interview from her dad that was given after today’s game. He tried to play it off that my performance was lacking, and if it continued, there could be another trade in my future. The reporter called him out, reciting my stats. His face turned bloodred. It wasn’t until he asked him about me sleeping with his ex-lover and his daughter that I truly thought his head might explode. He huffed out a “No further comment,” and stalked off toward the locker rooms.