Chapter 7 #2
Creed didn’t look at her, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me, Kress. Go back to the cheerleaders.”
She looked up at me, and I only nodded as Creed hobbled back to his position. I knew there was no way he could finish this game. Something was wrong with his leg.
It had to have been broken or sprained. Either way, he shouldn’t be playing on it, but I had a feeling Creed was going to be a stubborn asshole about this whole thing.
Kresslee reached out, grazing my fingers with hers quickly before she ran back to her crew of friends.
I ran back to my position, keeping an eye on Creed. I could see him wince. But I could also see him shake off his pain.
He got into position, and then we played once more.
He threw the ball to his wide receiver, and I tackled the man to the ground once more.
He got a few yards further this time but hadn’t gotten too far.
I wouldn’t let them reach the end zone. I would do what I had to do so that it didn’t happen.
We got back into position once more, and Creed got the ball, but was tackled once more before he could throw it.
He stayed down this time.
I rushed over to him once more, knowing he was done for the rest of the game. I knew he was going to be pissed.
Creed was breathing hard on the field, and as I got closer to him, he saw me once more. “Fuck. Just get away from me.”
I lifted a brow, letting the medics get Creed off the field, Kresslee following close behind.
I hated this entire situation. As soon as this game was over, I was speaking to Creed. I wouldn’t allow him to hate me for no reason.
The play resumed, and we were back at it.
Then, after a close call, we switched sides. I got a drink, trying to keep my emotions under control. I knew Creed was hurt, and it bothered me that he hadn’t let me help him.
I loved his sister, wanting the best for her, even if the best for her wasn’t me. I was brave enough to admit that I would rather have her choose him than me. She needed her brother, and I would let her decide after this game.
I put my focus back on the game, trying to keep my eye on the field and not on whether Kresslee had come back out to cheer once more.
Beau was throwing the ball down the field to Cade, and I could see him catch it, then dodging the tackle someone threw at him.
He took off down the field, dodging each man that came at him, before he ran over the endzone, getting our first touchdown.
We all cheered for him as Cade held the ball up in victory.
We played a hard game. The Jackals were trying to prove something, but we came out on top. If Creed hadn’t been injured, I don’t doubt it would have been that much harder.
Kresslee never came back out onto the field, making me worry.
As soon as we won, I knew that I needed to go find out what was going on.
We celebrated our win, and as soon as I was in the locker room, I pulled my phone out.
I saw that there were a few messages from Kresslee.
Kresslee: Creed sprained his knee. He might have torn something in his leg, too.
Kresslee: We are heading to the hospital now. He needs to be checked out.
Kresslee: I hate this. I wanted to watch you play. Creed shouldn’t have been so stubborn.
Kresslee: You played amazingly tonight. I love you.
I sighed, knowing Creed was hating himself right now.
Coach walked over to me, “Ridge, we need to talk.”
I looked up at him, then walked over to his office.
He shut the door behind me. “What is going on with you?”
I shook my head, “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you're coming over to check the quarterback. Since when do you give a fuck about someone on the opposite team?”
I knew he was right, so I said, “I love his sister.”
Coach’s eyes went wide, “Fuck. I knew something was off.”
“I want to go check on him. Kresslee is a cheerleader for their team, and she left with him.”
Coach nodded, “Go. I can’t believe one of my players is dallying with the other side.”
I stood, “She is it for me. I won’t give her up.”
Coach sighed, “I fucking knew it. Don’t get distracted. Not right now. We need this. We are off to the big game now. I need you focused.”
“Have I ever let you down?”
Coach shook his head, “That was before you had a girl.”
I looked at him, my brow raised. “I have always had a girl; it’s only now she is officially mine.”
Coach stared at me, then nodded. “Go get her then. Don’t let me down.”
I nodded, “Not now, or ever. I’m here.”
I walked to my locker, changing out of my gear before taking the quickest shower of my life, before heading to the hospital.
I pulled into the parking lot, ready to call Kresslee, when I saw their father lingering outside.
He looked older than fuck. His hair was all gray, his skin hanging off his heavy frame.
I got out of my car and walked toward the front of the hospital when he saw me.
He staggered over to me, lifting a bottle I hadn’t noticed before.
“Oh, ho. If it isn’t the Benson boy. All grown up now.”
I didn’t want to stop, but he walked up to me, grabbing my arm.
I pulled it away from him and stared down at him, “What do you want?”
“What every father wants. To see how my kids are.”
“Why would I know how your kids are?”
“I saw the game today. I saw you check on my boy. You know, it was your fault he got his ass kicked as often as he did.”
“It wasn’t my fault. It was yours. You wanted perfection out of a kid that was fifteen you sick fuck. Did it bring you pleasure to beat up your kid?”
Their dad tried to square up to me, “You know nothing.”
I lifted a brow, “I know more than you think. Fuck you. You are a horrible excuse for a father and a man. Your kids got to where they are because they worked hard, not because of anything you did for them. Especially Creed. He came out better despite you.”
I turned, walking into the hospital, when I saw Kresslee standing behind me.
Their father said, “Kress! My girl.”
I turned, holding up my hand, “Don’t talk to her. You lost that right a long time ago.”
“She is my daughter!”
Kresslee put her hand in mine, “No, I’m not. You are nothing to me, and nothing to Creed.”
She pulled me away, and I followed her. I heard her father yelling at us, but we both ignored him.
As soon as we were in the hospital, away from prying eyes, Kresslee fell into my arms.
I pulled her around a corner and held her tightly as she shuddered against my chest. I knew she was crying.
Her shoulders shook, and I let her cry for a few seconds longer until I couldn’t stand it. I lifted her chin, making her look up at me.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she still was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
“I heard what you said to my father. Why?”
“I couldn’t help it. I saw him, and I couldn’t stand that he broke you guys down.
That he broke Creed down. Creed shouldn’t have had to suffer as much as he had in his life.
That’s not what a real man does. He doesn’t break his kids down until they think they are nothing.
He lifts them up so that they rise above.
That’s what my dad did for me. I refuse to ever let our kids ever feel as if they are nothing.
I won’t let it happen. I will protect you from what life has to throw at us.
I will do my best to make Creed believe that I’m on his side too.
I won’t let you go babe. I refuse to let you go.
Not now. Creed will just have to deal with it. ”
She looked up at me, a tear sliding down her cheeks, “I love you. I knew you were meant to be mine from the moment I saw you.”
“I think that’s my line.”
I leaned in so that I could kiss her, “Come on. I need to talk to Creed. It’s time to put this behind us. We are going to make our own family, and he needs to be part of it.”
She bit her lip, smiling at me, then led the way to Creed’s room.
She opened the door, and I took a deep breath before following her inside.
Creed was looking out the window but turned his head when we walked inside his room.
He glared at me, “What are you doing here?”
Kresslee dropped my hand, her hands going to her hips, “What the hell? You don’t need to be such an asshole.”
Creed lifted his lip in a sneer, and I stepped forward, “No. You don’t get to say something to your sister that will make her cry. I’m done with that today. You need to be very careful with what you say next.”
Creed lifted a brow, “What happened?”
Kresslee looked over at me, “Dad was outside.”
Creed sat up, “What?”
She shook her head, “Ridge put him in his place.”
Creed looked over at me, lying back in his bed, “What happened?”
I told him what I said to their dad, and Creed’s eyebrows rose with every word.
“Fuck.”
I nodded at Kresslee, “Give us a minute.”
She slowly nodded, walking out of the room and shutting the door behind her.
Creed’s eyes were on me when I looked back at him, “Why would you stick up for me? For us?”
“You know the answer to that Creed. You have always known. I love your sister. I have since we were teenagers and won’t stop until I’m gone. Even then, my soul will find hers in the next life and the next. She is mine. I will do anything for her, give up anything to have her.”
Creed sighed, “I hated you for so long, it’s hard to accept this.”
I nodded, “I know you have. I understood why you hated me then, but you have no reason to hate me now. I’m not your rival.
Not in this. Kresslee has been my reason for living all these years.
I have done all I have because of her. I wanted to make her mine so many years ago.
But I let her choose you. That choice is over now.
I want her to be able to choose us both.
I want you in our life because you are her brother, but I also want you there because I know we are meant for more.
To be friends, fuck, not friends, but family.
I believe we have earned the right to choose our family now.
You are mine, Creed, whether you want to be in my family or not. Kresslee chooses you, so do I.”
Creed shut his eyes for a second, “I knew I wasn’t being fair to her all those years ago.
My hate was so misplaced because with every loss, I got the shit kicked out of me.
It wasn’t your fault, but I had to place the blame somewhere I could control, you know?
I couldn’t hurt my father back, I wasn’t big enough, and as soon as I was, I knew I was wrong to hate you for nothing you did.
You only played on the team that beat mine.
That was it. I was just angry that my sister wanted more, and I believed it wasn’t meant for us.
I’m sorry. I really am sorry for making her choose between us.
For taking that from her. I won’t get in your way. ”
“Creed, I want you there with us. I want you to be able to walk Kresslee down the aisle one day and not hate me when she does.”
Creed looked up at me, “I don’t hate you, Ridge.
I haven’t for a long time. You never chose to beat our team.
My father wasn’t a good man. He made his choices, and I lived with those for a long time.
I never let myself have hope or dreams. But seeing that Kresslee finally has hers coming true, I want to see that.
I want to be there for her. Forgive me.”
“I never thought you needed my forgiveness, Creed. Not then, and not now. I’m glad we can move on.”
“I am too.”
Kresslee walked back into the room. “I heard it all.” She rushed over to Creed, hugging him gently, “Thank you for letting me love Ridge. It’s about time.”
Creed smiled up at her, “It is. You better name one of your kids after me. After all, I helped set this in motion.”
I laughed, “Sure.”
Creed smiled over at me, and I walked to his bed, shaking his hand for the first time, shocked when he pulled me in for a hug, “If you hurt her, I will kill you.”
I nodded, “I will let you.”
He let me pull back, and Kresslee melted into my arms, where I kissed her hard.
Creed fake gagged, “Not in here. Get a damn room.”
I chuckled, “Come to my house. You need to recover.”
Creed slowly nodded, “Deal. But if I hear anything I don’t want, I will kick your ass.”
Kresslee went pink, “Gross. You will be on the other side of the house.”
Creed laughed, and I settled into the chair by his bed with Kresslee in my lap as we went over the game today.
“I hated seeing that tackle man. It was a hard hit.”
Creed nodded, “No shit. Your man got me good. My fucking team doesn’t protect me for shit sometimes.”
“You need to move to a better team. One that has your back.”
“You already have a quarterback.”
“We do. Beau kicks ass, but we don’t have a back-up quarterback. We need one.”
“I will think about it. I’m pretty happy on my team.”
“I will accept that.”
Creed lifted a brow, “Are you ready for the big game?”
I nodded, “I think so. Our team has worked hard for this.”
Creed smirked, “They have. Your coach is a machine.”
I laughed, “He is.”
The doctor walked in after a few more minutes, “You have to stay off that leg for a week and recover. Do you have a place nearby?”
Creed nodded, “I do.”
“Then I can discharge you. But no long car rides. Your knee can’t handle it.”
Creed nodded once more, and I looked over at him, “Good thing I have a big truck.”
The doctor looked at me, “Wait, aren’t you Ridge Benson?”
I nodded, “I sure am. Thanks for helping out today.”
The doctor nodded, “Good game today, both of you.” He left the room as Creed sighed, “It was a good game. You hit like a tank. I saw it. Glad I haven’t been on the receiving end.”
I laughed, “It could happen.”
Kresslee snorted, and Creed shook his head as a nurse walked in, getting Creed unhooked from everything before going over his discharge paperwork.
I wheeled his chair outside, heading to my truck. We were starting over. I was fucking thrilled.