Under Center (The San Diego Storm #4)

Prologue Mason Kennerly

Mason Kennerly

Dread pooled in my stomach as the suffocating scent of my mother’s perfume preceded her into the kitchen.

The rapid click of her heels was a dead giveaway about her mood.

Melinda Covington Kennerly was on the war path, and her artillery of choice was her sharp tongue.

She always reacted like this when my father returned from a business trip.

Maybe she was upset that she had to stay home with me and my sisters.

Whatever the reason, I tried to stay out of her way until after he arrived.

She could blow up and get whatever was bothering her off her mind, then things would settle down.

For me, he couldn’t get here quickly enough because she hated me.

My sisters and I were having breakfast when she stopped in the doorway.

My stomach cramped because I knew she was looking at me.

Turning my attention to my uneaten food, I waited for her to skewer me with her words.

“Goddamn it, Mason. Why didn’t you make your bed?

Clarissa is not going to pamper you. Stop eating and go do it, or you’ll be grounded. ”

My eyes found my sister Madison’s as she scowled at our mother.

She witnessed how unfairly our mother treated me compared to her and our youngest sister, Makenna.

Today was the day Clarissa changed the sheets, but rather than cause more problems, I apologized and did as she asked. “I’m sorry, Mother. I’ll go do it now.”

Pushing back from the table, I stood to leave the kitchen just as my father walked in the door. He was my best friend and my hero. When he came home, I could breathe again. But Makenna was the first to jump up. “Daddy! You’re home early!”

“Hey, baby girl.” He smiled down at her as she hugged him around the waist. Maddie got up too, but I knew better than to disobey my mother’s orders. When I didn’t approach him, he looked up with concern. “Hey buddy,” he said, holding out his arm.

My eyes began to tear up as I swallowed down a sob.

He was the one person who could protect me from her words, and I wasted no time walking into his embrace.

He wrapped us in his arms until my sisters backed away.

They went back to finish breakfast, giving me more time with him.

My world was always better when he was home, but sometimes that didn’t even stop her.

“Mason,” she sneered. “Go.”

As I moved to pull out of my father’s embrace, he frowned down at me. “Where are you going? You need to finish your breakfast before it gets cold.”

Before I could answer, she cut in. “Your son is going to do what I told him to do.”

He furrowed his brow as she crossed the room to pick up my plate, only to toss it and my breakfast by the sink.

“Mom! What are you doing?” Madison screeched. “He wasn’t finished. And I didn’t make my damn bed. Why should he have to do it if Clarissa is going to change the sheets?” I loved my sister for defending me, but it would only make things worse. Our father was the only one who could do that.

Stopping in the middle of the floor, she sent a heated glare at my father, then tempered her words to my sister.

“It’s none of your concern, Maddie. Hurry and finish so you can get to your fitting.

The designer is waiting.” Turning her glare at me, she pointed one manicured fingernail at me.

“Do what I told you, or you’ll be grounded for two weeks. That includes football.”

He must have been tired, because her threat sent him over the edge. “Melinda,” he barked sternly. “Enough. You will not ground him for something so trivial. If you’re upset, you take it up with me. Not him”

She whipped her head around and glared at my father.

“One day, all this travel is going to come back to haunt you, Davis. You’re going to lose everything if you’re not careful.

” My father held me tighter as she left the kitchen.

When she was gone, he turned to our housekeeper, who was trying to ignore what had just happened.

“Clarissa, would you please make Mason’s breakfast again? ”

Our beloved housekeeper smiled with now sad eyes. “I’ve already started, Mr. Kennerly. Can I get you something to eat, sir?”

He smiled at her kindly. “Yes, please. I’ll have whatever you’re making for my son.”

I looked into my father’s eyes as he leaned down to kiss my head. “I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean to ruin your morning.”

A host of emotions ran across his face as he took me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. “You ruined nothing. I’m so sorry she takes her anger at me out on you.”

“Why is she always so mad when you come home?”

I looked into his troubled eyes. “She wants me to stop traveling so much.” He paused, then let me go.

“But I can’t. I have to take care of my family.

” He ran his hand over my head and smiled.

“Don’t worry about it, Max. Everything will be okay.

” When he realized he called me by my uncle’s name, he sighed and ran a hand over his mouth. “Mason. Sorry, buddy. Jet lag.”

“It’s okay, Dad.” I sat down at the table while Clarissa placed two plates filled with scrambled eggs and toast in front of us. She poured my father a cup of coffee as he stepped over to kiss the heads of each of my sisters. “I’m sorry, girls.”

When he sat down next to me, he gave me a look I didn’t understand. It was almost as if he were studying my face. “What’s wrong?”

His smile was warm and loving as he looked from me to my sisters. “I missed you all. You’re growing up faster than I’d like. I don’t get enough time with all of you.”

“We could play golf this weekend,” I suggested. “All four of us. Makenna is getting good. You should see her play.”

My little sister beamed at my praise, then nodded. “Can we play, Daddy? Do you have time?”

My father’s tired eyes swept over each of us as we waited for his reply. “I’ll make time, sweethearts.”

Excitement filled the air as we finished our breakfast. We talked about the day ahead as he listened attentively to catch up after being gone for almost two weeks. It was good to have him home, and we’d be okay until the next time he had to leave.

One Year Ago

Governor’s Gala in Sacramento

“Good evening, gentlemen. Could I get your names, please?” The Gala Concierge smiled as he greeted us inside the doorway.

I stood to the side as our tight end, Evan Ellis, pulled out our invitation.

He and Lennox Sanders, our quarterback, were the faces of our franchise.

I played center, and Carson St. James, our other friend, was a strong safety.

He and Lennox were the captains and the most well-known.

Even the concierge recognized them. “I apologize for asking, but it’s protocol, even for celebrities like yourselves. ”

Evan gave him what the media refers to as a million-dollar smile. “It’s totally fine,” he said. “We understand.”

The guy looked us over as he checked off the names.

I was sure he didn’t recognize me, because I wasn’t as famous and didn’t appear on billboards around San Diego.

He was probably eliminating my friends, leaving him with me.

And that was perfectly fine. My job was to keep my head down, get Lennox the ball, and keep him from being tackled.

So, I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t ask my name before pointing down the hall.

“The reception room is to the left. Have a good evening, gentlemen.”

We followed Evan and Lennox down the corridor, stopping at the wide entrance to the room. I’d been to countless charity events set up like this that my parents had hosted in New York City. It wasn’t my thing, but as a member of the Super Bowl Champions, it was still an honor to be here.

“This has possibilities,” Lennox said to me, before leaning into Evan. “I’m going to get a drink before we schmooze with the celebs.”

Evan nodded but didn’t look at him. “Cool. Grab me a whiskey, would ya? There’s someone I want to speak to.”

Lennox raised a brow but didn’t ask questions.

Evan had spotted someone to charm. He was openly bisexual, unlike me, who chose to keep that information on a need-to-know basis.

No one on my team knew that about me. I’d been on lots of first dates via setups and apps, but I wasn’t interested in the hookup culture.

I wanted someone I could give my undivided attention to.

Someone who made me feel loved, and the one I could love the rest of my life.

“You guys want anything?” Lennox asked me and Carson.

“No, I’m good,” I replied. “I’ll go find our table.”

“We’ll be back,” Carson said. As they headed to the bar, I found the table where name tags with table assignments were laid out.

After grabbing mine, I picked up theirs as well.

When I located Table 24, I set their nametags at their chairs, then took a seat.

Scanning the room, my eyes stopped on a tall man with dark hair, graying at the temples.

Dressed in a dark designer suit, Tom Ford, if I had to guess.

The man was strikingly handsome. Clean-cut with a strong jawline and piercing blue-gray eyes, he stood close to the man Evan was talking to, none other than the Governor of California, Hudson Gatlin.

“I brought you a vodka and cranberry,” Lennox said, putting the drink in front of me. “In case you changed your mind.”

My quarterback was like that. The media knew him to be a playboy, but we knew the real Lennox Sanders.

The one who talked smack but would give you everything he had if you needed it.

I loved him like a brother and took my job of protecting him very seriously.

He and I had similar mommy issues that we chose not to talk about unless the alcohol gave us loose lips.

“Thanks,” I said, grateful he’d given me a prop to hide behind.