Chapter Nine
LIAM
H ead bent against the sudden gust of cold air as I exited the business building where Kylian, Ares, and I had our last lecture on Friday, we jumped right back into the conversation we’d been having before class.
“I still can’t believe Jackson is dead.” It was surreal, and not in a good way, despite my all-too-real view of life. “Did you see anything like that coming?”
“Nope. He ran drills yesterday with Matthews when we were working on the new plays,” Kylian said. “He seemed fine.”
“He wasn’t supposed to work with Matthews.” I frowned, remembering a conversation I’d overheard between the wide receiver coach and the quarterback coach. “Coach Mack wanted him to practice routes with us to improve the timing. It would’ve made sense.”
Ares shifted closer so he didn’t knock into a group of girls we passed on the path through campus. “He should’ve been practicing with us if he was starting, and I think he was supposed to start today instead of Trevor.”
I made a mental note to tell Fio, as any details mattered. I’d seen how she worked on cases long enough to know that. I pulled my phone from my pocket and thumbed off a quick text to fill her in, whether the info mattered or not.
“I heard you took Skye home.” Ares bumped into my shoulder, almost making me drop my phone.
I glared at him as I shoved it back into my pocket. “Coach saw me with her and asked me to.”
“How’s she doing?” Kylian asked as we turned onto the sidewalk that led to the parking lot. “I heard she was the one who found Jackson.”
“She was pretty shook up. I stayed with her and read some books to her daughter until she and Lily fell asleep.” Despite the circumstances, I couldn’t help smiling at how much I’d enjoyed spending time with them.
“See?” Kylian slapped me on the back. “You do have a domestic side.”
Ares joined in on Kylian’s laughter. “Don’t fight it this time. Skye’s good people.”
I rolled my eyes. “As if you know her.”
“I know enough.” Ares shot me a serious look. “Besides, this side of you was always there. You volunteer the most out of everyone for Coach’s outreach programs.”
“Kids love you,” Kylian said. “And keep in mind that I never saw myself with Aurora, either, but sometimes, things just feel right. Going all in with her was the best decision of my life.”
I couldn’t fault him there. Aurora was amazing, and he was happier with her.
“Helping out with my nephew, no matter how busy football and school gets, will always be my priority,” Ares said. “I know you would feel the same if you let Skye and her daughter in.”
Ares’s sister and her husband had died in a car accident a few years back, and he’d stepped up, taking on more of a big brother parental role when his mom took Preston in. It hadn’t been easy, but he never complained.
“I wouldn’t trade the time I spend with Preston for anything. What we do for kids makes a difference in their lives. And I’m sure Skye appreciated you helping and showing kindness to her daughter.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. Skye was rattled, and I’m sure that was the only reason she was okay with me being around her kid.
” With a wave to Ares and Kylian, I slid into my car.
The weight of the upcoming game pressed on me.
But it wasn’t just Indiana or the scouts on my mind—it was Jackson, Skye, and how everything had seemed to collide at once.
We’d split to drive to the athletics building, and I was glad to drop the conversation.
The game against Indiana tomorrow would be front and center in all our minds, as it should be.
Scouts would be present. I needed more ESPN time and hopefully more exposure to get the attention of top agents and a team that wanted me.
Regardless of how often Skye and her daughter invaded my mind, that had to be my primary focus.
I had a plan and needed to see it through until I achieved my goals.
After practice, weights, and film, I stopped by Fiona’s to nab any leftover spaghetti from the other night and see if she’d made headway on the case—and if she would tell me anything at all.
When I let myself into her townhome, my dad was awake on the recliner.
I’d hoped to avoid him. It looked like I wasn’t that lucky.
“Liam, my boy.” His words slurred already, and red rimmed his unfocused eyes as I tried to slip past him. “How’s the season going?”
I stopped on my way to talk to Fio, who was hunched over some documents at the kitchen table.
Football was the only thing I had in common with my dad.
He’d spent countless hours throwing me the ball in the backyard and had even gotten me a JUGS machine so I could practice two hundred catches a day.
He’d wanted to help me achieve my dreams, and I couldn’t ignore the topic when he brought it up.
“We won against Iowa, and I got a mention on ESPN.”
“I heard. Great job, son. Now you just need to bring it home.”
I nodded, ignoring the tightness in my chest at the pressure to do just that. “Tomorrow’s game is another home one against Indiana.”
“They’ve got no game. Their success is in basketball.” His voice rose with excitement. “You’ve got the win in the bag.”
“That would’ve been true a few years ago, but their new coach has turned things around. They’ve been rising in the ranking since last year. That’s why we’re facing them this far into the season.”
“Well, don’t let them win. Simple as that.” He toasted me with his Budweiser. “I’ll be watching from here.”
“Thanks.” It was the best conversation we’d had in a long while, and I tried to move on before it went to hell, as it usually did.
“I came to check in with Fio about something. Have a good night.” I doubted he would be conscious much longer with the stack of empties lined up on the end table next to his elbow.
“I heard about the girl that found the dead football player. That’s what Fio is workin’ on?”
“Yeah. Skye, our team’s social media manager, found him. It was rough for her last night.” I knew my mistake before I finished talking. Why don’t I ever learn?
Dad’s face went from pleasant to furious, red infusing his already-ruddy cheeks and nose.
“Skye? Didn’t you date some girl with that name when you first started playing at Fall Lake?
” He pointed a finger at me, and beer sloshed over the rim of the can and onto his stained jeans from the sudden movement. “Don’t let a pretty face sway you.”
My knuckles tightened around the counter as he ranted, the words blurred, familiar, and suffocating.
“Women can’t be trusted. She’ll ruin your life, sway you from the end game. You’d better stay strong and say no to relationships, or eventually, she’ll kill your dreams then leave you in a ditch for some doctor with a bigger salary and a Jaguar and a mansion in Miami.”
Fuck me. It was like watching a replay of every fight he’d had with Mom. But I wasn’t him, and Skye wasn’t her. “Not everyone is Mom, Dad.”
As I moved away, Dad’s slurred words lingered in the back of my mind like an old injury that never healed.
When I reached Fio’s kitchen, I felt the tension knotting in my shoulders, the relief of seeing her not enough to quell the dread of whatever might come next.
I went to the fridge, pulled out a container, and dumped the contents onto a plate before putting it in the microwave.
“Please, help yourself,” my sister said snarkily.
“Thanks.” I winked then moved closer when I saw the pictures she had spread out. Her computer was open to a shot of the fountain and a few of the defensive players I knew Skye had been filming last night. “Those are from Skye?”
“Yep.” She looked up from the images to level me with that detective look I knew too well.
“That stare,” I muttered, picking at the label on my water bottle. “You’d think I’d be immune to it by now, but nope. Still feels like getting grilled under a spotlight.”
She smirked but ignored my comment. “I can see why you had a thing for Skye. Interesting that she had such a tight grip on your hand. She’s the one, isn’t she?” Fiona’s tone softened. “The girl who disappeared freshman year.”
I didn’t answer, but the silence must’ve said enough because she smirked.
“Thought so.” Her voice was low so Dad wouldn’t hear.
I appreciated it, but I wasn’t in the mood to get into a discussion about my history with Skye, not after the lecture from Dad. “It didn’t mean anything.”
“If you say so. But, little brother, I hope you’re wrong.”
I grinned at her as the microwave dinged, and I retrieved my dinner. “There’s nothing little about me.”
She snorted then shoved the papers aside so I could sit at the table with her.
“How’s the case going? You got my text?”
“Yes, thanks. So far, we don’t have any major leads. Did you know Jackson had a heart condition?” Fiona asked, her tone sharper.
I froze mid-bite. “What kind of condition?”
“Still waiting on specifics, but it’s the kind of thing that should’ve made him cautious, especially with the sudden improvement he’s had. It doesn’t add up.”
“No. But the coaches should know. He would’ve had to disclose that in his medical info in the athletics portal.”
“I have an appointment with them early tomorrow morning, before the game.”
Her slight hesitation snagged my attention. “You found something else, didn’t you?”
She pursed her lips. “There might’ve been something in his blood,” she said, her words deliberate, heavy with unspoken concern.
I leaned forward, plate forgotten. “What does that mean? Something like… drugs?” That wasn’t good. What if Jackson’s death impacted the team’s unity or our game plan?
She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. “We’re not jumping to conclusions yet. But if you hear anything about supplements or substances going around the team, I need to know.”
Is that why Jackson went from benchwarmer to star player so quickly? “I haven’t, but I’ll keep my ears open.” That would be a catastrophe for the team and our odds with NFL scouts.
E arly the next day, before the game, I was in the library, sitting next to Skye at a secluded table on the third floor as we completed another tutoring session.
The awareness between us escalated to degrees I could barely manage.
I didn’t know how much longer I could go, how much more I could take before I broke down and kissed her.
Would that be so bad?
Skye shoved her laptop into her bag, her movements deliberate but too quick to be casual. Tension radiated from her, though she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
“Thanks for the help.” I broke the silence as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Her gaze flicked to me, and for a second, I thought she might say something, but she just nodded. “Yeah. See you later.” She started toward the door, her shoulders tight, as if she were carrying something too heavy to set down.
“Skye, wait,” I called, my voice cutting across the empty floor of the library.
She paused mid-step, her back to me, and for a moment, I thought she might keep walking. But then she turned, her expression unreadable, her eyes holding some emotion I couldn’t name.
“What?” she asked, her voice quiet but strained.
I stepped closer, narrowing the space between us. “You don’t have to do everything alone, you know. Whatever you’re dealing with, you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”
Her lips pressed together, her hand tightening on the strap of her bag. “I’m fine, Liam. I’ve been fine for years.”
“I don’t believe that.” My voice softened, and I reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Not for a second.”
Her breath hitched, her eyes flickering between mine, and the weight of unspoken words hung in the air between us. “Why do you care?” she whispered, her voice breaking on the last word.
“Because it’s you,” I said simply, stepping even closer. “It’s always been you.”
For a moment, time seemed to stop. The tension crackled between us, electric and undeniable, as her gaze dropped to my lips before darting away.
“Liam…” she started, but whatever she was going to say was lost as I leaned in, giving her plenty of time to stop me, a distinct possibility after how our kiss ended last time.
She didn’t.
Our lips met, softly at first, tentative, but the kiss quickly deepened as everything unsaid between us exploded to the surface.
She clung to me, her fingers gripping the front of my shirt like she was afraid to let go.
I poured everything I couldn’t say into that kiss—the longing, the regret, the hope that maybe, just maybe, it was a new beginning.
Then, as if only just realizing what we were doing, Skye shoved me back, her breathing heavy, her eyes shining with something I couldn’t name. “I still can’t do this,” she whispered, taking a step back.
My chest tightened, but I nodded, giving her the space she needed—for now. “Okay,” I said softly, though every fiber of my being wanted to stop her.
She hesitated for just a second longer before turning and walking away, her steps quick and purposeful.