Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
MALIK
“I’ve lost him, Shimá.” I lay on my stomach on my bed, propped on my elbows, my heart breaking in two after spilling my guts to her. This was what her dream had been about. She’d seen this coming months ago. I glared at my phone, set to speaker and resting on the bed under my face.
“Malik, you said he can’t leave for a few weeks. You still have time to convince him to stay,” she said.
“But he won’t have any money, and I can’t help him.
” I bit back tears. My parents weren’t poor, but they’d never be able to fund the training for two football players trying to enter the draft.
“His only hope for the draft now is to do what his father wants.” Of all the shit excuses he’d made, that was the one that made the most sense.
“I don’t know, sweetheart, but don’t give up hope. You love each other. Hang onto that. After this semester, maybe you’ll find each other again.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s doubtful. His father will make him date more women.” As heat swarmed my chest, I fisted my free hand. It wasn’t fucking fair.
Lowering her voice, she said, “Malik, you need to come out to your mom and dad. They’ll understand, and you’ll need their support when you come home for Christmas.”
“I know, Shimá, I know. I need to let this settle first, though.” I inhaled a ragged breath. I’d lost my shit as soon as I’d heard her voice. I didn’t need to go through it again with my parents.
Rapping cut through the room. “Uh, Malik? Can I talk to you?” Tex said through the door.
“Just a minute. I’m talking to Shimá.” I took a hard swallow. He was probably wondering if I’d ever want to eat the breakfast he’d made.
“Um, no, I think you should come out now,” Tex said. “Casey wants to talk to you.”
Fucking hell, was it about his agent? “Yeah, okay.” Into the phone, I said, “I’m sorry, Shimá, but I have to go. I’ll talk with you later.” I pushed up from the bed and stepped off, taking my phone with me.
“Sure, let me know what happens. Love you.”
“Love you too.” Ending the call, I popped the door open. “What?”
Tex stood there with a shit-eating grin on his face, his phone in his hand and set on mute. “So, I’ve stopped by your room and Grey’s room like five times to see if you wanted breakfast.”
“And?” I planted my hands on my hips, willing the ache in my heart to lessen. I wasn’t sure I could eat right now.
“And, well, I overheard what happened with Grey’s dad.” He grabbed my arm and hauled me through the hallway, the main room and into the kitchen, stopping at the door to the garage. After swinging the door open, he said, “Look.” He wagged his brows.
“What? It’s Grey’s car.” I tilted my head. Had he gone mad?
“Does he own the title?” Tex giggled and covered his mouth with the back of his hand. “Casey and Ryker think it’s worth almost eighty-thousand and Ryker wants Casey out of his BMW. It’s been breaking down again.” With a shy grin, he said, “I already sent them photos and gave them the mileage.”
As I realized what he was alluding to, my eyes widened. “Holy fuck, that’s enough to get Grey through graduation and the draft.” My pulse skyrocketed. Would he go for it? Was the title in his name? “Fuck, Tex, keep Casey on the phone. I’ll be right back.”
I sprinted to Grey’s room and flung his door open. “Grey.” An ache crushed my heart as I studied him, face down on his bed, his shoulders shaking with quiet weeping. “Oh, babe.” I rushed to his side and shook him. “We might have a solution.”
With a sniff, he swiped his face and rolled to his side, his eyes red and swollen. “What?”
“Do you own the title to your car?” I braced myself. Please say yes…
He nodded. “Yeah.” As his brows furrowed, he sat up, throwing his legs off the bed. “Why?”
“What would you say if I told you my friend Casey is interested in buying your car? You know his boyfriend is a mechanic and, fuck, it’s a long story, but they have the money. Casey got a fat advance with his NFL contract last summer.”
He stared at me, slack-jawed for a moment, as we both stood. “Y-you mean, your friend could buy my car and then I’d have the money to stay here and, and—”
“Yes.” I grabbed his shoulders. “You’d stay here, finish school and train with me, and we’d go to the draft. Then we’d both have the money to do whatever we wanted. We’d be together, and we’d be free.”
His eyes filled with fresh tears. “Are you shitting me? Could this really happen?”
Shaking his shoulders, I said, “Is it what you want? Would you sell your car for—”
“Fuck yes. Hell yes. Every damn day and every time I’d sell my car if it meant I could tell my dad to fuck off, and I’d have you.” He threw his arms around my neck and pressed a harsh kiss on my lips. As he broke the kiss, he smiled and said, “You’ll have to drive me around.”
“Gladly.” I seized his hand and hauled him into the main room, my heart soaring. We found a way. Well, Tex found a way, the wily bastard.
“Oh, here they are now.” Tex, sitting at the dinette, set his phone on the table. “Casey, Malik and Grey are here. I’ll let you work out the details.”
“Hello, Casey, this is Grey Moore, Malik’s friend.” He dropped into a chair, brushed his hand across the back of his hair and peeked at me. “Do you want to know anything else about the car?”
I took a chair next to him. Fucking Casey had grown up so much since meeting Ryker. He’d become such a selfless guy.
“Not really. My boyfriend popped a boner when he saw the photos Tex took of it, and that’s good enough for me.
” Casey snickered. “I can send you the eighty-K as a cashier’s check, wire transfer, whatever works best for you, and then I’ll arrange a service to come and pick it up.
I’d love to visit and drive it home, but you know, football. ”
“A wire transfer is great. It’s a New York title and registration, but I’ll head to the DMV with Malik and get that squared away.” Grey squeezed my hand, resting on the table. “Casey, you didn’t have to do this, but I’m so thankful that you are.”
“Nonsense. I want the car.” He huffed a laugh. “Hell, I think I’ll get laid more driving it.”
Ryker’s voice came through the phone. “Casey, what the hell? You get laid enough.”
“I can never have enough of you, babe, you know that,” Casey said.
My heart was so full it almost burst. I had the best friends, and Grey was fitting right in. My stomach grumbled. “Tex, can you reheat our breakfast while they work out the details?” I rose and patted Grey on the shoulder. “Let’s eat before we call your dad.” We’d need our strength.
After devouring the breakfast Tex had made, we retired to Grey’s bedroom. Casey was sending a wire transfer tomorrow, so Grey wouldn’t go without money for long, and I could cover him in the meantime.
With a slow exhale, Grey paced to his patio doors, rain pattering against the window, and then tapped on his phone and set it on speaker. We’d decided his father would be more pleasant if he knew I was there listening. I was glad they weren’t on speaker for the last call.
The phone rang a few times, and then Dad picked up. “Hello.”
“Dad? I have something to tell you. I have Malik here, and you’re on speaker.” He snuck a glance at me and wrinkled his brows.
“Hello, Malik. I’m sure you both are calling to change my mind, but it won’t work,” his dad said.
As a knot coiled in my gut, I opened my mouth and shut it. I should stay out of this as much as possible. “Uh, hello, Leonard.”
“Well, Dad, we’ve come up with a solution.” Grey worried his lower lip for a beat. “I’m not coming home. I’m staying here. So, you can call off your people.”
“Greyson, I meant what I said.” He scowled. “Is Malik willing to help you pay your expenses?”
“No, but I’ll pay them.” He lifted his chin and, while his gaze locked on mine, he said, “I’m selling my car to an NFL friend of his, Casey Carter.
He’s the new quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
” A smirk spread over his lips. “I love Malik, Dad, and you can’t stop me.
” He draped an arm around my waist and pulled me to his side.
“And when I get drafted with him and have an NFL contract, I won’t need to depend on your money ever again. You can’t use it against me.”
Leonard was silent for a beat and then in a low voice, said, “You’re making a big mistake.”
“I’m living my life the way I’ve always wanted to.
If I make a mistake, it’s okay. People need to make mistakes to grow.
” He kissed my cheek. “But loving Malik is no mistake. He’s my person, Dad.
He always has been, always will be.” His eyes grew glassy.
“The sooner you understand that, the sooner we can mend things between us. If you’re open to it. ” He drew a ragged breath.
As my heart filled with love for him, I edged closer to his side and pressed a kiss on his shoulder. His strength was incredible. In his ear, I whispered, “You’ve got this.”
His gaze swung to mine. “No, we’ve got this.” A smile teased his lips, and his attention drew to his phone. “What do you say, Dad?”
“You’re absolutely right. Sell your car. Survive on your own and let’s see how you manage. Maybe I’ve coddled you for too long.” He sighed. “But don’t come crawling back to me if you fail. It’s your decision, and so are the consequences.” He ended the call.
Grey blinked. “Holy shit, that’s it. I’m free.” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I can’t say I’m not a little scared.” His gaze searched my face.
“Don’t be.” I brushed a lock of bang from his forehead.
“You’re good enough for the NFL, Grey.” I shrugged.
“And even if the worst happens and you don’t get a contract, I’ve got you.
” Resting my hand on his cheek and facing him, I pressed a lasting kiss on his lips.
“I’ll have money for both of us, and if you want to get your MBA, I’ll pay for it. ”
His brows creased. “I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I offered, and I won’t take no for an answer.” I kissed him again. He was finally mine.