Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
PARKER
I find myself whistling on my way to Dad’s office. After finishing treatment, my body feels right, loose and responsive. Like something clicked into place and didn’t immediately snap back out again.
Is it enough?
On the field? I hope so.
Off the field? Not a chance. I need more of Annika, but my brain keeps circling the same issue.
Annika or Anna?
Her past. The parts she told me and the parts she hasn’t, yet.
The stack of papers Witt slid across the table like it was nothing, even though his detective work could blow up my newfound happiness.
“There’s more,” he said.
How much more is the question.
Dad’s office smells like strong coffee and the faint hint of cologne he’s worn since I was a kid. It’s familiar, so many memories of him bringing me to work when I was too sick to go to school but not sick enough where he would need to stay home. It’s grounding and safe.
Jodi, his assistant, looks up when I step in. “Haven’t been here in a while. Nice touchdown last weekend.”
“Thanks. Does Dad have a minute?” I ask.
She smiles. “For you? Always.” She hits the speaker. “Your son is here.”
I knock once and open the door. Dad looks up from behind his desk, surprise flickering across his face before it settles into something warmer.
He tells Jodi, “Hold my calls.”
I close the door behind me. He’s always so busy. It’s hard to stay relevant and keep winning in this age of college football. But my dad is choosing me. Like he’s always done when it matters.
“Everything okay?” he asks, leaning back in his chair.
I shrug, dropping into the chair across from him. “Yeah. Just… needed to talk.”
This gets his full attention.
“What’s going on? You played well.”
He didn’t make it to the game, but called me, heaping praise.
I run my hand through my hair. “I’m seeing someone.”
His brow lifts slightly and he almost smiles.
“Well, that’s news.”
“Yeah.”
“Anyone I know?”
The words stall in my throat. “Annika or Anna. My performance coach.”
“Is it serious?” he asks without a trace of condemnation, but studies me a little longer than necessary.
“It is for me.”
The corners of his mouth tip upward. “That’s fast for you.”
“Yeah, I know. She’s not like anyone else I’ve ever met.” It feels like an understatement.
Dad nods once, like he believes me. “So, what’s the problem? Other than her being your performance coach.”
Straight to it. God, I love my dad.
“She’s got a past.” I huff out a harsh laugh.
“Son, we all do.”
“Not like this.”
That wipes the humor from his face. I glance toward the door, lowering my voice.
“Can you keep this between us?”
His expression shifts again. Serious and steady. “You have my word.”
I nod once. “Her dad…” I start then stop, trying to find the right words. “She told me he touched her… not the way a father should.”
The words feel heavier when I say them out loud. More real. “Witt found some articles about it, but I’ve didn’t read them. I saw enough to know there’s more than what she told me.”
Dad leans back, rocking his office chair, processing. “Was she… did he molest her?”
“Yeah. She didn’t go into detail, but yeah.” My entire body slumps. I can’t even imagine anyone much less a father doing that to his child. It’s the opposite of everything my dad has taught us. He would protect us at all costs.
“And you’re wondering what to do with that?” he asks.
I nod.
“Are you asking as a man or someone worried it’ll affect your career?”
“As a man.”
The answer comes easy. His mouth softens a fraction.
“This is all new for both of you, so give her a chance to continue opening up. Don’t push. Don’t treat her like she’s broken, even if she is.”
“That’s it?”
“Yep.”
“That doesn’t feel like enough. She showed me a letter that was sent to her anonymously. No postmark. It said, ‘Don’t pretend you didn’t know what was happening.’”
I stretch my legs out in front of me, pull my cap over my eyes.
“Hmmm. That’s not normal.”
“No.”
“Maybe you should read the articles Witt found. Or just ask her what you want to know. I know your mother would have wanted me to ask rather than play private investigator.”
I think about Annika. The way she shuts down when things get too heavy and the way she deflects. The way she said don’t make me feel like a problem.
“See her as she is now, not as a victim. But Parker, you do need honesty if you’re serious about her. It’s what makes a relationship work and last.”
A deep sigh releases from my chest as I drop my chin. “Okay.”
“You like her.”
I huff out a quiet laugh. “Yeah.”
“That’s good,” he says simply. “Your mother would be happy.”
I push back in my seat, something loosens after that confirmation.
“Oh, I invited her to Granny’s birthday,” I add.
“I guess you’ve gone slow for years. When you know. You know. I’m looking forward to meeting her. The girls love her from what I hear.”
“Noelle?”
“Your sister is your biggest fan.”
She is.
“Thanks Dad. You always know how to break things down. Guess that’s why you’re a terrific coach.”
He stands up and grabs me for a hug. “Love you son. I’ll see you for Granny’s birthday.”
I text Annika before I even make it back to my car.
Me: I told my dad about us. He’s happy that I’m happy.
I hesitate, then add.
Me: Calling the rest of the family now. My sisters are going to love this week’s margarita night.
I hit send before I overthink it. Because apparently, I’ve decided to lose control today. It feels good to be in a relationship again.
Their responses are immediate.
Greyson: Good for you. Seems like she’ll keep you on your toes. Or at least catching the ball.
Laughing emoji.
Noelle: She’s perfect. I knew it.
Of course, she did.
Matt: Noelle loves her so I will too.
I shake my head.
Sutton: Why can’t this family separate business from pleasure? Shocked emoji.
That earns a laugh. I love how she jokes.
J.D.: Just remember to take it slow.
I roll my eyes. Did any of them take it slow?
Hell no.
Birdie: She’s hilarious. But I may need to give her singing lessons if she continues to karaoke. Happy for my favorite brother.
Me: I thought that was Witt.
Birdie: You’re right. He’s my fave. I was being nice.
I grin.
Witt: Damn right I am. Hope you know what you’re doing P.
My smile fades. Witt did the research and Witt doesn’t say things unless—unless he knows something that I don’t.
And now I can’t shake the feeling.
The sun is setting by the time I pull into my driveway. I cut the engine, strumming my fingers on the steering wheel. When I call her, she answers on the third ring.
“Hey.”
“God, it was a long damn day. How was your day after having breakfast and sitting by the lake with your boyfriend?” I say, teasing.
“Boyfriend, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Better now,” she admits.
“My family is on board,” I add. “All of them.”
A quiet breath causes static on the other end of the phone.
“That was… fast.”
“I don’t like lying to my family. Come over and we can celebrate,” I say half-joking, but I’m not.
I’m shocked when she says, “Okay.”
An hour later, she’s on my couch with fuzzy socks that look like ketchup and mustard, curled into the corner like she belongs here.
A word puzzle game show plays on the TV, and she leans forward, pointing at the screen. Her phone, her glasses and a glass of wine on my coffee table.
“Where did you get this table? It’s not IKEA that’s for sure.”
I squeeze her calf that’s lying on my legs. “Dad and I made it when I came home from Michigan. It calms me to work with my hands.”
“It’s beautiful. You have talented hands.” Her eyes glimmer, teasing, then she shouts out, “Lovestruck quarterback.”
“That’s not even a category.”
“It should be.”
Chuckling, I say, “You’re cheating somehow. There’s no way you figured out the phrase that fast.”
“I love game shows and this is my favorite. Face it, I’m better than you,” she counters. Her laugh, unrestrained and heartfelt.
“Debatable. We’ll see who wins at the end.” Because I’m sure it will be me. I can’t lose with Annika on my couch.
“There it is,” I say quietly.
Her brows pull together. “What?”
“That laugh.” I can’t stop staring at her mouth. “You hide it like it’s classified information.”
And the worst part?
Hearing the happiness in her voice makes me want to become the reason for it.
She smacks my leg and grins. I end up watching her reactions more than I watch the screen, loving how her face changes when she’s thinking.
The way she smiles when she guesses right.
The way she relaxes when she forgets to be guarded.
I shouldn’t be in this deep—emotionally and mentally. And yet, I can’t remember ever being this content or alive.
“I like this,” I whisper in her ear.
“The show?”
“You… at home with me.”
She stills then softens. Her soft is my kryptonite.
“I already feel more for you than I ever did…” I trail off.
My ex.
The girl who thought so little of me that she cheated with my teammate.
The girl who broke me. Made me a quitter.
Annika doesn’t let me finish my sentence. She doesn’t need to.
“That’s not a fair comparison,” she says softly.
“Maybe not, but it’s true.”
The words hang between us like a tapestry separating spaces, real and unavoidable.
She doesn’t run or deflect. She stays.
Right when I think she’s going to tell me in words how she feels, a knock on my door breaks the moment. I stare at her long enough that she shifts on the couch.
“Expecting someone?” she asks.
“No.” I stand, crossing the room and opening the door.
A courier stands there holding a flat envelope. “Parker O’Ryan?”
“Yeah.”
He extends his hand and I take it from him while glancing down at the address.
My name. No return address.
“Have a good night,” the guy says, already retreating.
“You too,” I mumble, closing the door. The weight of the envelope feels wrong in my hand. I look out the window and it’s a legitimate shipping carrier.
Something feels off.
Yet nothing is out of place.
Behind me, Annika rustles with the throw blanket. “Who was it?” she asks.
I walk behind her and slap the envelope against my other hand. “Nothing interesting, just a contract I forgot about for the foundation.”
I am expecting a contract but usually I have all my foundation stuff go to the Armadillo facility so I can go over it with the staff of attorneys. So, I toss it onto my office desk and will deal with it tomorrow.
But something tells me, this isn’t about me— it’s about the woman I’m dating with two names.