Chapter 21
Knox
She’s looking at me like she’s so afraid. I’m looking at her like I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. It’s the strangest thing. I haven’t.
Huffing a laugh, I trace my thumb along the top of her pink cheek. Her golden-brown hair is messy from having sex, and her skin is rosy pink in places my beard scuffed her. Her lips are swollen from my kisses, and she’s lying on her side with a thin sheet draped across her perky tits.
She’s feisty and funny and smart and she loves football.
And me.
I can’t hold back my cocky grin. “Are you going to say it?”
“No.” She sits up in the bed, shaking her sex hair. “We can’t fall in love. It’ll ruin everything.”
I sit up behind her, pressing my lips to the top of her bare shoulder. She smells like sex and candy.
“What will it ruin?” I slide my hand around her waist, thinking how easy it would be to lift her onto my lap and fuck her again.
She removes my hand, standing out of the bed and searching all around for her clothes. I watch her smiling as she jerks those short shorts over her hips. They show off her shapely legs in a way I like a lot.
Then she pulls my shirt over her head, which I like even more. “I need to get you one of my jerseys to wear.”
Her blue eyes widen, and her voice is exasperated. “I can’t wear your jersey!”
It makes me laugh to see her so flustered. “Not to the games, but you could wear it around the house. You’d be hot in Number 6.”
“I’m going on Chet’s show again for the Vikings game.” She gathers her hair in both hands, wrapping it up in a scrunchie on top of her head in a cute, messy way. “I’ve got to salvage my reputation.”
I slide out of the bed and walk over to where she’s standing. She’s so tiny, she leans her head back to look up up up at me.
“Or not,” I quip, placing my hand on the top of her shoulder, tracing my thumb along her throat. “Reputations evolve, much like players evolve. We can be together, and you can still give me shit. I can take it.”
“But I’m not mad at you anymore.” It’s a plaintive little cry, and she’s so adorably stumped.
“Good.” I smile, leaning down to trace my lips along the top of her brow. “I’ll still make mistakes, though. And I’ll need you to call me out for them so I can play better.”
Her shoulders drop with her heavy exhale, and she shakes her head as she steps out of my arms. “I don’t know. I just don’t have it in me to hurt you now.”
Warmth spreads across my chest, and I go to her, taking both hands in mine. “Why not, QP?”
She blinks up at me, her pretty blue eyes gleaming. “Because yes, I might be falling for you. Happy?”
Fuck. The warmth in my chest ignites, and I catch her cheeks in both my hands, holding her eyes with mine.
“Yes,” I say, smiling down into her face before I slide my lips across hers, sealing them with a new kind of kiss.
Up to now, our kisses have been fueled by lust. Now, when I catch her tongue with mine, when I pull her body to mine, when I turn her and sit her in a straddle on my lap, I’ve got so many new visions in my mind.
She looks up at me, and I see them in hers as well. It’s a tentative little dream, but it’s intensely addictive.
She huffs a laugh, turning and stepping away, toward the kitchen. “Who’s watching Cricket right now?”
“My cousin Edward.”
“Oh, yeah, you wanted me to meet him. The kicker for Baltimore.”
“He’s the best guy, pretty much a self-made man.” I rub my hand over my chin thinking my aunts would let me have it for that crack. “With the help of a village of Bradfords. Still, all my life, he’s always had the answers to any problem. And he’s great with kids. Like preternaturally great.”
“He’s got practice.”
“What do you mean?” My brow furrows, and she starts for the living room.
I quickly pull my jeans over my hips and slip my arms into the hoodie, zipping it all the way up over my bare torso. I don’t mind leaving my shirt with her. I actually kind of like the thought of her wearing my clothes.
“He was older when you were born, right? He was also there when all your cousins were born. How many babies did he help wrangle?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. You’re right.” My brow quirks, and I nod. “Cricket loves him. I swear she knows what he’s saying. He told her not to spit food on him, and guess what?”
Melody’s eyes narrow, and her lips twist. “She didn’t?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “After hosing us both down with sweet potatoes.”
“I guess she’s growing up.” Melody sighs, shaking her head. “She’s adorable. I love how you can make her laugh.”
I nod, thinking Cricket’s laugh is pretty much the best thing in the world. That and when I make Melody smile… and scream my name in ecstasy while she’s calling me God… and when she tells me she’s falling for me.
“What’s the latest on the paternity test?”
My lips tighten, and I meet her gaze. “I’m calling it off. She’s a Bradford. It’s what her mom wanted, and it’s what I want.”
Her lips part, and her brows rise. “How do you know that?”
“Jules had a friend named Stacia, who’s on the Cheer Krewe. Stacia said she went by the name Bonnie. She knew she was ill, but she was a fighter. She wanted to have one last summer of love, and for whatever reason, she wanted me to be her baby’s daddy.”
Melody’s nose wrinkles with a frown. “I don’t know, Knox. It doesn’t sound sweet to me. It sounds like she was trying to trap you.”
“I’ve thought of that, too.” Exhaling a sigh, I look down. “But now that Cricket’s mine, I kind of don’t care why Bonnie did it. I love that little girl.”
“But what if a relative does appear? You should do the test, at least to know where you stand, her medical history, anything else important.”
“I know what I need to know.” I shake my head, feeling possessive. “She’s mine. I’m not taking any chances with that.”
“You kind of are taking a chance by not knowing.” She walks over, putting her hand on my chest.
Her eyes are round as she looks up at me, but I’m confident in my decision. “The lawyer who brought her to me said she was mine. I’ve got the paperwork. It’ll be enough.”
“Okay.” With a deep exhale, she nods.
We’re both in the living room, and I hadn’t realized she was leading me to the door until now. “I guess it’s time for me to go?”
“I’d love to meet Edward sometime, but I’ve got an early plane to catch. Don’t you?”
“Yeah.” But I can’t seem to stop touching her.
I thread my fingers in her hair, and she doesn’t pull away. She rests her cheek against my palm, blinking up at me. It’s a look of love, and it’s sexy as hell.
“You’ve got to get out of here before my roommate catches us.”
“She is quite the watchdog. Pretty sure she might shank me.”
That makes Melody laugh, and she’s so happy. It makes me smile, and I lean down to kiss her once more. She puts her hands on my neck, and the unspoken words burn in the front of my brain. I love you.
It’s scary because her online persona and my popularity have both exploded this season around us being rivals.
I know it’s the bulk of her subscribers, but even my audience has grown through her critiques.
We’re on the front page of all the gossip sites.
Our barbs are plastered all over social media.
We could continue the charade, but it’s only a matter of time before someone catches us. Looking back as I leave her door, I can’t help wondering how our worlds would change if we put down our weapons. Is it possible we could make something better for both of us?
* * *
“You gonna watch Daddy play?” I hold Cricket in my arms, shaking her little body side to side to make her baby-laugh and squeal.
Her blue eyes light up with so much happiness, it tickles my stomach. She’s all decked out in a baby Saints jersey, Number 6, of course, and a fluffy little black skirt over her diaper.
“That’s my girl,” I say laughing, lowering her to kiss her neck rolls.
We’re sequestered in a private box at the Vikings stadium. So far, I’ve been able to keep Cricket’s existence a secret, even from my friends. It’s crazy and a little terrifying to think I’ve managed to pull it off, like the clock is ticking.
To be fair, football players are stars to fans and people who pay attention to sports, but outside the world of football, we’re not mega celebrities like actors or musicians.
At home in New Orleans, unless someone gets arrested or truly makes a scene, we live our lives in relative peace. I’ve racked up a bit more attention because of Melody, but it’s still a relatively small audience.
Still, I’m just waiting for one of us to slip up. I suck at keeping secrets, ask any of my cousins.
My cousins, who have been blowing up my phone ever since our video chat.
Haddy
Has she started crawling yet? Lulu didn’t start crawling until 10 mos, but that’s okay.
Gina
Her feet would have to touch the floor for that to happen. I’m sure Knox never puts her down.
Kimmie
I want more pictures!
Mav
Dove’s really sad she won’t make the bye week visit, but we’ll get down asap after she has baby Chewy.
Dove
We’re not naming the baby Chewbacca.
Mav
Lando.
Dove
We’re not naming the baby Lando Calrissian either
Gav
Give it up, bro, Hads wouldn’t let me name Lulu Princess Leia, even though it was all teed up.
Haddy
We’re not naming our daughter after my Halloween costume.
Gav
People do it all the time.
I hold up my phone and take a picture of Cricket sitting on my arm in her little Saints getup.
Knox
Edward says my little cheerleader is doing just fine.
Gina
Like I said, her feet would have to touch the ground…
Kimmie
She’s so cuuuute… I can’t wait to squeeze her!
Knox
Time to beat the Vikings. Y’all cheer me on.
They all sign off with assorted versions of kick their ass, and I give my little girl a bounce. “You can crawl if you want to, can’t you Crick?”
She pats my arm, blowing bubbles with her lips, and I position her little feet on the back of the sofa. She “stands” with me holding her baby fists, bending her knees and squealing.
“She loves you.” Edward studies his phone as he says the words calmly.
Gazing into the bright blue eyes of my chubby little cutie, I can’t help a smile. “I love her, too. I know it’s kind of fast, but it’s the truth. She’s got my heart wrapped around her little finger.”
“It will upend her career, of course. You’ve been playing well, and you’re just getting started. She, however, will have to restructure her entire show.”
“Wait… What?” I’m startled to realize he’s not talking about Cricket.
“She should have diversified more, focused on more than one player.” He reaches for Cricket, and she goes to him easily, patting his shoulder.
“You’re talking about Melody?”
His brow furrows. “Who else?”
“My daughter?” I raise my brows, nodding at the little girl pointing at me and squealing Ba! “She loves me, and I don’t think that word is for her mom.”
“Of course, Cricket loves you. You prioritize her, and you shower her with affection.” He shifts her onto his arm. “Melody Dunne’s critiques of you have slowly evolved from overt jabs into thinly veiled love notes. She’s protecting you now.”
I stand straighter, trying to think of something to say that doesn’t completely give away everything. Then I realize who I’m dealing with. Edward is the smartest guy I know.
“Well, so what if she is?” I lift my hand and drop it. “So what if I might love her, too?”
His brows rise. “How important is her career to her?”
“Dammit, Edward.” I walk around, rubbing the back of my neck. “She loves her job.”
He nods, glancing up like he’s thinking. “There have been couples who’ve built their public personas on being at odds with each other. Jennifer Palmieri and Jim VandeHei are one example. If you go back a bit further, James Carville and Mary Matalin are possibly the most famous.”
Shaking my head, I hold out a hand. “Who are these people?”
“Political pundits.”
“Give me something I can use, Eddie.”
His lips purse, and his eyes narrow in disapproval. “I don’t know if there are corollaries in the sports world. The closest would perhaps be Tony Romo and Jim Nantz, but obviously, they’re not married.”
Married. The thought flashes in my chest, and I’m surprised that it doesn’t freak me out. In fact, it’s the opposite. It’s like when I wondered if Melody might consider visiting Newhope with me during Bye Week…
“You’d better get to the locker room.” He interrupts my musings. “I’m sure your teammates are wondering where you are.”
“Just hold that thought. We’re coming back to this, and we’re going to figure it out.”
“Put the thought out of your mind, Knox. Your team needs you to focus.” Edward’s tone has shifted to coach mode, and I wouldn’t mind seeing my brother and him leading a team.
They’ve always been close, and I’m willing to bet before it’s all over, they’ll establish a championship dynasty in Newhope.
He’s right, though, I have to put my situation with Melody out of my head and focus. As much as I want to stay and figure out how I can tell the whole world I’m in love with Melody Dunne without ruining her career, I’ve got to focus on beating the Vikings and taking us all the way to the top.