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“The thing is?” he prompts me.
“I fucked her before I knew she was his daughter.”
“Bam! There it is. How’d you meet her?”
“The night of the Wild Aces ball. She was a last-minute addition, and I gave my spare ticket to Lincoln. I guess he gave it to Coach Dix, and she ended up in the seat beside me. We had a fun night, and I assumed it wouldn’t lead to anything more whenshe was gone when I woke up, but then she was in the family area after a game, and I learned who she was.”
“The redhead?” He lets out a low whistle. “Damn, dude. And you think it’s love?”
“I don’t know,” I mumble a bit uncomfortably.
“You’ve got three choices, then,” he says.
“What are they?” I ask, trying to keep the begging out of my voice as I hope he has the answers I’m looking for.
“You can continue to sneak around and betray the OC, you can be honest with him, or you can end it with her.”
“What else you got? Is there some hidden choice I haven’t thought about?” I wonder aloud, not really liking any of those options whatsoever.
“Afraid not, brochacho.” He sighs. “I’ll be honest, man. The sneaking around bullshit is tough. Ava and I did it for a little while, and I wouldn’t wish it on you, little bro. Be proud of who you’re with, or don’t be with them.” He says it like it’s so simple, so easy, when it’s just not.
Of course I’m proud to be with her. She’s amazing, and she’s fun and smart and sexy.
But maybe it’s better to end it now before we fall deeper and deeper into something we can’t get out of.
“You think I should end it with her?” I ask softly, the thought alone causing a hollow feeling in my chest.
“I didn’t say that, man. I think you should do whatever is right for you, and if that’s ending it with her so you don’t feel like you’re betraying Bill Dixon, then that’s what you should do. If it really is love, then be honest with him. You didn’t know who she was when you met, so it’s not like you went into it with the intention of betraying him. Maybe he’ll understand.”
“He won’t. Maybe he’s taken me under his wing, but that doesn’t mean he wants me porking his daughter,” I point out.
“No dad would ever want any dude porking his daughter,” he argues. “But maybe he’ll surprise you.”
Maybe he will. Or maybe he’ll take it out on me by punishing me on the field. Maybe he’ll decide he doesn’t want tight ends to have the role they do now, or he’ll be harder on me in practice, or he’ll backtrack in his vow to help me become the leader he sees in me. Maybe he won’t see that leader in me at all anymore, and it’ll spell the ultimate end of my career.
And maybe Grayson’s right, and none of that will happen, and I’ll be surprised as he welcomes me into his family with open arms.
But the slim chance of that happening might not be worth the risk when my own career and reputation are on the line.
Chapter 37: Asher Nash
Complicated Dinosaurs
I walk into the house, and my dad is in the family room watching another western. I swear, the guy doesn’t do anything except gamble, watch westerns, and sponge off his kids.
I wait for a commercial, and then I walk into the family room and stand in front of the television.
He makes a little flip of his hand motion to indicate that I should step aside, but I stand firmly where I am.
“I have news,” I announce.
He raises both brows.
“Grayson, Lincoln, Spencer, and I are all chipping in on getting you a new place.”
He sinks back a bit as if I just dealt a physical blow.
“Gray thinks it can be ready by the end of the month,” I continue. “He’s going to buy you the place, and Linc, Spence, and I will split your monthly fees.”
