Happily Ever All-Star: A Secret Baby Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,359

opportunities. College coaches came to watch me play—promising full-rides to any college I wanted. I was seventeen, and NFL scouts were telling me I’d go pro after college. That I had potential. I was gifted.”

“You are.”

Yeah, right. “My mom stopped me. I was prepared to drop out of school, get a job, take care of him. But she knew best. I wouldn’t have been a good father then.”

Elle stared at me, amazed. “You’d have walked away from football?”

“Yeah, and we would have had a shit life with no money, no chances, no opportunities to show for it. Mom fought with me on the day he was born. She said I could do more for him if I stayed in school, went to college, and played football. I’d make it into the pros like we’d planned, and then I’d be able to provide for him. Food, clothing, shelter, education. Everything millions of dollars could buy.”

Elle understood, nodded without any judgement. “Your mother adopted him?”

“Yeah. Raised him as her own. We hid the truth from everyone—friends, family. I transferred high-schools. She switched jobs and pretended Bast was her son. No one knew. No one asked any questions. We kept it secret so no college would think twice about offering me a scholarship.”

And there it was.

The truth.

Was it horrible or just heart-breaking?

Elle went quiet, thinking, watching me as I breathed hard and ragged.

Her voice was a sweetness that might have convinced me everything would be okay. “I think you did the right thing. He’s a great kid. He’s happy and healthy, and you can do so much for him now.”

“He doesn’t have a father.”

“But he has an amazing big brother.”

That wasn’t enough. “It’s not the same. I grew up without a father. It sucked. Never knowing how to act, how to treat people, when to put on a fucking condom. My mom raised me well, but I gotta show Bast how to be a good man.”

“And you will.”

“My mother sacrificed everything for us. Bast’s life is fucked up because of me.” I held her stare. “I don’t have a choice now, Red. I have to make this work. For them. I can’t blow this chance.”

If I hadn’t ruined it already.

And it felt like the end was near.

I took her hand, kissing the fingers.

“And now you’re pregnant.” Heavy fucking words. “Another woman having my baby. Christ, I must have some sort of superpower.”

Elle smiled. “You do make the earth move for me.”

“At least I don’t have super speed.”

I didn’t deserve her laugh or her kiss. I took it anyway.

“Elle, I’m won’t make the same mistakes I made with Bast. I’ll be here for you. I’m not strong enough to walk away this time. I won’t survive those minutes and hours and days and years watching him grow up without me.”

“We can do it together,” she said.

“You will never be alone.” My vow to her. “I won’t fuck this up. Not while you and Mom and Bast and the baby need me. I’m going to give you the life you deserve.”

Elle folded her fingers in mine. “You’re not alone either. We’re married…we’re kinda family already.”

And it would stay that way.

“I’m gonna fix this,” I said. “Change how I’m playing and step up my game. Every fucking penny I earn will belong to you guys. It’s yours. I just need to know that I can take care of you.”

Elle edged close, and I welcomed her into my lap.

“I don’t want your money, Lachlan.” She brushed my cheek with the back of her fingers. “I want the baby to know you the way I do. I want him to see his father’s smile and hear his laugh. I want him to know how…” Her voice trembled. “How wonderful his father is.”

Her eyes watered. She blinked before a tear escaped.

No.

I wasn’t letting her get upset. She’d revealed enough to me. I wasn’t hearing another word, not even that beautiful whisper.

I was the one who needed to prove myself to her.

I buried my hands in her hair, stealing a kiss I hadn’t earned. She returned the sensual nibble. Her hips rocked, slow. Not deliberately. Instinctually.

I hated myself for hardening, but the graze of her lips was a gift. I’d be damned if I ever missed an opportunity to demonstrate how amazing she was.

How much I loved her.

This feisty, sassy, amazingly quirky woman let me into her life when I had no right to her heart. And now she carried my baby.

If she gave me the chance, I’d offer her