The Revenge Pact (Kings of Football #1) - Ilsa Madden-Mills Page 0,111
phone rings and I make a dash for it, opening the FaceTime call.
“Hey.” I breathe out as I take in River’s chiseled face, the easy light in his eyes. A long sigh leaves me. He is content there, a peacefulness to his features I didn’t even realize he possessed. Being with his mom has given him purpose and clarity. I wish I had those same feelings here in Georgia, but I don’t. I adore having my parents around and spending the holidays with June and Carl, but a sharp sense of loneliness pierces my heart when I lie down at night. Our time wasn’t long enough.
“Baby girl,” he says, his gaze roaming over my hair and face. “Merry Christmas.”
Carl jumps in. “Miss you, man! Happy holidays!”
Mom and Dad stick their heads in. “River, how was the wedding?” she asks.
“Went off without a hitch,” he tells her, then says hi to my dad.
The daily calls are what I live for, sometimes several times a day.
I pan the room for him so he can see our table and June. She scowls at him and he just smiles. He knows she likes him.
I drift out Carl’s back door and step outside. “I miss you.”
I see an exhalation leave his chest. “Same.”
I catch him up on my parents’ plans to fly out the day before school starts for an artist festival in Seattle. They intend to live on the houseboat for a few months and save money for their next destination. He tells me about his mom’s doctor appointment on the 28th in Baltimore. They’re flying out early and spending a couple of days there so Nina can have tests run to see if she can qualify. I considered flying up to meet them before school starts, but I don’t have the money. He offered to give it to me, but I also don’t want to bail on my parents during the holidays.
Callie gets on and regales me with the pictures her mom has sent her from Hawaii. She thanks me for the stuffed unicorn I sent her for Christmas. I bought it at the ski lodge and shipped it from there.
“I’m meeting with a scout after the New Year,” River tells me quietly when he gets back on. “Not Dan, the guy I met at Braxton, but one from the New York Pythons. He heard I was in town and called. We’re meeting in Montpelier.”
Joy for him rises. “River! That would be perfect for you and your mom!”
“Don’t get excited. It doesn’t mean anything. Anything can happen at the draft.”
“Houston isn’t your first choice.”
“No. I’d rather stay close to home and Mom. You still stuck on Emory?” His voice is quiet, his eyes intense.
My throat tightens. “I can’t turn down the scholarship.”
“Right. You shouldn’t. It’s your dream.” He nods, then frowns as he looks away for a moment. “I miss you, baby, so bad. I wish this were easier, but…”
Yeah. It’s not.
“Happy New Year, baby girl,” River murmurs to me. “It’s officially midnight.”
I kiss the screen of the phone. “You too.”
“Wish I were there, really kissing you,” he says, holding my gaze.
My eyes close at the need I see in his face.
This empty feeling is only getting bigger and bigger.
Everyone around me is happy—and I’m not.
My mom dances around my den, waving Christmas garland, then lands in my dad’s arms and they kiss.
River laughs, but it sounds forced. “I see where you get it. Smoke any pot?”
I push a smile up. “Lila and Colette are still in Ellijay. Mom smoked one from Lila’s stash. I’m sure Lila would love her.”
He nods. “Hey, I’m headed to Indianapolis the last weekend in February for the combine. Scouts and agents will be checking me out. It’s about a ten-hour drive for you, and I thought, maybe, you could come. I mean, I won’t be able to visit much…we spend most of our time on the football field…” His voice trails off.
I shake my head. “I’m supposed to meet with my Emory advisor that Friday morning. It’s a group thing to meet the faculty and my cohorts. Afterward, I may scout some neighborhoods for a place to live.” I sigh, feeling anxious. “Spring break is the first week of March.”
“Mom and I are going to Baltimore that week. Her clinical trial starts then.”
“I’m so glad she got in.” I smile widely. He told me yesterday that she was admitted but I didn’t know the dates.