know, I guess I wanted to really figure out what the hell was actually going on between Matt and me before I told them the truth. Dad is so stuck on the idea that there isn’t going to be any father in the picture whatsoever…at this point, I don’t think he’d be happy no matter who it is. He wants the baby to be 100% Vice, born and raised, with no one else there to complicate the process.”
“Yeah, that’s true. He likes McKenzie, though. He believes in him to win the Super Bowl. We all do.”
“Yeah, but that’s just football. You heard him at dinner the other week, talking about how a guy like Matt could never be ‘worthy,’ or whatever elitist crap he was spewing.”
“Oh shit.” Noah draws back and raises his brows. “I forgot about that conversation. That explains why you got so upset. I had no idea about anything that was going on. Damn, El, I’m sorry.”
I shrug and reposition the phone on a throw pillow in my lap. “Not your fault. Point is, I don’t know when it’ll be the right time to tell him, but I have a pretty strong feeling that I should wait at least until after Matt wins his team the Super Bowl. Talk about brownie points.”
Noah snorts and nods in agreement. “Probably a good call.”
“Yeah, just…keep it between us for now.”
“As promised.” He glances at something on his computer screen in front of him. “All right, I gotta run to a meeting. Good luck with your double life.”
I laugh and cock my head. “It’s not really a double life.”
“Nah, just a confusing one.”
I stick my tongue out and glare at him. “Bye, Noah.”
After we hang up, I drop the phone at my side and flip over onto my back, stretching my legs out across the couch.
He really cares about you. Like…a lot.
Noah’s words echo through my mind, even though they’re probably the last thing about that conversation I should be focusing on. Telling my dad should be taking up all of my attention and worry and thoughts, but all my mind keeps racing with is the idea that Matt wants something serious with me. Something real.
And what if it’s not only because of the baby? What if I could let go of every hang-up and hesitation and doubt that I’ve had about this wildly unconventional turn of events and just fall for him?
Of course I have fears still. I have no idea how I’m going to feel once the baby is born. I have my whole plan of being a single mom and keeping my job and utilizing the thousands of dollars’ worth of support and backup and help that my family has to offer. It’s a good plan. It’s a sensible plan.
But my vision of my next great adventure is becoming less and less about skiing in the Swiss Alps and more about being with Matt.
After all, I’m more than ready to trust him with my child, why shouldn’t I trust him with my heart, too?
Twenty-one
Matt
The pressure and tension and adrenaline floating in the air around the Riders training facility are palpable. Stakes have never been higher for this team, and definitely not for me, either.
I tighten my fists and grit my teeth as we run through our strategy sessions, watching round after round of film and analyzing every last possibility of how the hell we’re going to beat the New England Patriots.
We are, though. We’re going to beat them. We might be an underdog team, and I might be an underdog quarterback, but we’re hungry. We’re ready for the win, and it’s never been clearer than right now that this team is about to be the new dominant force in the NFL.
I just got to lead them there.
“McKenzie.” Coach barks my name. “Watch that again. Sterling is gonna have, like, five route options in this play. Memorize them.”
“Yes, Coach. I think I have them memorized.”
More like burned into the cells of my brain for the rest of eternity.
“Well, memorize them harder.” Chase’s voice catches me off guard as he steps into the small room where Coach and I have been watching and analyzing film.
“Hey, bro.” I fist-bump Chase, and we smack each other’s backs. “Glad you’re here.”
“Of fucking course I’m here. There’s a serious energy going on right now. This thing is ours. I can feel it.”
I take a slow, deep breath, figuring I’ll probably just have to accept the fact that I’ll be low-key amped up 24/7 until