now. We’ll figure everything out with my dad, don’t worry.”
I kiss the top of her head. God, I hope she’s right.
Twenty-four
Matt
“One more set, McKenzie.” One of the trainers spots my bench-press reps. “Don’t overdo it on those shoulders, they’re precious.”
I roll my eyes a little and crank out the last set, pumping my muscles and exhaling hard as I finish and rack the bar.
“One week, brother.” Andre Smoke walks by the bench and smacks my back. “How you feeling?”
I run a hand through my sweaty hair and shake it out. “Good. Damn good, actually.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Let’s go, baby!” He pounds a fist on his massive chest and walks over to the abs-and-core area, where a couple of other enormous beasts of defensive players are waiting for him.
I continue riding the high of my newfound surge of confidence—possibly thanks to Ellie’s unbelievable blowjob the other night—and follow my trainer over to run some passing drills.
“McKenzie!” Head Coach Watson barks my name, calling to me from the other side of the weight-lifting area.
“Yeah, Coach?” I turn around.
“The, uh…” He looks confused and a little stressed out. “Somebody who works for the owner wants to see you. Vice’s lawyer guy. He’s in the main office up front.”
Well. There goes any shred of my cocky attitude.
A prickle of nerves creeps up my spine. “Me? Why?”
As if I don’t know fucking why.
But, I mean, seriously? He sent in his lawyer? I recall Ellie making a comment or two about the family lawyer, and they weren’t exactly positive.
“What do I look like to you?” Coach asks. “Google? Go see for yourself.”
I walk past him and take a slow, deep breath, clenching my fists and knowing full well that, whatever the hell he wants to say to me, it’s probably going to suck. And I’m going to have to just deal with it, because I need to focus on winning the Super Bowl.
The clanging of weights and grunts of guys lifting and working out fades to total silence as I get to the offices in the training facility and swing open the heavy door.
I swallow the nerves and straighten my back, forcing myself to remember to keep a Chase Kennedy mind-set, because God knows I could use a little confidence now more than ever.
I grit my teeth and walk into the office.
“Matthew.” The Vice family’s lawyer is wearing a button-down shirt and a tie and his stone-cold expression is like literal ice. He’s a solid several inches shorter than I am, and his eyebrows look like they live in a permanent scowl. “My name is Paul Richardson. I represent the Vice family as well as the Vice Hospitality corporation. It’s nice to meet you.”
I hold out my hand and shake his firmly. “Nice to meet you, too.”
A bitter fucking lie.
“Mmm, yes,” he grunts. Almost as unconvincing as my greeting. “Have a seat. I’d like to talk with you.”
I suck in a breath quietly and sit down in the cushy chair across from the desk. Paul sits at the desk and folds his hands, leaning forward and looking at me with that piercing I-run-the-world sort of gaze.
I’m not an idiot. I know the reason Vice called his lawyer in to do some dirty work with the guy who knocked up his daughter. This has nothing to do with football, despite the fact that the Super Bowl is in, like, a week.
“Mr. Richardson…” I start, hoping I can ease at least a little of the suffocating tension in this room. “I know that Christopher was in complete shock the other day at the hospital. I know the whole family is still trying to process all of this. But getting legalities involved right now just doesn’t seem…”
“Matthew, please.” He holds up a hand, effectively cutting me off and pissing me off with that one simple movement. “Let me make myself extremely clear.” He dips his chin low and narrows his eyes at me. “The safety and well-being of the Vice family and their assets and are my absolute number one priority in all of this.”
“Of course,” I say quickly. “I completely get it. I—”
“No. You don’t get it. Elizabeth Vice isn’t just some girl you can toy around with whenever it’s convenient for you. And being a parent?” He scoffs sarcastically. “It’s a full-time job.”
Okay, this really isn’t this guy’s business. “I know. I’m fully prepared to do it…”
“Oh, Matthew.” He rubs his forehead as if just being in my presence is such a drain on