she was at first.” I rush to explain that summer party and her special brownies.
Staring down, he mulls this over for a long while. “You kinda got roofied there.” He rubs the crinkled spot between his eyebrows.
Huh. I’d never thought of it like that before. “I don’t think it was malicious.” At least, I hope it wasn’t. “It was definitely poor decision-making on my part.”
I’d say it was the worst decision of my life, but that thought gives me pause. Because how can I regret Poppy? I can barely keep my head screwed onto my shoulders with how crazy everything’s been since she came into my life, but I love my little gremlin. So while I’m not proud of how that weekend went down, I’ll never say I regret her.
“Where is she now, the mama?”
“She drove out to California to harvest pot. Decided to drop off our daughter first.” Weird as hell to say ‘our’ daughter, but sometimes it’s easy to forget I’m only half the equation.
His eyebrows lift. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one before.”
“Me neither, sir. But you can confirm this with her grandmother.”
He blows out a breath and waves a finger between my two roommates. “Frick and Frack. Wait in the hallway. Tell the others they can get their phones.”
When it’s just me and Sully, he heaves a tired sigh. “You’re being a pain in my ass right now. You’re lucky you’re a damn good quarterback.”
I want to smile, but he’s not in a joking mood. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry for the trouble.” Palming my entire face, I scrub it. “I know it might not seem like it, but I really was trying to stay out of trouble this season, and I’ve been working my butt off trying to take care of my daughter and stay on top of my classes.”
“That’s good, son.” Folding his hands on his desk, he shakes his head. “I wish you had told me the whole story the first time you came to see me so I could prepare myself in case this story got out, but I understand why you didn’t, and I want you to know I believe you.”
That makes my throat tighten. No one in my hometown ever believed me or believed in me. This man always has, from the very beginning. The older I get, the more I realize that trust is everything in this world.
He shuffles through a stack of messages. “Now, I wish I could say you are out of the woods, but I still need to talk to the provost, who’s also been flooded by media requests.”
Dread seeps through my veins. “Am I in trouble with the school? For, like, conduct violations or with my eligibility?”
“Can’t say just yet. It’s possible. I’ll know more on Thursday when the board of conduct meets.” My stomach threatens to drop outta my ass. And then he levels me with a stake to the heart. “We’re tentatively starting Meyers on Saturday.”
Meyers. My backup who’s barely played this season. Against Texas, our biggest rivals who are undefeated.
“Are you serious?” What the ever-loving fuck?
“I’m sorry, but if you aren’t allowed to play, I need a backup plan. We’ll see how things play out in the media this week. See if we can spin this the right way. I want you to meet with our public relations expert. In the meanwhile, I’m hoping for the best and planning for the worst.” His lips tighten, his eyes full of regret. “I think you should do the same.”
I nod and agree, but the truth is, I’m worried my career just got tanked by one night and a stupid decision to eat some girl’s brownies.
How am I supposed to support my daughter as a washed-up football player with mediocre grades?
He keeps talking, but the only thing I hear is my lifelong dream might be over.
58
GABBY
“This is bullshit!” Tank roars from his side of the couch. Bree pats his back and gives me a worried look.
Rider paces from one end of the living room to the other and back again while everyone complains.
Even though that conversation I had with Miranda and Zoe this afternoon is eating at me, I do my best to focus on the current crisis.
The guys called a household meeting after practice. The practice Rider was not allowed to attend. But he came home and hit their weight room, which also has a treadmill, and got in a workout in case he’s allowed to play this weekend.
Based on the private