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“Enough time for you to come home and show me just how much you like football players then?” I smirked as my hands dipped around to her ass.
“Behave.”
“With you? Never. I should probably go before Coach chews me out. But text me later?”
She nodded, taking a step backward. “Love you.”
“I love you more.” So fucking much.
I headed for the gym unable to hide the shit-eating grin lifting the corners of my mouth.
Yesterday had been rocky there for a moment, but everything had righted itself in the end. We’d had some of the best sex of my life. A new season was looming, and the team was looking stronger than ever. And I had a full schedule of classes I c
ouldn’t wait to get stuck into.
Life was great.
But there was still a small part of me that thought Mya underestimated just how much I loved her. I knew she wanted to stay in the city after graduation, and I knew she assumed I’d want to return to Rixon and help my old man with the company.
But she was wrong.
I just had to figure out a way to show her just how serious I was about our future together.
Mya
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” I ran a hand through my hair and gave Sally, the New Hope Community Center coordinator, a big smile. “Tell me where you want me, and I’ll jump straight in.”
“We had some new kids signposted to the program, three brothers. They recently got placed into foster care. “The elder two, Jay and Mario are a little uncertain, but I’ve paired them up with Pat and Hershel.”
“And the youngest?”
“Hugo, he’s only six. His file says he’s been a selective mute for the last two years.”
My heart clenched. I’d seen a lot during my time volunteering with New Hope. It ran a Big Brothers, Big Sisters style program for kids in the foster care system, but instead of one-to-one activities, it operated at a community level. They held weekly sessions, and monthly group events, as well as providing ongoing support to the foster families and their charges.
“Here.” Sally thrust a file at me. “It makes for difficult reading. Hugo is ready and waiting when you are.”
I sat down on the leather bench in her office and flicked open the file.
Hugo Garcia aged six. Two siblings, Jay, aged eleven, and Mario, aged fourteen. Father unknown, mother known to authorities since Mario was just three, after she started turning tricks to make ends meet. A history of narcotic use, neglect, and poor school attendance.
“Jesus,” I breathed, trying to get a hold on my emotions. No matter how many case files I read, it never got any easier.
“Jay and Mario have friends, they were able to get out of the house, but Hugo...” Sally’s voice trailed off.
“It says here he likes football.”
She nodded. “Came in clutching a stuffed Eagles mascot.”
“I can work with that.” At least, I hoped I could.
“If anyone can reach him, Mya, it’s you.”
Her words touched something inside me. All I wanted was to make a positive difference on the lives of the kids I encountered, so to have my mentor say that was everything.
I left Sally and went to find Hugo, spotting him the second I stepped into the main hall. A small kid with a head full of brown, curly hair, he watched the other kids and volunteers play a game of hacky sack.
I grabbed a soft football out of the box and made my way over to him. “Mind if I sit here?”
