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She refocused on me with determination in her eyes. “You have more power than you think you do. Your story resonates with people. Have you watched the coverage you’re getting?”
I pressed my lips together as I shook my head. In general, I avoided any sports news about myself, but the number of fans waiting for me after games grew each week. Then there was Marian Kelsey, the lady who wanted me to come speak to the kids in her organization. I hadn’t called her back yet because I’d been so busy with the season—also because I wasn’t sure if I’d do it.
Gina nodded up the stairs. “After you’re finished, come see some of the highlights.”
“You have highlights of me?”
She laughed. “Of course. You’re making history for women in sports. I’m hoping to show my grandkids someday.” She winked at my wide-eyed expression.
Parker and I hadn’t talked about what to do for next year, let alone after college, but she’d very clearly implied that I’d be involved in those grandkids. Horrifically, the thought didn’t scare me as much as it should.
I’d always assumed I’d have kids—someday. I wanted a family. Recently, I’d been thinking a lot about my relationships with people, not just Parker, but Mac, Noah, and Eva too. They’d given me the sense of family I’d been missing since my dad died. That didn’t mean I was ready to reveal my personal life to the world at large.
“Umm, highlights would be great, but maybe hold off on the grandkid talk.”
“It’s okay,” she reassured me. “Parker knows where I stand. It’s been obvious from the beginning, at least to me, that he’s totally gone on you, but I hope you’re getting as much out of the relationship as he is.”
I hadn’t thought the conversation could get any more awkward. Gina waited expectantly for a response, and I surprised myself by blurting out the truth.
“I like him—a lot. Enough that I’m willing to risk my scholarship and my chance to play football to be with him.”
As I said the words, I realized I was still hedging. Playing football at TU lost a lot of its appeal if I couldn’t have Parker. My chest squeezed at the thought. I loved football, but I loved him too.
She nodded, completely unaware of what she’d led me to realize. “If you don’t mind my saying, it sounds like your life would be a lot easier if you stopped hiding and simply hired a PR person.”
A great suggestion, if I had access to my dad’s money. Then again, when had I ever let a little hardship stop me from pursuing what I wanted. I wanted Parker, so maybe I should do a little research. After the playoffs.
Without another word, she climbed the stairs, leaving me staring after her.
24
Every time I came home, Jaina took joy in interrupting my sleep by bouncing on my bed, so I was surprised to wake up in a dark room with no kid sister in sight. No Riley either, which was a shame.
I crawled out from under the covers, intent on finding my errant girlfriend, and nearly tripped over our bags. They were piled up on my side of the bed with Riley’s clothes spilling out of hers. I shook my head with a grin as I grabbed a clean set of my own.
Riley wasn’t at all interested in keeping things neat. She took care of her gear, and her locker area was spotless, but her room was a disaster. In the last few months, she’d transferred some of the disaster to my room, but it was a small price to pay to have her there.
As soon as I opened the door, the rich scent of tomato sauce and garlic bread made my stomach grumble. A breakfast sandwich before dawn wasn’t enough to fuel me for a whole day, even if all I did was sleep.
Jaina came out of her room and stopped short in the hallway at the sight of me. She’d grown another inch since they came out for the game, putting the top of her head at my shoulder. Her dark hair was scraped back in a ponytail, and she wore her usual stretchy pants and hoodie.
A big grin split her face as she launched herself at me. “You’re up! Finally. We were starting to wonder if you were getting too old for the drive.”
“Brat,” I teased, squeezing her skinny form gently. “I could snap you in half at my advanced age. You need to eat more.”
A sly look entered her blue eyes. “That’s not what Korben said.”
“Who the fuck is Korben?”
“A guy in my class. He’s cool. Doesn’t make me want to dunk his head in a toilet when he talks.”
I curled an arm around her neck, fighting the urge to go into full protective big brother mode. “He’s respectful?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. Otherwise, I’d definitely dunk his head in a toilet.”
“My little sister, master of bullying techniques. Anyone else you’re harassing at school these days?”
“Not anyone I’d tell you about.” Jaina wrinkled her nose and squealed, wriggling away. “Ugh, you need to shower. Your man stank is overpowering.”
