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“If you don’t do what I say, I’m going straight to your father. And when he sees the pictures I had my guy take of you and Carter, all hell is going to break loose. Are you sure you want to be the one who causes that? Are you sure you want your daddy to know that you're fucking somebody twice your age?”
My heart is hammering so hard in my chest, I’m half-expecting to see it burst right through my skin. Letting out another deep breath, I raise my gaze to him.
“Do we have enough?” I ask. “Do we have it?”
A look of confusion crosses Ryder’s face. “What are you talking about?”
Carter saunters out of my darkened bedroom, a cocky grin on his face. He walks over to the entertainment center and pointedly picks up his phone, which had been recording the whole time. Never taking his eyes off Ryder, he runs his fingers over the screen, and a moment later, we hear the telltale whoosh of an email being sent.
“What the fuck is this?” Ryder demands.
“This is you getting what you deserve, not necessarily what you want,” I say.
“What are you talking about?” he snarls.
“Cami and I went to Coach B earlier this evening,” Carter says. “We told him everything. Told him we’ve been seeing each other for a little while now. There are no secrets anymore.”
“Why would you do that? He’s going to cut you,” Ryder snaps. “You’re a fucking idiot.”
“Actually, he’s not. He appreciates the fact that we fessed up. But even if he had, I would have been okay with it. The one thing I realized through all of this is that Cami is more important to me than football. She makes me happier than anything that happens out on that field, So, I made the decision that I was going to be with her regardless of what her father thought and regardless of the consequences for my roster spot.”
When Carter told me what his plan was, I wasn’t convinced it was the best path forward. I was certain my dad would cut him there on the spot. I tried talking Carter out of it, but he wasn’t going to be dissuaded. He’d made up his mind and that was that. When we sat down with my dad at his house to tell him, I was trembling like a leaf and had a sick feeling in my belly. But he surprised me by actually being open to what we were telling him.
To be fair, my dad isn't entirely thrilled with the relationship. He's not exceptionally happy with the fact that Carter is fifteen years my senior. But he surprised me by being "okay" with it. He recognizes the fact that I’m a grown woman and capable of making my own decisions. And since we’re not violating any rules, he said as long as Carter treats me well and makes me happy, we have his blessing—with the caveat that if Carter hurts me, my father is going to murder him.
“You hear that, Ryder?” I ask with a malicious grin on my face. “That’s the sound of your leverage drying up and blowing away.”
“Fuck you,” he growls.
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. Ever,” Carter says. “Here’s how this is going to work. You’re going to walk out of this condo, and you will never come back here. You are going to stay the fuck away from Cami. And on those occasions when you happen to be in the same place as her, you will show her respect, and if you have to speak to her, it will be with respect. Am I clear?"
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Ryders sneers. “You’re a has-been. I’m the future of this organization?—”
Carter steps closer to Ryder, his eyes narrow and hard, his jaw set. Carter glances at me and I give him a subtle shake of the head, silently encouraging him to keep his cool. If he loses his composure, it might ruin all the gains we’ve made today.
“Here’s what’s going to happen if you continue acting like a little bitch,” Carter says. “The video we just shot of you trying to blackmail Cami is going to find its way into the inbox of a few reporters I know. And you know how reporters just love a juicy story?—”
“You wouldn’t dare?—”
“I would dare. And in today’s environment, with all the attention being paid to matters like harassment, how do you think it’s going to look for you to be on video, forcing Cami to do something she doesn’t want?” Carter says. “I guarantee the team, regardless of the impact it would have on the organization, would cut you loose. And with that video making the rounds—something I will make sure it continues to do—how do you think that’s going to impact your job prospects? How many organizations do you think will overlook your little extortion play here? How many organizations do you think want someone like you on their roster?”
“You son of a bitch,” Ryder seethes.
“You brought this on yourself,” I say. “It’s time you grow up, Ryder.”
“Fuck you,” he hisses.
“What did I just say? You will address her with respect. And she’s right. It’s time for you to grow the fuck up,” Carter growls. “That’s how this is all going to work. Now, you can get the fuck out of here. Tomorrow, when we get to practice, you and I are going to find a way to work together as a team. You’re right. You are the future of the franchise. You have more talent than I had at your age. The difference is, I worked hard to be the best. And I want to help you mature and learn how to be a pro quarterback. I want to help you fulfill your potential, Ryder.”
Ryder stares at us blankly for a moment, looking totally shell-shocked. He looks like he doesn’t know what just hit him. Like a man who had absolute control over the situation watching it all slip through his fingers like grains of sand. He shakes his head like he can’t believe it. But he nods to himself and, without another word, turns and shuffles out of my condo. The door clicks closed behind him, and I hold my breath, half-expecting him to storm back in with rage and murder in his eyes. He doesn’t, though.
And when we’re alone again, I turn and throw myself into Carter’s arms. He scoops me up and spins around, both of us laughing together. I kiss him hard, putting every ounce of my emotion behind my lips, still in shock that he’d chosen me over football—the self-admitted first love of his life. I have never felt as cared for as I did when we sat with my dad, and I listened to Carter explain just how much he cared about me. My heart swelled to the point I thought it might burst and felt three sizes too big for my body.
With a flirty smile on my lips, I take him by the hand and start pulling him toward the bedroom. His laugh is a deep, rich rumble.
“Where are we going?” he asks.
“I’m going to put something sexy on for you.”
