Line of Scrimmage: A Secret Baby Sports Romance (Pass To Win Book 2) (5 page)

“Congratulations, madam. You have a baby girl,” a female voice told me as its owner placed a little bundle of joy in my hands. It was all pink and cute and fuzzy.

Instantly tears started to roll down my cheeks. I wept. Like a three-year-old asking for his mommy or a teenage girl who had gotten an F in Science. I wept and it felt like the normal thing to do.

The baby blinked, looking at me.

“Welcome to the world, Mia,” I said through tears. I couldn’t even recognize my own voice. When had I become like this?

My girl only blinked. She had my eyes. I laughed from ear to ear. She was the best thing that had happened and would happen to me. I was sure of it.

“
I
t’s been eight years
, bro. Feels just like it was yesterday when all of this began,” my teammate told me, shaking my hand.

“Yeah, I still can’t believe it… But it doesn’t matter! We won!” I shouted and he laughed. Roy was a kind guy that had been nice to me since the first day in the NFL. We had remained bros since then.

“We won!” he shouted as the whole locker room echoed with the cries of the guys who were as ecstatic as this after every single game. They liked to win. And so did I. However, I wasn’t as hyped. I guessed that everything had come with the years. Eight years ago I had thought that I had touched the sky when I had earned my ticket to the league. Now everything seemed like a dream. Damn, what time did to a person!

My phone was ringing. There was no Kayla Vaughn to call me to congratulate me. And I couldn’t expect that from the model I had slept with yesterday. She had been such a lioness in bed though, I could still feel bruises all over my body. What a girl! A sex bomb. In every meaning of the term. I chuckled.

It turned out that it was a reporter who wanted an interview with the captain aka me. It sounded great. Magnificent even. Sean Coleman—the team’s captain. My ego was rising with each moment.

“Yeah, sure, pal. I’ll stop by. Thanks,” I said and hung up. Always be nice to the journalists. That was rule number one in this business.

After we drank a little bit, all of the team except me boarded a plane home. I had promised an interview and I might as well keep my promise. The adrenaline was still pumping through my veins, I entered the studio where a good friend of mine was waiting for me. We shook hands and the interview began.

The first two or three questions were interesting, but then all of it started to bore me.
Come on, idiot, shorten it up
, I shouted to myself. What a dick! I just wanted a nice round booty to place my hand on and a warm bed. After that the list would go on and on, but thinking of that would make me hard so I stopped. Instead I got these crappy questions. Splendid! I smiled for the camera. Just like I had for the past eight years. Smile and look pretty.

Finally
,
it ended after a couple of hours and I was out of the building. All I needed was a relaxing round of sex with a girl I had picked up at a bar.

An hour later all rushed and sweaty I entered the terminal. It was time to go home apparently. I leafed through a newspaper and got a coffee from the nearby shop. My head was aching badly.

It was fascinating how the airports were always so full of people. And for me that meant fans and security problems. Luckily, I had remembered to bring a cap with me, which I put on now. I also put on some black shades I found in my bag. I was totally unrecognizable. I sighed in relief. Phew!

The newspapers had nothing new to say. Ironically. The same stories, the same people making headlines… The infinite circle that went on and on. I realized that I had become a part of that circle and shuddered. Why was I having such deep thoughts now? Sleepy. That was all.

My flight was in about an hour, so I had some time on my hands. And at that same moment the inbound flights had landed and the terminal was flooded with passengers. They were hugging relatives and friends, sharing love, while others just exited the airport and boarded a taxi. The airports were actual representations of life and all it brought.

From the door came a beautiful, dark-haired young woman. She was dressed elegantly in a cream suit. I would recognize that face anywhere. Model-like with wonderful eyes, a small nose and full lips.

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

Was that Kayla Vaughn? No, it couldn’t be. No chance. What would she be doing here? But, oh my, she was so hot and sexy. I didn’t remember her like this. Had she changed? Did I? It didn’t matter.

There was one other thing that was incredibly important. Vital, even. Kayla. My Kayla was holding a little girl by her hand. She had long hair like Kayla’s and was unimaginably cute. She could be four? Five? No. She was much older than that. When did I lose my grip on reality? This short, sweet girl was surely going to school. So, perhaps seven or… Eight? Eight years! The number loomed before my eyes. Eight.

I ran a hand across my hair. “Oh my God,” I said out loud. “This is not happening to me. Oh my freaking God! This can’t be real! What’s wrong with me?” I was panicking. It had been exactly eight years since Kayla and I had broken up. And had our last sex.

I put my hands over my eyes and all I was staring at now was blackness. My ears still caught every sound from the busy terminal. But I shut myself off. Nothing existed for me anymore.

Could this girl be my daughter?
One voice said.

No.
The other replied.
She would have told you, you idiot.

What if she kept it a secret?
The first voice argued in my head.

Kayla’s not like that at all. She would have called you immediately.
The second voice gained dominance in my voice.

Would she?
The first one asked.

Okay. It was official. This was making me crazy. No, scratch that. Absolutely, utterly mental!

“Wake up, Sean. Wake up now. You’ll see the hot model next to her and you’ll kiss her and screw her some more and everything will be fine,” I whispered like a madman, but that was all I could do.

Then I raised my eyes only to see Kayla and the girl leaving. Without thinking, I stood up and sprinted in their direction. My muscles were hurting me, but I didn’t care. I was breathless when I went out in the coldish air. Kayla was climbing into a taxi.

“Wait!” I shouted, but she didn’t hear me, because the taxi had already driven off into an unknown direction. I considered running at first, but realized that I would fall in a minute to the asphalt.

I pressed my head between my hands, my mind was spinning. What was left for me to do? I had to find out everything. I had to speak with Kayla. No more running. No more hiding my head from the truth. All cards on the table.

Panicking, I fished my cell from my pocket and called my coach. After the second ring he picked up.

“Yea, Sean. What’s up?”

“Coach,” I said, trying to catch my breath. It was too much running for the day. “I want to take several days off. Something very urgent has come up. Is that okay?”

“Sure, yeah. No worries. Do you need me or anything? We can resolve everything you know,” my coach said. He was a pleasant man. Pleasant and nice when business and money were in the game.

“Thanks, coach. I can take care of this alone. Thanks again. See ya,” I hung up without much conversation. I was never much for small talk and explanations.

While I was talking to my coach, it dawned on me that I had to go back and finally set everything straight with Kayla. I wasn’t one hundred percent before, however now I was.

I caught the nearest taxi and told the cabbie the hotel’s address. “And if you get me there as quickly as possible, I’ll make it worth your while.” That was more than enough for him to speed up. The scenery changed from rural to urban as my heart danced in my chest. I thought for a second that it was going to climb into my throat.

Finally, I got to my hotel room safe and sound and feeling like a total wreck. I felt that every ounce of energy had abandoned me, but when I recalled the scene from the airport I knew that I had to do something. Now.

I picked up the phone and typed in Kayla’s number. I was surprised that I still knew it by heart.

One ring.

My hands were shaking and getting wet. I rubbed my free hand against the side of my pants.

Second ring.

My stomach was tied in a knot.

Third ring.

Come on, babe. Pick up! Pick up, damn it!

And she did. “Hello,” she said. I froze on the spot. It was the same voice. The same freaking tone. I could clearly envision her expression as she said it. Her finger playing with a lock of hair.

“Hello. Who is it?” she spoke again.

I was paralyzed. Done.

I
had never really been
a huge fan of airplanes. Jetlag. That’s why.

But luckily we arrived home and everything was going to be okay. Mia loved it. It had been one of her first airplane journeys.

“Did you like it at your grandparents’?” I asked her, helping her with her coat.

“Yes. They’re very nice. Too bad they don’t live close to us,” she said in a soft voice. Mia was my jewel and had such a sweet soul. She was like a real life doll—cute, sweet, pretty, even adorable. She had my hair. Thank God! Her hazel eyes were incredibly curious. She was constantly watching out for something, scanning every corner and every person she could see. Such a clever girl.

A light headache slowly crept its way to the front of my brain. And the phone was ringing. Seriously? Couldn’t people have a little mercy for me?

I picked up without even seeing who it was. My hand involuntarily picked a lock of hair that I toyed with. It was one of my habits while talking on the phone. “Hello?” I spoke, but there was no reply. The only thing I could hear was breathing. And it was getting quicker.

“Hello. Who is it?” I asked more nervously. Answer, whoever you are, God damn it!

Nothing, again. That drove me up the wall. What the heck? How long was the world going to suffer from perverts like this? What a creep! I was ready to end the conversation, when I heard a voice. A very familiar one.

“Kayla, hi. It’s me,” a man said in a deep bass. Shivers trickled down my spine and all of my hairs stood on end.

“Sean? Is that you?” I asked, still not believing. It had been eight years. It was so long ago, yet it seemed as if it were yesterday.

“You’re right, babe. How are you?” I could sense a smile on his face.

“D-Don’t call me that,” I spoke softly so that Mia wouldn’t hear me.

Silence.

“Sorry,” he replied, obviously saddened.

“I’m great, by the way. Surviving. How’s your life? It’s been so long since I last heard from you.” The nervousness and the tension were almost tangible.

“Okay. I know. I’m sorry. I guess it’s been going well.”

“You guess? I believe that it’s been eventful,” I said and smiled.

“Yeah, you could say that,” he said.

I could clearly picture Sean, drumming his fingers on a table or something like that. He always did that when he was anxious or was talking on the phone. A pang of sadness hit me.

I had nothing else to say. The pain and memories were too real. Luckily, Sean spoke again. “You know I saw you today at the airport.”

I was taken aback. Had he seen Mia as well? What would I tell him? Oh God! “Really? You’re here as well?”

“Yup. And you had a small girl with you.”

In an instant I knew where all of this was heading. What the fuck? The fear I dreaded, the fear that had haunted me for so long now had become a reality. I had to think of something and fast. To hell with this guy! “I-I-I… You know what? I’ve got a lot of work left for the day. And I’m dead tired at that. Can we meet up tomorrow, maybe? To chat?”

“Yeah, okay. Works for me. The café near the theater at noon,” he said. His voice was somehow more mature. However, he definitely didn’t look like it. Perhaps he was more serious with me.

“All right. See ya there,” I said and hung up without any more questions. Oh, God, I had had enough for the day. I had had enough of all of this. Why did I have to torture myself again with him?

I sat down on the sofa and was ready to fall asleep like that. Dressed in a suit and with make-up on my face.

“Mommy, who was it?” Mia came by my side. Aww… Such a sweetie.

“No one important, honey. Just mommy’s friend,” I said in a light voice. The one I always used when I was talking to her. I realized then that she was too innocent for this cruel world. That was why I had to hide all of my distress, so that she wouldn’t notice. It was the best like this. Yeah.

“Okay. Will you help me with my homework? Those awful tasks are killing me.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, sure, honey. Always for you. Come on now. Let’s see those awful tasks that bother my lovely daughter.”

Mia ran, chuckling. I smiled sadly, looking at her.

* * *

I
hadn’t managed
to close my eyes that night. I had constantly envisioned scenarios and had written various scripts for tomorrow. What would he ask me? What would I tell him? What should I wear? How should I sit? Everything. It had been a long, terrible night. And when morning had come, all I wanted was for everything to be over. We had to move on and be done with it. I had had enough of all of these secrets and lies.

The café Sean chose was a comfy one with tables placed both outside and inside as well. Knowing him, he would pick an outside one. Why did I still remember stuff like that? I scowled at myself.

As I headed for a table I noticed a tall, broad-shouldered man waving at me. I squinted to see well. It was Sean. Sean Coleman dressed in a cream cashmere sweater and white pants. I could already feel my insides squirming and turning. What was happening to me, damn me?

I smiled and approached him. My whole body was trembling as if I were going to meet the President. He had put his black glasses on top of his head. Sean was a heartthrob. He had been back in the day, but now he was a bigger hotshot. Ah, I could fall for him again.

“Hey,” I said, extending my hand. I had put on a white dress and red stilettos.

And then Sean hugged me. Like he had done when we were together. As if we were a regular good-looking couple who stopped by for a cup of coffee on a sunny day. His masculine, muscular arms engulfed the whole of me and I found myself lost. His strong, potent cologne hit me; it was spell-binding.

His shaven face touched mine and I felt that instant connection. That electricity. That vigor. What was happening to me? To us? What was I doing? Was it right? Thousands of questions flooded my mind as I felt a bit light-headed.

I returned the hug by placing my hands on his back. His whole body shivered under my touch. Just like mine was. We had been through a lot. And all of those memories were playing again before our eyes. It was almost like magic. Almost.

We finally sat, staring at each other. Eight years had done very little to age his face. I noticed one line next to his mouth that wasn’t there previously. I was being paranoid, like a fan obsessing over her favorite celebrity. His body, I observed was in a better shape. If that was even possible in the first place. His biceps were more pronounced and so were the muscles on his neck. But he was still the Sean I knew and used to love. Used to? I wondered what he thought about me.

“So,” I said, looking for something to talk about. “How are you? It’s hard to catch up on things after an entire eight years.”

“Yeah,” he replied. “But I’m happy to see you. I can’t put it into words really.”

“And here I am, thinking that it’s only me.” I chuckled. He did as well. His chuckles were always sexy and they had always turned me on.

“No, no. It’s definitely not just you. My heart is beating like crazy. Like on our first date in that restaurant. Do you remember it?” he said and smiled. A shadow passed across his face.

“Of course I do. Somehow over the years, you know, I erased the bad scene that happened there. The last time we went there.”

“I’m glad for that,” he uttered. “And you look divine, bab—Kayla, I mean.”

I giggled. “Thanks, Sean. You’re looking fantastic yourself.”

“Just fantastic?” he teased me, chortling.

“You haven’t changed a bit, have you?” I asked through laughter.

The waiter came over and we both ordered a cup of espresso at the same time. We giggled and looked down. Awkward!

“About yesterday,” he began. “I saw you with a girl. She’s very lovely. And you look alike.” Besides for a small smile, his face bore a steely expression.

I breathed in. I could hear my heart in my chest. My hands were getting wet. “She’s my daughter, yes. Mia.”

“What a wonderful name for a wonderful girl.” He smiled and I knew what he was about to say, so I said it first.

“I don’t know who her father is. I really don’t.”

That seemed to strike Sean like a bolt of lightning. “What do you mean? How can you not know who her father is? Who can it be?” His voice grew higher.

“Calm down, okay?” I was quick to reply, because the people around us were starting to notice us. “After I moved to the city I had a one-night stand, okay? It was right after… you know what happened in our apartment.”

“You slept with a total stranger right after we had breakup sex? Seriously?” Was that judgment in his tone? Was he scolding me just like he had done that morning when I had found him dead drunk?

“And so what? It’s not like you became a priest or a saint in the meantime, you know,” I spat out. The attack was the best defense, right? And I was nice to this son of a bitch.

Sean remained silent for a while, probably counting down to ten. I had all the important cards to myself and he could just bluff. “Okay, so why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, I couldn’t because, A, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure that you were her father and, B, you became a playboy. Posing for underwear companies and such.”

“And so what?” he whispered.

“I thought it best that way. I don’t know. I might have been wrong. I tried to call you though. But there was something. Something indescribable pulling me back. I don’t know. I really don’t,” I said, playing with my nails in my lap.

“What’s done is done. Let’s look at what’s before us. A paternity test will solve everything?” He said, crossing his arms as if it was the easiest thing in the whole wide world.

“Really? A paternity test?” I didn’t expect him to say that. But what was I expecting in the first place? He might be the child’s father, for God’s sakes.

“If you have a better solution, please do tell.” He was being sarcastic which made me hate his tone.

I inhaled and exhaled. “A paternity test won’t change a thing, you know. Even if you are Mia’s father, it won’t change anything. You and I both know that.”

Sean’s face transformed into a mask of anger and frustration. “And why is that, Kayla? Tell me, because I don’t honestly know.”

I felt my insides boiling inside me. Was he saying this? To me? As if I were born yesterday and hadn’t coped with his shit for so long. “You want to know why? Because you’re unfit. As simple as that. You’re unfit to be Mia’s father.”

“What makes you think that, precisely?”

I didn’t give up. The bastard wanted me to go to the end. And I was. “You may be a pro football player, but you’re not a great father. Deal with it! You’re a playboy. You sleep with women, date five different models at the same time. The whole nation knows every detail of your body… You want me to go on?”

“How can you say that? You haven’t even seen me for eight entire years, fuck this!” he yelled.

“Believe me, I know you.”

You know nothing, okay?” Sean yelled, as the veins on his neck pulsed and he became red in the face from anger. “I’m doing what I’m best at. What I do for a living doesn’t affect my personal life. I can be her father. And if I am, you won’t be the one to take that right away from me.”

“How dare you, you idiot? You haven’t even met the girl! You haven’t seen her up close. You don’t know her favorite food or book or subject at school. You don’t even know the name of her school, God damn it! You haven’t been with her when she lost her first tooth, when she scraped her knee, when she had a fever. You’re not her father,” I shouted at him.

“Yeah, thanks to you,” he said calmly and that was enough to shut my mouth.

Silence.

“Okay. You’ll get a paternity test.” I sighed. It was the only thing to shut him up. And I didn’t plan to argue with him until infinity. Because our arguments could go on and on throughout the whole day.

“Thank you,” he said, angrily. “I’ll stay here and see you and Mia, okay?”

I thought to say no at first, but the one thing I learned about Sean was that he was the most stubborn man that had ever walked on Earth. Just like a mule.

“Fine,” I said, all frustrated. “Deal.”

Sean smiled at me as if nothing had happened just a mere second ago. What a man!