Chapter 6
The only thing worse than a press conference was having a catheter pulled out by a twenty-something intern.
Nolan looked around the crowd of people who gathered. Camera’s clicked rapidly in the background. Reporters shouted questions at the team’s spokesperson, who chose to answer a few, then stepped away after introducing him.
He stepped to the podium with the well-written speech from a team of highly trained experts. He scanned the area outside of the main doors to the stadium, searching for Jessica. He found her sitting off to the side on a concrete step, laptop out, tapping away. He’d been amazed by how she could handle so many social media feeds at once, and still make intelligent observations and conversation with all the team’s followers.
But that didn’t change the fact that she’d judged him and then after he poured his heart out, she went right into business mode.
Clearing his throat his glanced down at the paper.
“It is sad that I have to stand up here and defend myself against accusations that come from speculation and gross neglect for finding the truth before turning a trip to the Urgent Care unit with my daughter, who fell in the backyard playing with her grandparent’s dog. To be very clear, I will take legal action if this continues. The facts have been presented on what happened and it will end there.”
He took a deep breath, glancing up at the reporters with their microphones. Flashes of light hit his eyes, making him blink. He fisted the paper he’d been reading from. The next part he had to do his way. Didn’t matter how great the speech was, if he was ever going to get the press to see him as a loving father instead of man with a temper, the words would have to come from his heart.
“I’m going to go off script here.” He held up the wadded piece of paper. “The words on this page would do well enough to explain the situation with my daughter, but they aren’t my words.”
He swallowed. What the hell was he doing?
“I’m not ashamed of my beautiful little girl. She’s the best thing that has ever happened to me and I’d walk away from all this if I thought it was the right thing for her.” He took a few deep breaths. Having tears sting his eyes during a press conference was not something he wanted to experience. “I didn’t know that Heather, that’s my daughter’s name, existed, until she was a year-old. Her mother had just, which is when I first met Heather.”
A few reporters yelled asking why Heather had been kept from him. The last thing he wanted to do was toss Gina under the bus. She had her reasons for keeping Heather from him, while he didn’t agree, they were hers and she wasn’t here to defend herself. “That is not my story to tell and I want, out of respect for my daughter, her mother’s memory to be honored with the respect she deserves.”
The clicking of the cameras had stopped and the front of the stadium became painfully quiet. God, he hated having this many eyes on him and being aware of them, something that didn’t happen on the football field.
“My mother always told me to never judge others, not only until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes, but also, you never know what quiet battle someone is living, and we all have one. My daughter lost her mother, met her father, who was a complete stranger, and needed a series of major surgeries to correct a birth defect. What would you have done in my shoes because I bet most of you would have done your best to spend every waking moment getting to know your child and helping them through some difficult times. I will not apologize for wanting to do that outside of the public eye.”
The stunned crowed stared at him with questioning eyes. He had no idea if he’d accomplished anything and didn’t care if he got fired for going off script at this point. He said what he needed and he said it from his heart.
His mother would be proud. Right before the conference, he’d spoken to his dad, who gave him the green light and so did his mother.”
“I would appreciate it if you could give me and my family some space. Not only do we have some challenges coming up with Heather’s surgeries, but my mother is dying of cancer, a battle we don’t want to become the center of attention.”
A collective gasp from the crowd.
“I’m begging you to let these matters rest and focus on my coaching, which might be more controversial anyway considering my reputation as being a hot-head on the field.”
The crowed laughed, and pictures resumed.
“Thank you for your time,” he said.
“Coach Greer,” a voice from somewhere in the crowd yelled. “Thanks for clearing all that up. But what about the girl you’ve been seen with, Jessica Roads, director of social media for the team. Is she your girlfriend?”
He glanced in Jessica’s direction and she stared at him with an open mouth. He could really hurt her if wanted to, but this media circus wasn’t her fault and if he were being honest with himself, she had done a good job with regard to this story, and she did it with grace and style. Most of all, she didn’t beg him to spin their kiss a certain way, knowing he could make her look bad.
However, that didn’t change she’d believed the worst of him.
“I shouldn’t even dignify that with a response. My love life is none of your concern.” Nolan didn’t care that his tone came off as clipped, but by the way the publicist had glared at him, he figured he should change his attitude a little when it came to Jessica.
“But you’ve been see out with her on two different occasions, kissing,” the same voice yelled. “Do you have time to coach, take care of a child with special needs, and date a girl like Jessica Roads?”
He gripped the podium, feeling the wood bend in his bare hands.
“Don’t engage,” someone whispered from behind him.
“It’s been rumored that Jessica—”
“Stop right there.” Nolan felt that snap in his brain that happened every time he wanted to take a ref and put his fist through his face. Not literally. Nolan wasn’t a violent man physically, but he could tear you apart with words. “I will not let you trash someone else’s reputation as you tried to trash mine based on any kind of rumor. Nor will I let you judge myself or whomever I chose to date. The focus should be on my ability to coach the offense of this team and help take us to the playoffs. So, I ask once again, give my family, and my girlfriend, some space and concentrate on football. I’m sure my outbursts on the field will give you plenty to talk about.” He held up his hand as more people shouted questions. “Thank you for coming.” He stepped back, letting the publicist handle the rest, realizing he’d told everyone he and Jessica were indeed romantically involved.
He shouldn’t have answered the question in the first place.
As the crowed disappeared, Nolan searched for Jessica, but she was nowhere to be found. He’d expected her to stick around and either read him the riot act for going off script, or give him shit for implying something that wasn’t true.
He checked her office and the door had been locked. He texted twice. No response. When he finally arrived at the parking lot, her car was still there.
Fuck. He’d forgotten to give her the keys.
He pulled out his phone and called.
Right to voice message.
He texted, again.
Where r u? I have your keys…
The caption thing with three dots indicated she was responding.
Got a ride. On phone with my mother. I’ll get keys tomorrow.
Like hell you will. Not often did he over step boundaries, but he needed to talk to her and tell her he’d been hurt, but also, he owed her an apology and she was going to hear him out.
Tonight.
He pulled the keys out of his pocket and got in her car. Opening the glove box, he found her registration and address. He knew the area well. Not a bad section of town. Safe. The building she was in had been one he looked at, but decided on a townhouse with a yard, hoping someday his daughter would be able to run and play. He smiled.
Pulling out of the parking lot, he called his father.
“Well, hello there. Nice way to handle that situation,” his father said without saying the standard hello, something that always annoyed Nolan.
“Hopefully, it will put an end to it and I can get on with my job.” His family had been super supportive his entire life, always giving their two cents, but never forcing their values or opinions on him.
“Mom wants to know if you were planning on telling her about your new girlfriend.”
Nolan groaned. His mother constantly worried about his single status, wanting him to settle down. He had, when Heather came into his life, but not the way his mother had hoped.
It would break her heart if he told her the dating game wasn’t real.
“I’ve only been out with her a couple of times. I didn’t like where that reporter was going with his questions and the word girlfriend just kind of flew out.”
His father laughed. “How does this Jessica woman feel about that?”
“I’m going to see her now, so we will find out soon enough.” He half expected to be slapped, but considering the kiss…two kisses…he hoped maybe they could actually start dating for real, assuming the media left them alone.
Nolan’s pulse increased as he turned down Jessica’s street. Women never made him nervous. He’d always been able to get the ones he liked, not that he was a player, but he hadn’t been much interested in a relationship during the height of his career. “I’m pulling into Jessica’s now. I’m not going to make it home before bedtime.”
“Perhaps you should tell her that,” his father said.
“Before you put her on, how’s mom doing? Are you both okay with her battle being public now?”
“In our world, it has always has been public. All our family, friends, co-workers, members of the church have known since mom got sick.”
“I’m just worried about the press being parked out in our street.”
“I think you’re worrying for nothing,” his father said. “Here’s your munchkin.”
“Hi Daddy!” her little screechy voice filled his heart with joy. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like not to have the privilege of being her dad. It humbled him in so many ways.
“Hey sweetie, how goes things? Did you have a good day?”
“I helped Auntie Karen make cookies!”
“Oh, can’t wait to have some when I get home.” He pulled into the parking area, hitting the button on the visor, hoping that was how to get into Jessica’s garage. The gate hummed and lifted. But he had no idea where her parking spot was. He pulled off to the side, in case anyone needed to get by. He tried to never cut a conversation short with his baby girl.
“Can we watch your press confrance? I only got to see some of it.”
He smiled at her pronunciation. “I’m sorry, but daddy has to work a little late tonight and I might not make it home until after bed. But I’ll wake you up early and we can have breakfast just the two of us.”
“Breakfast in bed?”
“Yep.”
“Okay daddy. Love you!”
He loved how happy and easy going she’d always been. Even after the first surgery, she had this way of cheering everyone else up around her when it was supposed to be the other way around. He tapped his chest. “I love you more.”
He hung up and called Jessica.
Right to voice mail.
Once again, he’d have to text.
What parking spot is yours? I’m in the garage with your car.
He waited a few moments until a text flashed on his screen.
What? You’re here? 54 is the spot. You can leave the keys under the floor mat. I’ll get them in a bit.
Nope. Not gonna happen. He parked the car and strode into her building.
Damn, this woman made him do crazy things.