Chapter 8
Nolan stood in the doorway to the room his daughter slept in, which used to be his room when he’d been a little boy. Pictures from various football related accomplishments graced the walls and many of his trophies were prominently displayed on shelves.
When he’d first moved in with his parents a month ago, the plan had been to have Heather stay in his sister’s old room with its frilly décor, but Heather demanded to have her daddy’s room. She’d stomped on her foot, folding her arms and puckering her lips. No one could say no that face.
Heather squirmed in her bed, her little face scrunched by her favorite teddy bear. The sun had yet to touch the morning sky. Part of him hated waking her, she looked so peaceful. But his heart ached to talk to her. Just him and his little girl.
He set the plate of pancakes on the night stand and sat on the edge of the bed. “Hey munchkin.” He shook her shoulder gently.
Her eyes popped open. “Daddy!” She jumped, throwing herself in his arms, knocking the side of his face with her pink cast. No greeting could ever be this good.
“I made us pancakes.” He kissed her cheek, holding her tightly. Often times, he resented that Gina kept his daughter from him for a year. He might not have loved her, or even liked her all that much, but he wouldn’t have turned his back on her, or their daughter. But holding on to that anger wouldn’t do him or Heather any good now.
She snuggled up next to him as he brought the plate of buttered pancakes to the bed. They always shared a plate. Five pancakes loaded with butter and syrup with two forks. “Do I get to see you on the television?”
He’d tossed and turned all night about whether or not that would be a good idea and based on the language and what the words implied, he opted it would be best if she didn’t hear it. “Not this time. Some of the things the reporters asked aren’t things little girls need to hear.”
She looked up at him, brushing her curly locks from her face. “Because they didn’t know about me? Or my leg?”
His coughed. “Where did you hear that?”
“I overheard Papa talking with Auntie Karen when I got up to use the bathroom. He said the reporter was rude and insen…insen…” She tapped her lips with her forefinger.
“Insensitive?”
“That’s the word.” She smiled stuffing a large bit into her tiny little mouth. “Mmmmmm.” She waved her fork in the air.
Heather could reduce him to a puddle of raw emotions in two-seconds flat. He’d do anything for her.
Anything.
“I’m very proud of you,” he said fiddling with the fork. “I love you very much and you know that my job sometimes puts me in the public eye.”
She nodded. “You made the front page last week!”
He laughed. “I don’t like being the center of attention, nor do I like my family being there. Just remember that no matter what, the things I do are to protect you.”
“I know.” She continued to dig into the pancakes. The girl had a healthy appetite.
They sat in the bed for another ten minutes, finishing the entire plate. She told him about the night before, and the story grandmamma had read.
His mother waffled between having some energy to sit up and have conversations to being so weak she could barely eat. Her pain level increased so high they had to put her on medication. Doctors told them if she lasted the month, it would be a miracle.
“Will you be home tonight for dinner?” Heather asked.
“I plan to be.” He batted her nose. “Maybe we can go out for ice cream after.”
“Yay!” She wrapped her arms around him. “Daddy, is Jessica your girlfriend?”
“What gave you that idea?” His daughter had ears like a hawk and eyes in the back of her head. Nothing got by his little girl.
“Grandmamma said it was about time you had one when Papa mentioned the girl on the news was the girl who was with us when I broke my arm.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He certainty didn’t regret going to bed with Jessica, but the plan had been to have dinner, maybe a kiss or two, and plan a date for another day. “She’s a friend that happens to be a girl.” Besides, Jessica was the one that wanted a no strings attached romp in the sack.
“Can she come with us for ice cream?” Heather looked up at him with her bright blue eyes, pleading. Her life had been far from normal. Shortly after she’d been born, her mother started to deteriorate. Heather had been taken care of by friends and family, all while her mother slowly died right before her eyes. It wasn’t that Gina didn’t want her daughter to have the surgeries, but she’d barely been able to take care of herself.
The last time he’d seen Gina before she died, he promised he’d do whatever it took to give Heather a good, happy life.
“I can ask her, but I can’t promise she will be able to.” Then again, it was Friday, so maybe she didn’t have any plans.
No strings attached ice cream.
Heather nodded, her curly hair bounced up and down.
“Let’s go downstairs. Daddy made a big mess, so I could use some help.”
He lifted her up. “You’re getting too big for Daddy to carry.”
She mushed his face, puckering his lips. “I don’t need to be carried.” She pressed her forehead against his, staring at him with a look of determination. Even when she’d been in physical therapy, in pain, she wore that look with pride. He wished he had half her resolve.
He laughed, setting her down. “All right, big girl. Let’s go do the dishes.”
Heather made her way downstairs, while he gathered up his backpack with his computer and a few other things he needed for the day. He’d have a cup a coffee and visit with his mother and daughter for a bit longer, then head into work. His heart skipped a beat thinking about seeing Jessica and her beautiful smile. Somehow, he’d have to figure out how to manage a new career, being a father, and dating a woman who clearly, he had stronger feelings for than he wanted to admit.
With a spring in his step, he made his way down the stairs, where he saw his father standing at the front door, shaking his head.
“What’s up, Dad?”
“I don’t know, but there’s news crew out front.”
“Shit,” Nolan mumbled. The last thing he needed was for his daughter to be plastered all over the news for a second day.
“Nolan!” his sister called. “Come to the family room.”
He turned to see his daughter with a scowl. “Auntie Karen says I need to go upstairs.”
“I bet grandma would like a visitor,” Nolan’s father said.
Just as Nolan bent over to kiss Heather, his phone buzzed.
He headed toward the family room, checking his phone, seeing a couple texts from Jessica.
Did you see the morning tabloid news program? WTH? They have a pic of me…well, outside. And they dug up crap from my past.
He paused mid-step, scrolling to the next text.
Call me. I’m sorry.
“Sorry for what?” he mumbled as he turned the corner into the family room, quickly texting her back.
We’ll talk later… I
He hit send by accident when he saw his sister. He made a mental note to finish the text shortly.
“Watch this,” his sister said as she clicked the television remote.
“Jessica Roads, the Social Media Director for the Miami Thunder, recently linked romantically to the Offensive Coordinator, Coach Nolan Greer, was spotted with coach Greer in the back yard of her apartment building. We had to black out most of the image as it appears Miss Roads flashed him.” Behind the newscaster, a picture of him kissing her lit up the screen, followed by the now infamous flash. “Yesterday, Coach Greer made a statement about his young daughter. Considering this isn’t the first time Miss Roads had bared all…” another picture of Jessica, arms over her head, with five other women, all shirtless, popped up on the screen.
“Shit,” Nolan muttered, stuffing his cell in his pocket.
“…at a woman’s rally three years ago,” the newscaster said.
“Shut it off,” Nolan barked.
“I like this Jessica girl,” Karen said. “I wouldn’t have the nerve to do something like that at a protest, but I wish I did.”
“I’m sure your Green Beret husband would love to see that happen, especially when he’s deployed.” His tone dripped with distain
Karen patted her large, pregnant belly, scowling. “Lighten up. It was for women’s rights.”
“Not when she flashed me, it wasn’t.” His phone vibrated in his pocket…and again…and again. “This is the last thing I need.”
“Get over yourself. This isn’t about you. It’s about her.” Karen pointed to the television. “She’s the one who just had a big black line drawn over her boobs…twice.” Karen held up two fingers. “You’re just the doofus who sat there and stared at it with your mouth gaping open, like any hot-blooded male with a working penis.”
Before he could say anything, Karen stomped out of the room.
He took in a deep breath. He knew the story was more about her, but still, he didn’t need his offense distracted by his girl…by his friend…
Oh hell.