Chapter 14

Milo

 

 

My talk with Liza hadn’t been quite as fruitful as I’d hoped, but at least it was a step in the right direction. Hopefully, she wasn’t just buying herself time to get her own lawyer and fight my request. I didn’t think she was quite that spiteful, but hey, she had kept my kid from me for years.

“Hey, Milo,” Luke said, waiting for me outside the sports complex.

It had become our routine to show up about an hour early. It was our time to practice and warm up without the scrutiny of the other players.

“Hey, Luke,” I greeted him.

We walked in together, chatting about the upcoming game.

“You seem different,” he pointed out as we went through our warm-up exercises.

I shrugged one shoulder. “I feel different—settled.”

“What changed?”

I liked the kid, but I wasn’t about to confide in him. I had to bide my time. Hopefully, Liza would talk to her dad soon. I had a vision of my little girl running up to me on the field after we won the game on Sunday.

“Nothing changed. I just feel better about things in general,” I said, hoping that would be enough to appease him.

“Hmm, cool. Alright, now let me show you how fast a running back can run. Try not to get lost in my dust,” he teased.

It wasn’t long before the rest of the team was on the field. I felt like I was on fire. That sizzle of adrenaline that had been missing since I’d first taken the field in Miami was back. I’d had it in college, but it had fizzled out somehow, and no matter how hard I’d tried to get it back, it was gone. But not today. I felt better than I had in a very long time.

“Feeling good today?” Coach Summers asked.

“I am. I’m feeling really good and ready to show what I can do,” I said with enthusiasm.

“Well, hells-bells, it’s about damn time,” he said with a smile.

“Sorry about the past couple weeks. I swear I was trying, but I couldn’t find my groove, but I got it now.”

“Get your ass out there then. Let’s see what you got.”

With that, I ran out onto the field, prepared to show my coach and team why I was hired. The next three hours was amazing. I was throwing tight passes and kicking some serious ass. By the time practice was over, I could feel the icy demeanor of the team thawing a bit.

A couple of the guys walked by and slapped my shoulder, offering congratulations for a job well done. It felt good. I knew I had done well, but it was good to hear it, especially from my colleagues. I had to keep my head from completely inflating, though. I couldn’t let the accolades get to me and give me fat-headed ego. I didn’t want to be that arrogant asshole anymore.

The locker room was a lot less frosty, and I didn’t feel like I had to keep my back to the wall.

“Pastek!”

It was the coach. He sounded angry, but I didn’t understand why. I had a great practice. Unless—

“Yeah, Coach?”

“My office, now!”

Oh shit. What’s going on? She said she didn’t want to tell him ‘til after Sunday’s game. Did she change her mind? Shit, shit, shit!

I grabbed my bag and headed to his office, feeling like a man headed for his execution. I knew Coach and his daughter had a close relationship, and I knew he wouldn’t take the news well, but I had hoped we could keep our personal issues out of the locker room. I would tell him that, I decided, before quickly changing my mind. He had every right to be mad.

“Did you need something Coach?” I asked, my voice cracking like a nervous teenaged boy.

“Yes. Sit.”

I sat and prepared for what would come next.

“You did a great job, today. Absolutely fantastic. What you did out there today is why I brought you in. I want to see that on Sunday. Was today a fluke or is this what I can expect from now on?”

“I hope it’s not a fluke. It didn’t feel like a fluke,” I protested. “I just needed to get my bearings. I think I’ve done that now.”

He was nodding his head as he talked. “Good. What about Dawson?”

“What about him?”

“You two seem to have developed a friendship on and off the field. What do you think about him?”

I shrugged. “I don’t really know him all that well. I know he’s eager and is willing to put in the work. He’s fast too.”

“I’ve been watching the two of you. I may have him start on Sunday.”

“Wow. I know he’d be thrilled.”

“I’m thinking about it. Don’t say anything yet, but I need this team to gel. I see some of the guys were a little more willing to accept your direction out there today, but I need more. Dawson seems to take direction from you very well.”

“Yeah, he does. He’s green and he hasn’t developed a chip on his shoulder or an over-inflated ego like the rest of us,” I grinned.

Coach scoffed. “Thanks for the tip. I’ll think it over. Good job and keep it up. Don’t let today be a one-time thing. I want to see that intensity and sharp play from you every practice and every game.”

“Got it.”

I stood to leave, feeling good about everything. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and saw I had several text messages. I scanned through them and rolled my eyes. My number had gotten passed around, and the groupies were swarming.

I had met a woman for coffee a couple days back. Completely innocent, and before I knew for sure about Ainsley. But the woman was clearly hoping for more. We exchanged numbers, and I had been getting invitations from women all week. I just wasn’t interested. The only female I was interested in at the moment was my little girl. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the chance to get to know her. If Liza saw me hanging out with random women and getting into the party scene, she would never let me near Ainsley. Hell, I wouldn’t let me near her either.

“Wait up!” Dawson called from behind me.

I paused and waited for him. “What’s up?”

“Got any plans?” he asked, somewhat sheepishly.

I thought about it. The empty hotel room was my big plan. “Nope.”

“You ever been to any of the beaches around here?” he asked.

I grinned. “Boy, I grew up here. I’ve been to every beach on the map and plenty more that aren’t.”

“Oh, wow. That must have been awesome.”

“It was.”

“You want to hang out at the beach for a bit? I’d really appreciate it if you could show me one of the best ones. I’ve only seen the ocean a handful of times. Growing up in Kansas didn’t give me a lot of beach exposure,” he joked.

“Hell, yeah. Want to go now?”

“Sure. You drive?”

“Yep. Let’s go.”

We were both already in shorts and had ball caps on. It was really all you needed to spend a peaceful day at the beach in my opinion. I could really use some relaxation anyway, I decided. I loved to listen to the ocean and all the sounds that went with it. I knew a beach that wasn’t too touristy and would hopefully give us some peace and quiet.

“Can we grab a snack before we go? I’m starving,” Luke asked.

“Sure. Will this mini-mart up here work?”

“Yep.”

We pulled in, and both of us headed inside. I saw an older gentleman watching us, and it was making me a little uncomfortable. We grabbed our snacks and big bottles of water, then headed up to pay for our goods when the guy stopped me.

“Glad you’re back, but you better get your ass in gear if you want to stay around,” he said, in a gruff voice.

“Thank you, and I definitely will. You going to watch the game Sunday?”

He eyed me up and down as if he was deciding right then whether or not he would tune in. “I may.”

I gave him my most charming smile. “You should. I think you’ll enjoy it. Me and the boys have found our stride.”

He chuckled. “Well, hell then, in that case, I better. I’d hate to miss your big comeback. I have been watching you since you were younger than him,” he nodded to Luke.

“Thank you for your support. I really appreciate it,” I said with sincerity.

“Keep your dick in your pants and your head in the game, and this could be your year,” he said in a fatherly tone.

I burst into laughter, and poor Luke nearly dropped everything in his hands.

“Good advice and I plan to do just that.”

We bought our snacks and headed for a beach that was a little off the beaten path. Neither of us needed blankets or chairs. The sun and the sand were all I needed. The moment I smelled the sea air, I felt home. Really home.

We found a place somewhat out of the way of the other beachgoers and stripped off our shirts and shoes. I kept my hat pulled low. The red hair was good and bad. It was great when I wanted to be recognized, but days like this when I wanted to be alone, it could be a curse.

“Damn, this is nice,” Luke said, beside me. “I can’t believe I’ve been here for three months and never made it down here.”

“It’s good for the body and soul,” I murmured.

We lay there a bit in silence before I felt a shadow over my body. I opened my eyes and looked up to see a few ladies standing there.

“Hi,” I said, not exactly thrilled to be bothered.

Luke pulled back his hat and smiled when he saw our little entourage.

“Well hello, ladies.”

I grimaced. I didn’t want to hang out and flirt with women.

“Are you guys football players?” one of the women asked.

I looked over at Luke, who was grinning and nodding like an idiot. We did our duty, posed for a couple of pictures, signed a few body parts, and the ladies left us alone, but our presence was known. After a series of pictures with families, ladies, and some young college football players, I pulled Luke away. I was ready to go back to the solace of my hotel room. It had been nice while it lasted.

“That was awesome,” Luke exclaimed after we’d made it back to the rental car. “Does that happen to you all the time?”

I shrugged. “Not all the time, but enough.”

“You don’t like it?”

“I don’t mind usually, but sometimes I’d rather just chill and be anonymous.”

“Not me. I can’t wait until people know my name.”

I laughed. “Careful what you wish for. It can cause some minor complications in your personal life. As in, you won’t have one.”

He shrugged, “I don’t care. Did you see the way those women were all over us? I could get used to that.”

“I’m sure you could but let me give you some advice. Always, always, always wear a condom. Make sure they’re legal and keep it low-key. You don’t want to get a party-boy rep, trust me.”

He laughed. “Got it.”

I dropped him at his car and headed back to the hotel and walked into the stark room. It was supposed to be warm and welcoming, but no matter how it was dressed up, it was still a hotel. I had to find a place of my own, and soon. If I really wanted a relationship with my daughter, I needed to put down roots.