by Claire Woods
Smacking his arm, I giggle, “if you used that line on me. I would’ve walked.”
“No, you wouldn’t have. I saw stars in your eyes every time you looked at me.”
“Cocky jock.”
“Guilty.” He leans down kissing me sweetly. “I need to go. I have a meeting on campus with my coach and the athletic director. I might not be back until late tonight. Callie—I might need a lawyer. I’m not going to stand for Jackie’s smear campaign. I’m going to hit back—hard and sue her for slander and damages.”
“Damages?”
“If she fucks me and I get benched kicked off the team and lose my shot at the NFL—they’ll be damages. Can I drive you to the marina? You can’t bike over with vans full of paparazzi on your tail. One of them could hit you.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
We both laugh at the sight of my fanny pack on the desk. “Are you ready? We’re going to have to sprint to my car.”
“Wait.” Grabbing his head pulling it to mine, my lips find his, “now, I’m ready.”
He pauses at the door, eyes finding mine. “I already miss you.”
“Well, come find me later.”
“You know I will.”
GABE
THE DRIVE TO CAMPUS WENT in a blur of remembering my time with Callie; how her breasts tasted under the stars… the way she moaned in my ear as her hips moved under me, and the way I shuddered when her hands wrapped around my cock.
It’s only been three weeks since the night we met, but she’s already under my skin, in my blood, making my heart her next home.
My ball cap’s pulled low as I eye a place to park where I can dodge the press milling relentlessly around.
I give up, deciding to park in one of the empty lots behind the dorm I stayed in freshman year. It’s close enough to the field house and has a path that cuts through the woods to the athletic complex.
Taking a deep breath, I get out knowing whatever happens today could change the direction my life’s going.
No one’s around, my feet jog through the path, down the hill and I use my fob key to enter a backdoor of the athletic complex before anyone can spot me. Heading down familiar halls, it’s not long before I’m once again knocking on Coach’s door.
“Parker.”
Déjà vu hits me as he sits, eyes glued to the monitor of his computer. His face is red—all the way to his hairline.
“Sir?”
“SIT!”
What the fuck?
He finally tears his eyes away from whatever was so riveting on his screen to give me a dressing down.
“Was I not clear that you were to lay low? Train—get your head right and stay away from girls?”
“I’ve never been in better shape, Coach. I’m in every night, up before dawn to get my work out in and been to work on time every shift.”
“Uh-huh. Spare me the crap.” He turns the screen towards me.
Motherfucker.
My hand comes up to rub my face, half hoping it’d be gone when I look at it again.
It’s not.
Some fuck captured Callie in my arms on the beach last night and topless in the waves as I grinned down at her like a lovesick fool.
“I’m falling in love with her, Sir.”
His palm smacks the desk.
“Like hell you are. Dammit, I should’ve known a jock like you wouldn’t be able to resist the summer girl by the shore.”
“She’s not a summer girl,” I grate out through clenched teeth.
“Looks that way to me.”
He scrolls down, my knees bounce, fists ready to land blows as image after image of Callie naked in my arms in the sand and sea stare back at me.
“Where is this?”
“TMZ, Perez Hilton, and a few others… Pop Sugar? At least US Weekly blacked out her lady bits.”
My head drops in my hands. I’m choking on rage and the need to punch a hole through the wall. My girl. My sweet, shy girl—should never have been humiliated this way.
“Call a press conference. Let them come at me. This shit with her ends—now!”
“Slow down. The NCAA is here. You’re being drug tested.” He slides a small plastic cup across the desk, prelabeled with my name and date on it.
“They want a blood sample, too.”
“My life’s being turned-upside-down.”
“Just wait until the NFL. This is pre-school.”
My head snaps back. He’s right. I just want to play the game, always did. But all the shit that comes with it at this level and the next—is sucking all the joy from the sport I’ve loved since my hand fit around the pigskin laces.
“Coach—I… there was no one there.”
“You have a lot to learn about the business side of the game, son. They had cameras probably out on a boat with those zoom lenses that can snap a gnat on your sleeve from a mile away.”
“Fuck.”
“Exactly.”
“I gotta call her.”
He nods his head. “Ten-minutes. That’s all you get. Put your personal life aside because we have your future career to save.”
He shuts the door as he leaves. I get up pacing the small office like a caged animal, hyped up and wanting to tear into something.
“Callie.”
Our calls connected but she doesn’t speak.
“Babe—I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? I’m beyond embarrassed. They figured out who the topless girl on the beach was after we were spotted together this morning. My—my uncle is the chief of police. He had to walk into the station with all his beat cops looking at my tits on their phones.” She breaks off choking on the tears I can imagine are pouring from my angel’s eyes.
It’s tearing me up, and I can’t do a damn thing to make this right.
“Fuck, baby. It’s killing me that they hurt you like this…”
“I—can’t Gabe. My father’s calling.”
“I’ll see you tonight. I just want to hold you.”
“I—I don’ t think that’s a good idea…”
“I thought you said you were done running.”
“That was before—before I ended up ‘the dirty player’s dirty little secret’, right next to a picture of your ex, claiming she’s having your child.”
“Callie…”
But she’s gone.
Ended the call.
Leaving me behind again.
Callie
“CALLIE?”
“Oh, Mom!”
I hesitate in the doorway. She wasn’t expecting me. But sometimes you just need your mother and having your face and naked body splashed all over the tabloids definitely qualifies.
“Oh, honey come here.”
My lip quivers, hair’s a tangled mess, clothes wrinkled as I enter the room.
“You look worse than me.”
Sinking down in a chair next to the bed, I lay my head on her lap. She strokes my hair just as she has so many times before when I needed it.
“Where’s Dad and Charlie?”
“They went out for ice cream.”
“How pissed is Dad?”
She doesn’t answer, so I raise my head.
“Mom?”
Her finger presses the button on her hospital bed raising it so that she can sit up. IV’s connected to bags run from her wrist. My finger touches the hospital band she’s worn like a bracelet for months.
“Callie… I—I want you to live. And from the way your eyes looked at that boy, you are. Don’t stop. Don’t stop falling in love even if it hurts like nothing else. The journey will be worth it.”
“You saw the pictures?”
“I did. It made me feel better than the pain meds. I was up early watching the news and there you were with Gabe Parker outside The Blue Hydrangea. Then well… they showed the pictures the paparazzi snapped but don’t worry sweeties, they blurred—"
My face falls into my hands. “Did Dad—”
“Yes. I told him to go c
ool off. And reminded him we were both your age once and did the same things.”
“I didn’t need to hear that.”
“Sorry. I know we put a lot on your shoulders. It hurts me so much that you’re carrying our burdens.”
“I just want you to be okay, Mom. That’s all I care about. Besides, I love the café and the marina. It’s part of my blood now too.”
She pats my hand. “I know. But I want you to be a doctor like you dream of being. You can always come back for visits, but I want more for you than to pour coffee and clear tables.
“I will. Don’t you worry. My summer classes started, but how can I show my face now?” I groan.
“It’ll pass, you’ll see.”
I don’t want to upset her in her fragile state, so I pretend she’s right. But there’s no way this will die down, especially in Sea Spray where the only thing exciting that ever happens is when a shark is spotted close to shore.
“So how are you really doing, Mom? I’m not a kid like Charlie. I deserve to know.”
“Better. Truly. I’m just weak. They said—they said I might need a bone marrow transplant.”
“Fine. I’m here test me.”
She looks away, fingers brushing mine. “Mom?”
“We already found a match. It’s… Charlie. But—I’ll never put him through that. He’s too young.”
“You have to Mom. Please! We both need you to beat this. He’ll never forgive you when he’s older if you don’t let him give you the chance to live.”
Her eyes snap back to mine. “You’re wiser than your years. I… I never thought of it like that.”
“I’ll tell the doctors. Let’s not wait.”
“No. he’s my baby boy, so young and sweet. I can’t. Not yet. I’ve decided to let this chemo treatment run its course and go from there.”
“I’m so scared. I don’t think we should chance anything.”
She’s about to reply when a nurse in bright pink scrubs scurries in, screeching to a halt seeing me. Her cheeks quickly match her shirt as she finds the remote turning on the TV.
My gasp echoes as Gabe’s face fills the screen.
It’s surreal.
Weird.
Hot AF—seeing him dressed in a crisp white shirt and sports coat. His tan face, somber as he faces the cameras. His dark hair glistens, but his eyes are hard. He’s sitting at a press conference with the University’s banner hanging behind him.
I melt.
He’s mine for the taking. All I have to do is surrender the rest of my body. I want him. I do. But I’m terrified my heart and soul won’t survive sex after him. He probably fucks like a champ as well.
My face heats as his eyes stare right through the screen finding mine.
Three pairs of riveted eyes watch and wait for him to speak.
“First off, I want to let Coach, the Athletic Director, my team and my fans how very grateful I am for your support during this trying time.
I’ve never cheated on or off the field… or taken any performing enhancing drugs. A few days ago, I sat in a room with the President of UVA, the Chancellor, my professor and my coach. I sat and took a Calc exam prepared just for me. It was delivered in a locked briefcase, graded in front of everyone and put back in that locked briefcase—” He pauses, eyes hard, enunciating every word. “I didn’t just pass. I scored a ninety-six. I am also 100% going to pass any drug testing today or in the future. As for my personal life—my attorney will be serving a subpoena to Jackie Delaware for a court-ordered pregnancy test. I am also suing her for defamation, slander, and damages resulting in her false statements she has made about me.”
My hands twist the end of my mother’s bed sheets.
“That boy is on fire. Damn, um-hum. That girl’s going to regret spewing lies about him.” The nurse clucks, hands on her plump hips.
Camera’s flash as he sits back in his seat, reporters rapid firing questions.
“GABE! WHO is your new girl?”
“IS IT SERIOUS?”
“WILL YOU BE LIVING IN SEA SPRAY?”
His jaw clenched he leans forward into the microphone, holding a hand up for silence. “Vultures,” he spits, index finger digging into the table, “so much for you being here for the game. For wanting to know that the integrity of this University is high and so is their athletic department.”
The other men at the table straighten, pleased that Gabe stood up for them.
His coach takes questions; I can tell it’s taking Gabe everything not to stand up and walk.
My eyes swing to the door as Dad and Charlie come in!
“Hey, Char!” My arms go wide as he flings himself on me. I bury my nose in his hair, closing my eyes—I missed him so much.
“Let’s go Callie girl.”
Reluctantly, my eyes open finding Dad’s.
“Where?”
“Lunch.”
“But you just had ice cream.”
He purses his lips giving me the ‘Dad look,’ I haven’t seen since senior year when Sophie and I snuck out and threw a boat party.
“I’ll see you later bud.”
“But you just got here.”
“I know… maybe you could come home this weekend? We can boogie board and go mini golfing?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?” My hurt eyes meet my father’s.
“Your uncle called. Our house is surrounded by news trucks.”
“This isn’t happening. This isn’t my life.”
“It is if you want to date Gabe Parker,” Dad mutters.
“You don’t approve?”
He’s silent, eyes studying me. “Lunch. I’m starving.”
“I’ll be back,” I kiss Charlie on the cheek, following Dad out the door. I glance over my shoulder at Charlie snuggled up to Mom’s side. She changed the channel to the Cartoon Network. He’s tired after being at camp all morning and his eyes start to drop.
He can’t lose her. He’s barely a fifth of my age.
I need to look out for my baby brother and make sure he doesn’t.
“Dad—we can’t just sit by and let her call the shots anymore.” We walk down the hall of the ICU to the bank of elevators; he stops jamming his thumb on the down button.
“It’s her call.”
“Well, I’m vetoing it.”
“You can’t.”
“Charlie needs her. I need her,” I half-yell, realizing it after heads turn our way.
“I need her, too,” he whispers with a sheen of tears in his eyes.
We drive to the small diner on the corner in silence, but there’s so much to talk about.
My cell vibrates in my purse. It’s Gabe. But I don’t want to talk to him in front of Dad.
“Go ahead answer it. It’s him, isn’t it? Your lover boy.”
Wishing the leather seat would swallow me whole, I nod my head.
“Sometimes I wish you were still the little girl I bounced on my knee and ate crayons,” he sighs shoving a hand through his hair. He parks getting out. “You want the usual?”
I nod.
“Call him back. I’ll be inside.”
My father is cool as hell, despite how embarrassing the last few hours have been.
“Fanny?”
“Hey.” I grin despite everything, “I saw your press conference.”
“Welcome to my world. It’s insane.”
“Yeah, I get that. But why? Don’t misunderstand me—I know you are a star athlete, but so what? There’s dozens of you scattered at different universities.”
He’s quiet.
“I wanted us to get to know each other more…. Dammit. Fuck, I’m sorry, there’s just no time for that now. My father’s a federal judge. He was appointed by the President. There’s pictures of me hanging in The White House. My family is connected, babe. Actually, scratch that—my father’s connected and I want nothing to do with him.”
I suck in my breath, “So this is never going away, is it?
Whatever you do will be scrutinized and reported on.”
“Pretty much. Can you—will you—still be with me?”
“I don’t know. When we met, you were just this cute stranger that said the craziest things.”
“Cute?”
“Okay, fine, Hot-crazy-handsome-stranger, with a terrible singing voice.”
“Now I know you’re lying.”
“Be with me, Callie. Stick with me through this. You make me feel like I can do anything.”
“I don’t know. My mom—she needs a bone marrow transplant. My baby brother’s a match, but she won’t allow him to do it.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing. She’s being stubborn.”
“I need to go. The NCAA and the athletic director want to see me. Can I see you tonight?”
“I don’t think so. I can’t go home. There’s cameras everywhere.”
“Fucking hell. I’ll take care of it, baby.”
By the way, his voice sounds—I believe him. He’s sounds ready to go to war for me. I like it. A lot.
***
“Callie…” My father begins, and I’m not sure who feels more awkward.
“This boy, Gabe. I hope you know what you are getting into.”
“I don’t. I don’t know at all. But I like him a lot.”
He sighs, looking down at his plate. “Well, I can’t say I’m thrilled at seeing my daughter all over TV and the Internet.”
My face heats, tears prick the back of my eyes. “I’m utterly mortified.”
“I don’t see how you can go back to the café or the marina now. It’s a zoo. He might be your boyfriend, but I’m your damned father. I’m not putting you through that, despite how badly we need to keep the businesses open. I’m shutting the café down.”
“No. You can’t. I can handle this. Please, Dad. I—I won’t let you down. Mom needs you and Charlie. I can already tell that having you here has raised her will to fight. We need to stay open. I’ve seen the books… summer is when we make enough money to live.”
“You are more important than money, baby girl.”
“I’m not closing. I’m not quitting, and I’m not running away to hide from the consequences of anything I’ve done.”
He sits back, sips his coffee regarding me in silence. Finally, he nods. “Okay then. I know now without a doubt, I raised you right. You’re quite the woman I always hoped you’d be someday and I’m damn proud. But please do me a favor—go slow with this boy, I can’t handle any more surprises in the morning papers.”