Misconduct (FSCU Pitbulls Book 1)

by Stella Marie Alden

  My cell phone rings, I check the callerID, and it’s my lawyer. Praying my post hasn’t caused any more lawsuits, I jog to my next class. “Hey, Mr. Quinn. What’s up?”

  “The Walkers just dropped the lawsuit. They want to settle out of court.”

  “Settle. With what? I don’t have any money.” I jump over a curb.

  “They want you to delete your Facebook posting, your website, and renounce the fact you were roofied.”

  “Hell no.” My shoulder angel appears and high fives me as I dash up the stairs to the brick building.

  He trots alongside me. “That’s what I told them you would say, but I have to warn you, they’re pissed.”

  “What about the video we shared with the police?”

  “While compelling, the judge would probably not accept it as evidence if this thing goes to trial.”

  “Fine. Tell Walker’s parents I’ll post my video on my Facebook page, a second installment, if you will.” I run down the hall, my classroom in sight as my lawyer chuckles beside me.

  “Bold move.”

  “Well, I’m tired of this shit. Someone has to do something.”

  “Fine. I’ll give them your counteroffer. Off the record, it will probably work. By the way, excellent reporting. Melanie said her email folder is flooded with women wanting to add names to your group’s list. In addition, other campuses want to start something similar.”

  He sighs. “Listen, I got to go. I’ll let you know what happens.”

  I barely hang up when my phone rings again. “Ms. McKenzie?”

  “Yes, this is she.”

  “This is the NY Times. We’d like to discuss the possibility of you coming to New York for an interview.”

  Chapter 33

  Ryan

  I’d much rather to stay in bed, than attack this shitload of homework.

  On my way to the tutor, Kira pings me and I call her right back. “Did you forget something? Your underwear, perhaps?”

  “Oh my God, no, Ryan. The New York Times just called me. They’re flying me in for a job interview. Can you believe it?” She sounds so damn happy, I cringe.

  She’ll be in New York and I could be anywhere. “That’s incredible.” I take a deep breath. Shit. But what did I expect?

  “Wait. You don’t sound very excited for me.”

  “What about us?” Hating the neediness in my voice, I press in my earbuds as I take a shortcut across a long green lawn.

  “What do you mean?” Her confusion makes my blood boil.

  I want her to be with me. “Kira, I have no idea what city I’ll end up in.”

  “So, you’re asking me to put my career on hold until you get drafted?”

  She makes it sound like I’m the one being unreasonable, but I’m not. “If I get picked up, we’re talking millions of dollars. You won’t have to work.”

  The minute it comes out of my mouth, I slap myself on the forehead and in my mind’s eye, her pretty face skews up.

  She really lets me have it. “Excuse me? You think I’m going to be a housewife? Sponge off you?”

  “No, no. I’m just saying. You can work from home. I’ll set you up with whatever you need.” I stop walking and stare at the dark clouds beginning to fill in the sky.

  “Ryan, you haven’t given me any promises.”

  Shit. I’m not ready for marriage. “You know how I feel.”

  “Yeah, I do but it isn’t the same as commitment.”

  Thunder rumbles in the distance so I pick up my pace. “I can’t afford a ring, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “You think I want to be engaged? To you? After what you just said?” Her voice cracks.

  Damn, now I’ve made her cry. “Honestly, I have no idea.”

  “Well, that’s a big problem and why I’m going on this interview.

  Goodbye, Ryan.” Her tone tells me I messed up big time but I have no clue what I said or did wrong.

  Seems to me she’s the one who just threw a monkey wrench into our perfectly fine relationship. Once I get drafted and settled, I’ll find us an apartment. Then, she can move in and we can get used to one another. In a few years, if we still think it’s good, we can get married.

  What the fuck, over?

  After this conversation from hell, for the next couple weeks, she’s too busy to come over. We haven’t had sex since the amazing night I came home from The Combine. I’ve gone over our conversation in my head a million times and I still can’t figure out what I said wrong.

  In the past, I might’ve given her the cold, silent treatment but now, I know better. If I do, it will end things permanently.

  Sitting with my pals in the Union, I text again.

  Me: Stop by?

  Kira: Not tonight.

  Me: We need to talk.

  Kira: No

  Me: Why not?

  Kira: You’re too damn hot

  Me: And?

  Kira: We won’t talk.

  Me: Okay chat. Right here. Right now. No sex.

  Kira: Fine.

  Me: Why are you mad?

  Kira: Not mad, scared.

  Me: ??

  Kira: I care too much. Going to hurt when U go.

  Me: Not going anywhere. Are U?

  Kira: After graduation?

  Me: I want to be with you.

  Kira: You’ll be too busy.

  Is that what this fight is all about? What am I supposed to say? It’s true.

  Me: Can I call?

  Seconds go by without a text and I wonder what’s going on inside her brilliant mind. She thinks too much. Sometimes you need to let these kinds of things take care of themselves.

  When my phone rings, I try to remember what I rehearsed as I scrape my chair and stand. “Kira. Thank fuck. I, ah… I’m not quite sure what I said, but I’m so fucking sorry.”

  Shit. That didn’t come out right.

  “No, cowboy, it’s me. The job interview brought reality home. Pretty soon the semester will end. You’ll need to start your career, and me, mine.”

  My chest gets tight as I walk away from friends and my cell phone shakes as I hold it to my ear and whisper. “You’re leaving me?”

  “I don’t see how this is going to work out. I don’t want to be an anchor on your career.” Her tiny sobs break my fucking heart.

  She’s gorgeous, talented, and intelligent. What more could a guy want? “Is this about what Jeff said to you? I told you I fired him.”

  On the other side of the line, she sniffs. “Some of what he said is true. How do you see us fitting together in the future? I have dreams, Ryan. I can’t just be a football wife.”

  “Lots of the guys have wives with careers.” Damn, I don’t want us to end.

  “Most of them are fully established, not starting out. You can’t tell me you haven’t heard people tell you to drop me.”

  I scratch my head, wondering what I can do to let her know I’m serious about her. “How about you and I take a couple days off in Palm Beach for Spring Break.”

  “I don’t have any money.”

  “I’ll pick up the tab.”

  “How’re you going to pay?”

  “I just got a check for an endorsement I did.”

  “You should-”

  “Get you to agree to come with me. We can work all this out while we’re away.”

  “What about all your homework you need to catch up on?”

  “This is more important and… you can help me get it done.” I hold my breath because my whole world depends on her answer.

  “Okay.”

  Fucking A. I hang up, call my new personal assistant and have him book us first class accommodations. Me and her are going to have some alone time.

  I throw a few bills down on the table, say so long to my pals, and stroll back to my dorm. I feel like I did when we won the playoffs with the championship looming.

  She worries too much. For all I know, I could end up on a shit team and it could be years before I could get out. By
then, I might get injured, never play in a bowl game, never make any real money.

  With that in mind, I buckle down to my studies. For the first time in my life, I think hard about my backup plan. Maybe Kira’s rubbing off on me and I’m not sure it’s a good thing. Guys who make it to the NFL never consider failure is an option.

  However, I reason, a degree in communication can help me get a job after I retire from the NFL. It’s not a crack in my determination, it’s a supplement, like taking vitamins.

  For a whole week, I do nothing but workout and homework. Other than a few quick chats on the phone or a few stolen kisses between classes, the week goes by Kira-less.

  Friday, we both have exams before we’re free for seven days of heaven. I call Jaz and ask him for one more favor before finding her downstairs, suitcase in hand. I kiss her lovely lips and she smiles but there’s a sadness there that wasn’t before. Hopefully, I’ll have it fixed by the end of our vacation.

  Chapter 34

  Kira

  Lying on the warm sand of Marcos Island, I turn to face my cowboy. His long lashes rest on his tanned cheeks as he snores softly in the late day sun. I woke first and with my knees to my chest, stare into the ocean. A few couples play in the water and overhead, the colorful sail of a parasailer catches a few pink rays of light.

  It’s been the best vacation of my life and I don’t want it to end. Next week are the drafts, then I may lose him forever. He says he wants me to stay with him but he’s a big star and who am I?

  While he was busy answering emails, I researched NFL wives, growing more depressed with each webpage. They’re gorgeous in that Hollywood way, flawless, more like it. I’m not hideous but can’t compete with what a million bucks can buy. Frankly, I’m not even sure I would if I could.

  He stirs, opens his eyes, and frowns. “What’s wrong.”

  I place my hand on his warm chest, loving how his muscles ripple and quiver under my touch. “Just wishing it was Saturday again.”

  “I’ll take you here, whenever we want, once I make a team.” He grins and I try to share his enthusiasm.

  To me, the draft symbolizes the end.

  He takes me to a fancy dinner so I won’t feel so bad about our vacation ending. Because I packed nothing, he buys me a little black dress and tears off the price tag before I can see it. I’ll check the shops and pay him back. He needs to save his money, just in case something goes wrong.

  The maître d’ seats us at a small table in the back and Ryan orders champagne.

  “What’re we celebrating?” I try to read the funny grin on his face.

  He winks. “The perfect vacation.”

  “Except for kayaking.” We laugh how I couldn’t paddle to save my life.

  A waiter appears, the cork pops, and we click glasses.

  “I love you, Ryan Finnegan.” Eyes locked on his, I sip, wishing this evening could last forever.

  “Good thing.” He reaches into his suit jacket and drops to one knee while I gasp, my heart thumping.

  “Will you marry me, Kira? Make me the fucking happiest quarterback in the NFL?” His eyes glisten as his shaking hand opens a fuzzy black box.

  A solitary diamond on a band of white gold blinds me as it sparkles. Stunned, my mouth goes dry. I never thought he would ask, not after the whole non-commitment conversation we had.

  His face drops. “What? Too soon?”

  “Oh God, no. I mean yes. Oh, I don’t know what I mean. Of course, I’ll marry you.” I drop to my knees and throw my arms around him.

  When we get done kissing and come up for air, I blush. People are staring, smiling and clapping but it doesn’t matter. He asked me to be with him, forever.

  I pull the ring out of the box and place it on my left hand where it will live forever. “It’s perfect.”

  “I can change it. The guy at the jewelry store said it happens all the time.”

  “Not to me, it doesn’t. It’s perfect because you picked it, Ryan.”

  “I may have had a little help.” He picks up his phone and shows me all the people he texted and asked for advice.

  I chuckle and lift my hand with the new weight upon it, tears welling. “I thought we were going to wait.”

  “No darlin’, I’m not taking any chances. I don’t want you graduating and running off, thinkin’ you’re going to slip away from me.”

  Chapter 35

  Ryan

  “Shit.” I’ve been doing makeup homework for days and have hardly made a dent. Graduation is just days away. “I don’t think I can do this.”

  Kira, looks up from where she studies next to me on my bed. “Which class? Maybe I can help.”

  “All of it.” I glance at the time.

  My trainer will be out in the field, waiting for me, in about six hours. Everyone’s been giving me shit about getting more sleep but it’s impossible to train like a professional athlete and be a full-time student.

  “I may need to drop out of school so I can focus on my training.”

  Her brows raise. “Over my dead body.”

  “I’ll be making millions.” We’ve had this conversation before and I’ve yet to gain ground with the stubborn female.

  “Do you know the average career of an NFL player?”

  “Ten?”

  “No luv, three.”

  “Not for quarterbacks.”

  “Average? Four.”

  “But as a first draft, I could earn thirty-five million.”

  “Do you have any idea how much you’ve spent already?” She scoots up onto her elbow, her eyes green, matching my comforter.

  “None that I know of.”

  “I talked to Melanie about it last week, after our meeting. She says your guy, Jeff, had been racking up a big sum.

  “He said he would only charge me once I got into a team.”

  “Right. But did you ask how much?”

  I shake my head, no. “I’ve been too busy. I figured if I make millions, I can afford whatever he charges.”

  “Your trainer? His charge? Your special diet? And soon, you’ll have even more expenses. I can’t even begin to guess how much. I got one more statistic…”

  “I don’t think I want to hear.”

  “Two years after they retire, almost eighty percent of pro players are divorced and bankrupt.” Her palm reaches over my textbook, my ring on her finger flashing under the harsh fluorescent of my dorm room light.

  “I made an appointment tomorrow, with Andy Quinn.”

  “Your lawyer?”

  “CJ’s brother. His firm handles everything for athletes like you. He’ll invest your money, give you an allowance, everything, soup to nuts.”

  “Then, you’ll get off my back and I can quit school?”

  “Love, CJ was one of the most famous quarterbacks in the history of the New York Giants. He’s working. What are you going to do when you retire?”

  “I can go back to school. School comes easy to you Kira. Not to me. The more tired I get, the more the fucking letters reverse themselves, the harder it is to read.”

  She grabs my books and places them on the floor, then leans over and turns out the light. “You’re not quitting. Women like me don’t marry quitters.”

  As if the subject is a done deal, she opens the bed covers so we can scoot in. Even exhausted, if she spoons close, I want her.

  She chuckles with my hardon pressing against her buns. “Sleep, cowboy.

  Tell your gun to holster up.”

  I laugh, too. My Kira is an amazing woman.

  The next day, while I’m training at the gym, CJ’s brother Andy shows up.

  “I hear congratulations are in order.”

  “Yeah. Thanks.” I lift the weight again while he moves in to spot me.

  “Mel said you wanted to talk to me?” The lawyer takes the bar and places it on the holder when my arms give out.

  Chris grumbles and taps my arm. “Ten more, just like it.”

  I lift, my shoulders burning from the rep
etitions. “According to my fiancé I’ve been a fucking idiot.”

  He chuckles. “I got a strong woman myself. The best you can do is agree with them.”

  Kira’s words last night ring in my ears. “Will you take me on as a client?

  Do what you did for your brother? Invest my money, make sure I don’t end up bankrupt and divorced? Help me figure out how to get my damned degree?”

  I lift once more, arms shaking, and Chris moves Andy aside, peering down at me. “Once more.”

  “Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Y’all are going to kill me and it isn’t even nine o’clock.”

  Andy reaches into his briefcase, pulls out some paperwork, and I moan. This is exactly the kind of stuff Jeff used to do for me.

  “It’s going to take me a while to go through all that.” I sigh, thinking of all the reading I still have to do for classes.

  He pulls out his phone and sticks an earbud into my left ear while I work on my triceps. I adjust it a little, nod, and smile as the recording breaks everything down. Andy explains the legalese into something easily digestible.

  In about thirty minutes, I take his pen and sign on the dotted line. The only thing extra, I had to add was to get a list of receipts from Jeff and pay him off.

  We shake hands as I head out to the field for the last time before I fly out to the drafts.

  “Good luck.” He slaps me on the back.

  “I never count on luck. Just hard work.” With a wink, I trot out onto the field to start my laps.

  It’s lunchtime before I can call Kira. “You sure you won’t come with me?”

  “You know I would if I could.”

  “I can’t believe The Times scheduled your interview the same day as my draft. That totally sucks.”

  She sighs. “I wish I could be there. Call me as soon as you can, okay. I’ll be watching on TV… How’d everything go with Andy?”

  I grin, this huge weight lifted off my shoulders. “I signed on the dotted line. We’re all set.”

  After we say goodbye, I finish my lunch and grab my marketing book.