by Mia Carson
Danny blanched. “Do they know why I’m here?”
“Of course, but they’re excited to have a niece or nephew soon. You’ll love them both, I promise.”
She and her mom walked out of the airport to the car waiting at the curb. A tall man with jet-black hair leaned against it and waved when they got closer. His name was Gerald, and he was Danny’s soon-to-be stepfather. She took the hand he held out and relaxed at his kind smile. Maybe her mom had made a good choice after all.
Once her bags were loaded in the car, she shot a glance over her shoulder. Jack would call her every day, and for a while, she’d answer, but she’d have to let him go for his own sake. This was her life now… her and her baby. Their baby. Somehow, she’d make it work, and one day, when the child was old enough, she’d tell him or her about Jack. When it didn’t hurt so much to think about him.
“Danny, ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready,” she whispered, resigned to her new future.
Gerald pulled away from the curb, and Danny forced her gaze forward. There was no turning back unless she wanted to ruin Jack’s chances of success. She was doing this for him. She loved him too much to bring him down with her. She could only hope he’d learn to forget her and move on with his life in time.
CHAPTER 5
Eight Years Later
It wasn’t late by Jack’s normal standards, and definitely not for New Year’s Eve, but the bar was too crowded with half the team crammed in and getting worked up about the game tomorrow afternoon. He’d been to New Orleans before, but every time, he wandered the French Quarter, watching people pass by and thinking about the next day and the day after that. There was always another game and another woman following him home.
And another morning waking up, wondering why he felt like this, still heartbroken after so many goddamn years, still longing for the one person he would never have.
He had it all. After his successful college football career, he’d been drafted quickly and never looked back. His parents couldn’t have been prouder, and he should’ve been happy. Money, girls, doing what he loved… But still, every morning, that same annoying ache filled him. He raised a hand to rub his weary face as he walked aimlessly down the sidewalk. His tattoos drew quite a few looks, some of them approving and others not so much. Let them look; he didn’t care. There’d been a rough patch in his life, and the sleeves had been a good idea at the time.
They gave him the edge he needed on the field to stay pumped up. To win. The intricate details of a tree on his upper arm, surrounded by a night sky and full moon, had roots that trailed down to his wrist and intertwined with darkened hearts, some broken and shattered. Pain. He used his pain on the field to win. There was more to it than that, but he tried not to look at those parts too often.
Off the field, he ignored his pain. It had been long enough, and he’d had plenty of women since then, but one face always haunted his dreams, leaving him in a cold sweat. Tired of the stares, he put his black leather jacket back on, covering them up.
“Jack! Thought you were still in the bar!”
Jack shot the woman, Melody, a smirk as she caught up to him. “Sorry, needed some air.”
“No problem. I just didn’t know what you were doing the rest of the night.”
He thought of saying “doing you,” but the bad-boy lover in him didn’t feel the need to sleep with some woman he’d never see again after tonight. His friends on the team said he was pining away for that right woman so he could settle down, but it wasn’t that. He enjoyed his endless run of one-night-stands. Or he had enjoyed them.
“Sorry, Melody, I think I’m turning in. Tired from the flight,” he said and faked a yawn.
“Sure,” she quipped. “Here’s my number, anyway, in case you change your mind.” She winked and slipped a napkin into his pocket. Her hand lingered in there, her fingers feeling around before she pulled them back and turned for the bar.
Jack started to follow but stopped and told his erection to take a hike. His body might be in the mood for some action, but his mind wasn’t. The hotel wasn’t far, so he walked in that direction. People brushed by him, faces he didn’t recognize… Until he glanced across the street and froze.
“Danny?” That head of red hair… He’d know it anywhere. It had been so long since he’d seen her, but… Was it really her? He walked the other way down the sidewalk, keeping an eye on her across the street.
Another woman walked beside her, both of them laughing and glancing down at something between them. Jack couldn’t see what it was through the crowd of people, but a crosswalk was coming up and he rushed over, ignoring the cars he dodged around. He had to get to her. When he was behind them, he stopped in shock briefly but forced himself to keep walking. Standing between Danny and the other woman, holding their hands, was a little girl with shocking red hair.
“She has a daughter?” He ran a hand through his hair. Did he still want to follow her? Was she married? His steps didn’t slow. Married or not, he had to see her face.
When he was close enough to reach out, his shaking hand touched her shoulder, and she turned. Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth falling open. “Jack… oh, my God.”
“Danny, who is this?”
“Mom?”
Jack heard the other questions, but his eyes locked on Danny’s as a range of emotions passed through them. Surprise, guilt, regret… That last one surprised him. After she’d disappeared, he thought he’d never see her again and hated her for a time, thinking she had gone off to NYU and forgotten about him. But that last look told him one thing—she thought of him as much as he thought of her.
“Hey, Danny,” he said, trying to sound casual. “Long time no see.”
“Eight years,” she whispered. “Jack… I… What are you doing here?”
That was her question for him? He glanced at her left hand, but there was no ring, not even a tan line of where one had been. Not married, that was a start, but the little girl was definitely hers. Jack looked at the girl’s bright, shining eyes… Not Danny’s, but the hair and freckles were. The shape of her face and a cute smile… That wasn’t Danny’s either, but he grinned at her, anyway. She couldn’t be more than six? Seven, maybe? He counted back in his mind and forced the grin to stay on his face.
“The team has a game here,” he told her when his eyes returned to hers. “Tomorrow.”
“Team? Danny, who is this guy?”
Jack turned from Danny and held out his hand to the other woman as people pushed around them on the sidewalk. “Jack Pearson, running back.”
“Hazel, nice to meet you… oh! You’re that Jack!”
“Hazel, seriously?”
Jack smirked as he let her hand go. “I guess so,” he said. “Depends on what that means.”
“The guy she always goes on about—”
“Hazel, can you take Jenna and get some ice cream? Go with your aunt, honey,” Danny said and gave her daughter’s hand a kiss before she let her go with the other woman. Her arms crossed over her chest as she returned her attention to Jack, and he wasn’t sure what emotion was stronger at the moment. Jealousy, anger, happiness? They flooded him as he waited for her to say something, but she didn’t.
“So, you live in New Orleans?” he asked finally.
“Yeah, for a while now,” she said tightly.
“And you have a daughter?” He tried not to choke on the words, but her eyes flicked to his and away again.
“Yes, I do,” she replied, though she didn’t meet his gaze. “Jenna.”
Jack shoved his hands in his pockets to stop himself from reaching out for her as his gut yelled at him to do. “Pretty name. You’re a mom now and working, I guess?”
She nodded stiffly. He could tell she wanted to run, and Jack thought about telling her to go ahead, let her disappear from his life again, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“Just a secretary,” she shrugged. “Nothing special.”
“Whatever happe
ned to NYU? I thought you were going into photography,” he noted, confused.
“That was the plan, but things change.” She glanced over her shoulder. Down the sidewalk from them, Jenna and Hazel were getting ice cream from a stand nearby. The little girl giggled loud enough for Jack to hear, and he smiled at the carefree sound.
“I see that,” he said quietly. “What does her dad do?”
Danny’s face paled, and she tucked her hair behind her ears, looking away. “He’s… uh, not in the picture. Listen, Jack, it was good to see you, but I have to get her home. It’s late.”
He held up his hands. “Of course. I’m just glad I saw you again.”
“Are you? I thought you’d be pissed at me.”
He shrugged. “I never said I wasn’t mad at you for what happened, but doesn’t mean I don’t want to see you again. I’m only in town for the weekend before I fly back to Texas. Meet me tomorrow night?”
“Jack, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” she hedged, but he had already pulled out his cell.
“What’s your number? I’ll text you, and if you don’t show then you don’t, but Danny,” he said, watching her face closely, “if you do, maybe we can get some closure on this.”
“Who said I need closure?” she asked defensively.
Jack frowned. “You might not, but I do. You do realize you just up and left me for eight years. I called. I even went to New York.”
She stepped back, eyes wide. “You went there?”
“Yeah, to try and find you, but I never could, so at least say you’ll consider meeting me tomorrow.”
They stared at each other, and after a few moments, his hands started to tuck his cell back in his pocket until she rattled off her number. He texted her so that she had his and said he would see her tomorrow. Jack turned around before he could see another emotion flicker across her face. It was hard enough to hear her say that she didn’t need closure. What had happened to her all those years ago? He knew she must have gone through some hard times, but to leave without trying to talk to him again? That summer, he swore he had found something and thought she had to.
Now, he’d be able to tell himself she was fine and had made a life for herself. A life and a daughter that did not involve him.
Danny followed Hazel and Jenna through the front door of their small, three-bedroom house outside of New Orleans, her mind playing catch up with how their simple night out— before all the crazies emerged to celebrate the new year—had ended with her running into Jack. She thought she’d never see him again, and there he was on the damn sidewalk, looking hotter than he had before. Tattoos peeked out from his jacket sleeves, and she knew from watching him on the screen during his games that he’d got the sleeves he always wanted, despite his mom’s protests. She wouldn’t admit it to his face, but she knew exactly what team he played for because she had been following his career ever since running off to have their child.
A child she never planned on telling him about.
“So, that was Jack,” Hazel said from the tiny kitchen. “He’s a fine-looking man.”
“Yeah, he is,” Danny agreed quietly. “Jenna? Are you getting ready for bed?”
“Yes!”
“Brush your teeth! I don’t want you getting another cavity!”
Hazel laughed as Danny kicked off her shoes and went down the hall to check on her daughter. Her eyes were so like Jack’s. Had he noticed?
“Mom, who was that man you were talking to?”
“A very old friend,” she said on a sigh. “He plays football.”
Jenna’s eyes widened. “Is he your favorite player? You called him Jack! Aunt Hazel! That was mom’s favorite football player! Did you get his autograph?”
“Nope, but I think she got his number,” Hazel said as she passed the bathroom.
Danny glared at her stepsister’s back and aimed a kick at her knee. “Really?”
“Just trying to be helpful.”
“Why did you get his number?” Jenna asked brightly.
“No reason. Brush your teeth and get your butt into bed,” she said, ruffling her daughter’s hair before she kissed the top of her head loudly.
Danny marched down the hall to Hazel’s bedroom and watched her stepsister plop down on her bed, a satisfied smug grin on her face. “Why did you say that?”
“What? You got his number, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but she doesn’t need to know that.”
Hazel rolled her eyes. “Danny, you have never once gone on a date with another guy—ever—since you came to live with us. And you still haven’t dated anyone. Ever.” She got up and turned the TV on, a replay from last week’s football game showing. “But every time your damn Jack comes on, you watch him like a hawk.”
Danny shrugged. “Everyone likes him.”
“No, they like him playing football. You like him because you never got over him,” Hazel said. “I think you never plan on getting over him.”
“Mom! I’m ready for bed!”
“Be there in a minute!” She turned back to her stepsister. “Get a bottle of wine, and we’ll talk about it in the kitchen after she’s asleep. Our own private New Year’s Eve party.”
Hazel squealed as she darted out of her room towards the kitchen, and Danny hurried to Jenna’s room.
“Mom? What’s Aunt Hazel doing?”
“Being crazy like always,” she said and sat on the edge of her bed. “Now, tomorrow, you have to clean your room before the football game starts.”
Jenna sulked against her pillow. “I don’t want to.”
“I know, but Aunt Hazel said she’d help you. Then you can watch the game. Can’t have my football-watching addiction rubbing off on you too much,” she said with a raised brow at her daughter.
Jenna laughed, her smile lighting up her face. After seeing Jack tonight, Danny saw him in every inch of that little face… In her eyes and the way she tilted her head. “Mom? Are you okay? You look sad.”
Danny smoothed back her daughter’s red hair and kissed her forehead. “I’m perfect, honey. Get some sleep.” She turned off the light and closed the bedroom door so her daughter wouldn’t hear her and Hazel talking in the kitchen.
“What does she even know about her dad?” Hazel asked after Danny sat at the table and they each had a large glass of white wine in front of them.
“I told her we left so her daddy could have the best chance at doing what he loved,” Danny said quietly. “She asks about him all the time, and I lie the best I can.”
“Why not just tell her?”
“Because he doesn’t even know. I can’t do that to her… tell her and then have to explain why she can’t go running up to him, calling him ‘Dad.’”
Hazel clicked her tongue. “It’s been eight years, Danny. He has a right to know.”
“So I can ruin his career? Look at what he’s been able to do since I left,” she argued though she knew deep down that Hazel was right.
“You don’t know he wouldn’t have made it if you’d told him,” Hazel reasoned, but Danny was already shaking her head.
“Yes, I do,” she said, running her finger along the rim of the wine glass. “He was already second-guessing going so far away for school. I could tell in those last few weeks. If he had known I was pregnant, he would’ve stayed in town with us and never made it out.”
She remembered those early phone calls while living with her mom, the voicemails he left her over and over. He wanted to know where she was and why she didn’t call him back. He’d been angry at first and then hurt that she hadn’t been straight with him. The last few had been the worst. He told her straight up he knew she still cared for him and whatever was going on, he’d be there for her. No matter what.
But she never called him back. Each time she tried, her hands would shake with the knowledge of what she’d be laying on his shoulders. He had a life, and she… Well, she had their daughter to take care of.
“Did you sign up for classes for spring yet
? I know it’s late, but there’s still some openings, I bet.”
Danny took a larger gulp of wine than she meant to and choked on it. “No. I can’t exactly afford it right now.”
“Mom said she would loan you whatever you needed.”
“I’m not taking handouts. I’ll go back when I can,” she promised.
Hazel poured herself more wine. “You say that every year. You need to stop saying you will do it and just do it.”
“And when are you going to go back?”
Hazel had dropped out two years ago, right at the end of her first four. She had changed her major three times and still hadn’t figured out what she wanted to do with her life. Now, she found jobs through a temp agency, bouncing from place to place until, hopefully, something clicked. Danny, on the other hand, held down two receptionist jobs Monday through Friday. The pay wasn’t great, but it was enough for her and Jenna. Hazel made up the rest, though Danny was pretty sure her mom and Hazel’s dad snuck them money once a month to help cover expenses.
“Talk to your dad lately?” Hazel asked.
Danny blew out a breath. “Yeah. He wants us to fly up there to see him soon.”
“It has been a while.” She nodded once firmly. “Tomorrow night, you’re going on a date with Jack, and when Jenna’s spring break rolls around, you’ll go home for the entire break. Your dad needs it and so do you.”
Danny froze. Home. She tried not to go home too often, maybe once a year. Her dad managed to fly down to stay with her and Jenna when he could, but money was tight for him, worse than before. He’d been laid off again but had just started another new job.
Hazel leaned forward on the table and pinched Danny’s arm. “Get the scared rabbit look off your face. You need to go home again for your dad, Danny. You can’t hide forever.”
Clearly, since Jack still managed to find me.
“I know, but a girl can try,” she beamed, trying to keep it light, and grabbed the bottle of wine. “All I can ever do is try.”
“No. What you can do is start living. No matter what happens, Jenna is old enough to know the truth, and Jack… He deserves the truth, too.” Hazel stood and patted her stepsister on the head. “About Jenna and the fact that you still love him.”