Hunter (Campus Kings): A Football Secret Baby Novel

by Celia Loren

  "You didn't know?" my dad demands of Hunter.

  "No, sir," Hunter tells him. "I never would have let Britt raise a child alone, believe me. I've always intended to do right by her."

  "It's true, Dad," I echo. "Hunter has always been a perfect gentleman to me."

  My dad turns and runs a hand across his thinning hair. "So you were both running around together behind my back. And after all this time, you didn't tell me," he says, directing the final accusation toward Hunter.

  "I'm sorry," Hunter says. "I really am, Coach. After Britt left, I was devastated, and being able to come to you for advice, for company, I didn't want to give that up. It was selfish, but you're the only reason I got through that time."

  My dad sighs, and collapses back onto the couch. Hunter and I both sit back down, and let him sit in silence for a moment as he processes things.

  "So, what now? Are you dating?" he finally asks.

  I smile tentatively at Hunter. "Um, yeah," I say. "I guess we are."

  "It seems a little strange to be dating at this point," Hunter acknowledges. "But it'll be a relief to do it out in the open finally."

  "So have—" my dad begins, but breaks off as little feet pad down the stairs.

  "Mama?" Max calls out, then spots Hunter. "Hunter!" he yells, and runs toward him. Hunter leans down and scoops him up into his lap.

  "Does he know?" my dad asks quietly, indicating Max. I shake my head no.

  "We wanted to tell you first."

  "Well, I'll give you the room. I need some time myself," he says.

  "You think we should do it now?" I ask worriedly.

  "I think he's going to take it fine," my dad replies, indicating Max's grinning face on Hunter's lap. "Seems like now's as good a time as any."

  Chapter 36

  Hunter

  "Now?" I ask Britt, as Coach heads upstairs.

  "You don't have to," she tells me. "After this, things will be different with him," she says, nodding her head down at Max. "Telling him is a commitment. You won't be able to go back."

  "I don't want to go back," I reply, looking down at the warm little body in my lap. My son.

  Britt takes a deep breath. "Okay, then." She sits on the edge of the couch and places her hand on Max's leg to get his attention. "Hey, honey, Hunter and I have to tell you something."

  "Yeah," Max acknowledges.

  "You know how other kids have mommies and daddies?" she says, and Max nods. I watch his face carefully. What if he's angry that I missed out on all that time with him? "And I told you that you have a dad, too, but he was away."

  "Yeah, he away," Max repeats.

  "Right. Well, actually…" Britt looks up at me, giving me the moment.

  "Actually, I'm your dad, Max," I tell him slowly, trying to make sure he understands.

  He looks up at me, his eyes focused on mine. "You my dad?" he asks.

  "Yeah, honey. Hunter is your dad."

  Max gasps and claps his hands together. "You my dad? You sure?"

  Britt laughs. "Yep, we're sure."

  "Wow, wow," Max says. I grin down at him and feel my eyes start to well up.

  "Think I could give you a hug, Max?" I ask.

  "Yeah," he replies, and opens his arms. I bend and wrap my arms around him, holding his little body delicately. I can't believe this is my son.

  "You my dad!" Max announces, more sure of himself now.

  "That's right!" I confirm.

  "Dad, want to go play?" he asks, tugging my sleeve. I burst out laughing, both from the exhilaration at hearing him call me Dad, and at how quickly he's able to take this news in stride.

  "I do want to go play," I tell him.

  "We'll all go," Britt suggests. I look up at her, and see that her face is streaked with tears. I lean forward and kiss her, and Max bursts off my laugh, forcing us apart. Britt laughs and wipes her face.

  "Come on!" Max encourages us. I take Britt's hand and we follow our son out to the backyard. He runs straight for a foam football, and I have to let go of his mom's hand to catch it.

  "Nice throw, Max!" I tell him. My mind starts to flash forward to all the things I'll be able to teach him. Not just about football, but about how to be a man, how to be a leader. "He definitely got some of my genes," I say to Britt with a smile.

  We toss the ball around for a while, and Max switches off between calling me Dad and Hunter. I don't really care what he calls me for now, I'm just enjoying spending time with him. When Max finally tires out, which takes much longer than I thought it would, he runs up to me and pulls me upstairs to show me his bedroom.

  "You stay in here?" Max asks.

  "No, Max, Hunter has to stay at his house," Britt explains as Max pushes a racecar back and forth on the floor. I sit cross-legged, feeling too large for this small room.

  Max frowns. "Why?"

  "I have my own house," I try to explain to him.

  "No. Dads and moms live together," he informs us.

  I glance at Britt. "Usually that's true, Max. But right now, your mom and I live apart. Do you want to come over and see my house?" I ask him.

  "Yeah," he nods.

  I smile, an idea forming in my mind. "I think you're going to like it."

  Chapter 37

  Britt

  We pull up to a huge, gated mansion. Max leans over from his car seat in the back and presses his face against the glass as I lean over and buzz to be let in. The gates swing silently open and I continue up the circular drive.

  "Wow," Max says. "Dad live here?"

  "Yeah, Dad lives here," I reply, smiling at how quickly he's adjusting to the news that Hunter is his father. I should have known he would. Kids at Max's age have brains that are still growing, and new information is much easier to take in than it is for adults.

  Hunter opens the door as I park. Max waves and starts undoing his seat belt. He's just figured out how to do it himself, which is a little worrying for me, since sometimes he'll try to do it in the middle of a ride. As I take Max out of the back seat and shut the car door behind us, I smile up at Hunter, feeling more like a nerdy girl in high school seeing the popular jock than the mother of his child. He's clearly just gotten home from practice. His hair is damp from a shower, and he's wearing a white t-shirt and sweats that hang low on his hips, and has a protein shake in his right hand.

  "Hey, Max!" he greets him, leaning down to pick him up easily with one arm. I walk up the front steps after him, and Hunter leans down to brush a kiss across my lips, sending a tingle down my spine.

  My eyes widen as we step inside. The foyer is marble, and has two staircases winding up to the second floor. I can see straight through to the glass doors at the rear and out into the back yard. Jeez, is that a lake?

  "Let's go upstairs, Max. I have a surprise for you," Hunter says, and I follow them up the right side staircase. Hunter walks the length of the hallway with Max in his arms, and then stops at a door on the left just before the end of the hallway. He sets Max on the floor and opens the door.

  Max runs in as he sees the room is full of toys. My jaw drops open as I follow him inside. It was only a few days ago that Hunter invited us over to see his house, so how did he get this done so quickly? It's a huge room, and completely outfitted with everything that Max could want.

  Hunter turns to me and sees my shocked expression. "I hired some people," he explains with a smile.

  "For me?" Max asks, sticking his little hands into the boxes of toys.

  "Yeah, this is for you, Max. And if your mom says it's okay, maybe you can have sleepovers here."

  Max pulls a box out of the toys and dumps it on the floor, then sits among the pieces. He quickly starts building a train track out of the pieces.

  "Max, we'll be right down the hall, okay?" Hunter says. Max barely nods, he's too entranced by all his new toys. "I have to show you something," he says, taking my hand and leading me back into the hallway and to the final door. He opens it, and ushers me inside.

  "Beautiful,"
I nod, taking in what is clearly the master bedroom. The furniture is all modern, dark wood, with white linens and gauzy curtains.

  "This is what I wanted to show you," Hunter says, opening a closet door. I walk over and look inside the space. There's room enough to walk in, but all the shelves are empty. "This closet's all yours. I had a second one installed."

  "Wow, Hunter, this is a lot," I say walking back toward the bed and sitting on a cushioned bench in front of it. I rub my forehead, feeling a little lightheaded. "I mean, it's great, it's just…"

  "I thought you'd like it," he says with a frown.

  "I love it. It's just...this all feels really fast."

  "It's been four years."

  "Four years since we've even gone out on a date," I point out.

  "So what, you don't want to live here?"

  "That's not what I'm saying! I just don't want to move here for Max," I finally say, realizing that's why I'm so emotional.

  "What do you mean?"

  "I just want to make sure that...that we're not together just because we have a son together," I admit.

  "Is that why you're here? Just because you want a father for Max?"

  "No, of course not!" I reply. "I'm worried that you feel like you have to do this, like it's your duty."

  "I don't—" he breaks off at the sound of an electronic ringing noise. "That's the front gate. Hang on." He leaves, and I put my head in my hands. What am I doing? He's done all this great stuff, and I'm ruining it.

  "Mama?" I hear from the other room, and hurry over to Max's room. He's standing near the doorway with a wooden train in his hand.

  "I show Hunter," he says, holding it up.

  "Okay, honey, let's go find him," I say, extending my hand. Max takes it and we head down the hallway. At the top of the stairs. I see Hunter and his agent Rich talking in the foyer. "Sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," I say as they both look up toward us.

  "No, that's okay," Hunter says. I walk down the stairs slowly with Max. "Rich, this is Britt, and her son—our son—Max."

  "Yeah, we met at the—wait, whose son?" Rich asks.

  "Mine and Britt's. Long story," Hunter says. He signs the papers in his hand and gives them back to Rich.

  "Ah. Well, congrats, then," Rich says, but his smile looks a little forced to me. "Thanks," he says to Hunter, indicating the papers. "Good to see you again, Britt, and Max."

  "Bye!" Max offers as he leaves and Hunter shuts the door.

  "I'm sorry," Hunter and I say at the same time.

  "You think we could go on a date?" I ask. "Like in public?"

  "We've never really done that, huh?" Hunter asks. "Okay, leave it up to me."

  Chapter 38

  Hunter

  "Sorry," I murmur to Britt, taking her hand under the table.

  "No, it'll be fun," she replies with a smile.

  "Adam hasn't gone on a date in a while because he was finishing law school, so he told me he needed moral support," I tell her.

  "This place is beautiful," Britt says, looking around. "Very romantic. Even if there will be four of us," she adds with a laugh. Danielle comes hurrying up to the table, stops, and turns in a full circle.

  "How do I look? Also, hi," she says.

  "You look great," Britt tells her. "Here, we'll scooch over so you and Adam can sit next to each other." I do my best to slide over in the booth, trying not to knock anything over. It clearly wasn't made for someone of my size.

  Just as Danielle sits, Adam comes walking over. "I hope I'm not late," he says. "Danielle, great to see you again," he adds, kissing her on the cheek. "Don't get up," he tells Britt and me, sliding in next to Danielle.

  I order a bottle of champagne from the waiter, and Adam leans in conspiratorially. "So, Britt, you're the mystery woman."

  "Sorry?" she asks.

  "I always knew Hunter was up to something our senior year. You sure know how to keep a secret, huh?"

  "So does she," I add with a smile, and Britt winces but laughs.

  "And Danielle, you knew, too?" Adam asks, turning to her.

  "I did," she admits. "But don't feel left out. I'm the only other one who knew. Plus, I do feel like I'm kind of responsible for you two getting together."

  "Is that so?" Britt asks.

  "Sure, if it hadn't been for me, you never would have come to the football frat that night," Danielle points out.

  Britt laughs, and I can't help but smile. "So you're suggesting that you did that on purpose?"

  "Did what?" Adam asks.

  "Don't worry, Danielle," I say as she blushes. "Adam did far, far worse."

  "I got too drunk and was pretty much passed out on the floor of the bathroom, and Britt had to come rescue me," she fills Adam in.

  "And then I didn't actually know how to rescue her," Britt adds, "and so Hunter helped out and then carried her home. That was the night we met."

  "Officially, but I'd seen you before that," I tell her.

  "Wait, are you talking about the locker room? I had no idea you even remembered that!" Britt exclaims.

  "Britt caught a glimpse of me in the locker room one day while I was changing," I explain

  "I wasn't trying to be a Peeping Tom or anything! I just happened to be passing by on my way to see my father."

  "But you liked what you saw," I tease her.

  "You've got me there," she admits.

  "Excuse me?" I look up to see two beautiful girls standing next to the table. "We're really sorry to bother you, but could we take a picture with you?" the taller one asks.

  "Ah, sure," I reply. I'm happy to take photos with fans, but when they interrupt a private dinner it is a little frustrating. I stand up, and they quickly press their bodies against mine and wrap their arms around my waist. I smile politely for the camera as one holds it out for a selfie.

  "Thank you so much!" they gush, and leave, checking the photo on the phone to make sure it came out right.

  "Sorry," I say as I sit back down. "If I say no to autographs and stuff, I'll start to get a reputation, and then the endorsements might get jeopardized. I just have to watch my image."

  "I can't imagine what it's like," Adam says. "I got a fraction of what you do when I played for the Bengals, and my ex-wife hated it."

  "Is that why you…" Danielle hedges.

  "That was only a small part of it. I think me being away for so long was the first crack. We'd just gotten married, and then all of a sudden I'm gone. Not that it's the same way for everyone," he adds when he looks at me to find I'm shooting daggers at him.

  "I'm sure it's different for every relationship," Danielle adds, trying to smooth things over. I glance down to see Britt trying to nervously tear her napkin, only to find that it's made of cloth.

  "Exactly. I mean you're a star, so if you're traded, you have the resources to get a great place anywhere. So it'd be much easier," Adam adds.

  "Max will be starting school soon," Britt points out quietly. "So it wouldn't be that easy."

  "What's everyone getting?" Danielle asks brightly, scanning her eyes down the menu. Everyone plays along with her obvious change of subject, but I can tell Britt's mind is elsewhere during the meal.

  In the car ride back to my house, she's just as quiet. "Adam's relationship isn't the same as ours," I say in the car as Britt stares out the window.

  "I know. I'm sorry," she says, reaching across the console for my hand. "It's just that a lot of things are changing, and it's hard for me to keep up."

  "I wish I didn't have to leave tomorrow," I tell her. It's playoff season, and the Titans are hitting the road again.

  "We still have tonight," she replies with a smile.

  Chapter 39

  Britt

  I wake up and stretch, marveling at how soft my sheets feel, then remember that they're not my sheets. I'm in Hunter's bed, at his house. I glance over at the clock. It's just after ten, and my dad told me he can take care of Max until his afternoon practice, so I have plenty of time before I need
to get back home. I sit up, and see that Hunter has left a note for me at the foot of the bed.

  I had to leave for the airport, but didn't want to wake you. Help yourself to anything in the house. The door will lock behind you and the gate is on motion sensors.

  I smile at his terrible handwriting, but read the note again. Is it just my imagination, or does it sound a little brusque? Why, for example, didn't he write "Love, Hunter" at the end? I shake my head. Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

  I roll out of bed and pad over to the bureau. It's rare for me to have time by myself, so I want to enjoy it. I pull on a pair of Hunter's boxers and an old Vanover sweatshirt. It's huge on me, but I roll up the sleeves. I almost trip over my dress from last night, so I pick it up from the ground and fold it neatly on the bench at the end of the bed.

  I wander down the hallway, and decide to look around. Max and I could be moving in here, so I don't really feel like I'm snooping. I laugh as I open the door to the third empty room on the other end of the hallway. The house is so big that Hunter clearly has no idea what to do with so much space.

  I head downstairs. At least all the rooms on this level are furnished. On one side of the foyer is a giant great room, and the other side has the open concept kitchen with a dining table that could seat sixteen linebackers. My gaze shifts to the row of windows on the back of the house. I head toward them and open one of the doors.

  In my bare feet, I pad out onto a large, flagstone patio. There's an in-ground pool out here that I hadn't seen before, with a hot tub in the corner. I continue out past the stones and onto the grass. I see the small lake I noticed on my first visit, all the way out by the tree line. I step toward it, but a bell ringing inside draws me back.

  I hurry through the kitchen and into the marble foyer as it rings again. I frown as I realize it's the doorbell...shouldn't the gate have buzzed first? I look through the keyhole and am surprised to see Rich and another man I don't know. I guess Hunter must have given him the gate code.

  "Hi, Rich," I say opening the door. "Hunter's not here."