Small Town Daddy: A Dark Romance

by B. B. Hamel

  “I’m sorry I just disappeared like that.”

  “It’s fine.”

  “I want to meet up, though. Maybe we can talk.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “Tonight? After your tutoring?”

  “Same spot as always,” I said.

  “Okay.” She paused. “I’ll see you later, Gibson.”

  “Yeah, you will.”

  I hung up the phone, smiling to myself.

  It turned out that I didn’t have to stalk her after all. That was a relief, since I wasn’t too fond of getting rejected over and over again. Still, I would have done it, if at least to stay in my child’s life.

  I turned away from Avery’s place and headed back home. Now I’d have time to get my shit together before going to tutoring. Today was looking up already.

  Mindless mathematics, mindless conversation. That was how my tutoring went every single night. I didn’t exactly need the extra help, and everyone knew it, but the coaching and athletics staff all wanted to make sure their star player didn’t fall behind, no matter what.

  Everyone figured being the big star of the football team would be all fun. Truth was, it was a lot of work. It took a ton of work to reach my position, and it took even more work to keep it. I barely had time to have fun, especially when it was football season. Not to mention I had to deal with the media and all the people in the world who wanted to try to talk shit.

  But none of that mattered as I left tutoring and headed down the campus’s clean-swept sidewalks. There was a large field crisscrossed with walkways stuck in the middle of a ring of buildings. People were sitting in the grass, enjoying the comfortable evening. I nodded to a few people who waved as I crossed between some buildings and moved over a road. I got close to the stadium and hung a left, skirting along its large concrete exterior until I saw the statue up ahead.

  Avery was sitting at the base. I couldn’t help but smile. She was wearing shorts that showed off her gorgeous legs and a cardigan that was probably meant to be conservative but made her tits all the more fantastic.

  I remembered the way her body felt in the bushes just behind the statue, not even a foot from where she was sitting. I remembered the way she sucked my cock, greedy and soaking wet, and the way I slipped myself deep inside her. I loved hearing her moan, but it got me so fucking hard to cover her mouth as I fucked her.

  She was insatiable. She was incredible. I stopped a few feet away from her.

  “Glad you came,” I said.

  “Yeah,” she answered. “Me too.”

  I walked closer to her. “Look, Avery—”

  “Hold on a second,” she said, cutting me off. “Let me say something.”

  I smiled and nodded at her. “Yeah, okay. Go ahead.”

  “I’m sorry I ran out on you like that. I should have stayed and let you explain. And I should have talked to you sooner.”

  I shrugged. “It was your loss.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Not talking to me. I’m sure it’s been a struggle.”

  She concealed a smile. “It wasn’t right of me, anyway. We’re in this together.”

  “Yeah, we are,” I said. “That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to make you understand.”

  “I get it,” she said, “but I need you to understand something. Of the two of us, you have a lot more to lose than I do.”

  I laughed. “Hardly.”

  “You have a shot at playing in the NFL. You’re practically a star right now, Gibson. You have a lot to lose. I’m just a girl.”

  I moved toward her and sat down on the base of the statue. We were inches apart. “Maybe,” I conceded, “but that doesn’t mean shit. You’re a person too. Just because I play football doesn’t mean I’m special.”

  She sighed, shaking her head. “That’s exactly what I mean. Only someone really special would say that.”

  I laughed. “I guess you got me there.”

  “But, Gibson, I can’t take your mob money. I just can’t. That’s not what I want from you.”

  “You don’t have to take it,” I said, “but I’m going to use it on our kid.”

  “I don’t know,” she said.

  “Listen, Avery. I understand that it makes you uncomfortable. I can’t blame you, really. But I worked for that money, and it’s mine now. I’m going to spend it on the kid one way or another.”

  “Fine,” she said, sighing. “On the baby, but not on me.”

  “You got a deal.”

  “Our relationship is important to me, Gibson. I want you to be a part of this kid’s life, you know? I don’t want to jeopardize that.”

  “Nothing can jeopardize that,” I said.

  “Maybe. But for now, I think we should, you know, try to stay friends.”

  I frowned at the way she said friends.

  “If that’s what you want,” I conceded.

  “I guess it is right now.”

  “Okay then, princess. But if you want to just be friends, then I’m not going to take you behind this statue and make you come so hard you go numb all over.”

  She finally cracked a smile. “I guess I’m missing out.”

  “You absolutely are. I’d press you up against the concrete, fuck you rough in the dirt, tongue that clit until you couldn’t see straight.”

  “Probably for the best then,” she said, standing. “I have homework to do. I need my vision.”

  “See you tomorrow morning then?”

  She frowned. “I don’t know.”

  “Hynes got used to seeing your pretty ass bright and early. You wouldn’t want to disappoint him.”

  “I guess not.”

  “Plus, where else are you going to find the perfect specimen for your study?”

  “Nowhere,” she said, back to smiling.

  I stood up and started to walk away. “See you tomorrow morning then.”

  I smiled to myself as I headed back toward my apartment. I knew she was looking at me, and I knew what she was thinking.

  She was wondering how she was going to resist me. She was wondering how she was going to be so close to me without her pussy getting wet, without her body betraying her.

  But that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted her body to betray her, because her body knew what she really wanted.

  And I wasn’t going to give it to her until she had to beg for more.

  24

  Avery

  I showed up at Gibson’s bright and early at the usual time. I knocked once and he let me in, looking sleepy.

  “Good morning, sunshine,” I said to him.

  “Morning,” he grunted. He sipped from a coffee mug.

  “Oh hell yeah,” Hynes said from the kitchen. “She’s back and looking lovely as ever.”

  Gibson gave him a look. “Down boy. That’s my baby momma.”

  He laughed. “Your fucking baby momma. She’d leave you in a second for me if she weren’t already knocked up.”

  I couldn’t help but smile and laugh. “I think he has a point,” I said to Gibson.

  “You’re just delirious. It’s early. You’re exhausted.”

  “See, man? She wants the Hynes.”

  “On second thought,” I said, “I’m not into guys who talk about themselves in the third person. I think I’ll stick with nobody for now.”

  Hynes busted up laughing and then disappeared back into his bedroom. I steered Gibson to the couch and started going through the routine.

  It had become familiar, but it still made my heart beat fast. As soon as that shirt came off, I couldn’t help myself. Being around Gibson’s cocky smile, his shirtless body, his sexy tattoos, it all drove me wild. I had to keep my head level, though. I couldn’t risk getting stuck in all of this again.

  “What are you doing tonight?” he asked me as I went through checking him.

  “Nothing special.”

  “It’s Friday. You have to be doing something special.”

  “I’m pregnant, remember? Anything f
un or special is basically off limits for me.”

  He laughed. “You can still have fun.”

  “Hardly. I’m tired all the time. I’m bloated and gross. I don’t feel like myself.”

  “You don’t look bloated or gross,” he said softly. “I’m barely containing my hard fucking cock, actually.”

  I glanced down at his gym shorts. “You’re not doing a good job at it.”

  He grinned at me. “Well, I’m not trying that hard.”

  “Anyway, I’m just sitting around. Why?”

  “Me and some of the guys are going to Dom’s tonight, getting some dinner. Nothing crazy since tomorrow is game day. Come with us.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Come on,” he said, “it’ll be a group thing. Non-threatening. You can meet the guys.”

  “I don’t need to meet the guys.”

  “Sure you do,” he said. “You’re desperate to meet them.”

  I sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “It’s free food and great company. What more could you want?”

  I glanced at his chest and looked quickly away. The memory of his cock between my legs pushing deep inside me came back, and I knew that was what I really wanted.

  “Okay,” I heard myself say.

  “Good. I’m off tutoring. I’ll get you around six.”

  “Fine. Six.”

  I finished up writing in my journal and put away all of the equipment. Hynes reappeared, and we made small talk as I finished putting stuff away in my bag.

  Gibson walked me to the door. “See you later,” he said.

  “Yeah. See you.” I turned and left.

  So much for keeping my distance from him, but then again, it was a group thing, and I hadn’t really gone anywhere in so long. I felt like an old lady already, and I was barely nine weeks pregnant.

  If anything, I needed this. I needed a little time out, even if I couldn’t drink, even if it was with my baby’s father, my baby’s gorgeous and complicated father.

  I completely lost track of time. By the time six rolled around, I was barely ready.

  He knocked at five after six, almost as if he sensed that I needed a few extra minutes to get ready.

  I answered the door. “Hey,” he said.

  “Hey yourself.” He was wearing his usual jeans and a button-down, but he looked great. There was just something so attractive about him, something that took me and wouldn’t let me go no matter how badly I wished I could get past it.

  “You look fucking nice,” he said. “Ready?”

  “Ready.” I looked back into the apartment. “Bye, Harper!” I called out before we walked outside together.

  We walked onto campus, toward Dom’s. It was another beautiful night out, which meant campus was full of people looking to hang out.

  “So,” I said, “who’s all coming?”

  “Me, you, Hynes, and Drinkwater.”

  “Just us four?”

  He nodded. “Just us four. You wanted more?”

  “No. I mean, I guess I expected a bigger crowd.”

  “Sorry to disappoint.”

  I laughed. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I know. Relax.”

  I sighed, shaking my head. “I guess I am nervous.”

  “No need to be. You know Hynes. Drinkwater is a good guy.”

  “Does he know about the baby?”

  “No. And Hynes knows not to say anything.”

  “Okay. So no baby talk. Got it.”

  He laughed. “What, were you going to go into a monologue on morning sickness?”

  “Haven’t had it yet. Fingers crossed.”

  “Good,” he said. “I hope you skip that.”

  “Some women do and some don’t.”

  “Did your mother?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

  “I guess things aren’t good there.”

  “No. She basically disowned me the other day.”

  “Shit,” he said. “I’m really sorry. Fuck parents.”

  “Do you talk to your parents much?”

  He shook his head. “Both of them are petty assholes and drunks. I try to keep contact to a minimum.”

  “I’m sorry too.”

  “Don’t be. It was good motivation.”

  He stopped outside Dom’s. Gibson nodded at the doorman, who let us right inside. Once we stepped in, the hostess recognized Gibson and seated us immediately at a table in the back.

  Two guys were already there. Hynes I knew, and Drinkwater I had only ever seen from afar. He wasn’t as tall as I had expected, but he was strong. His friendly smile made me feel instantly comfortable.

  “Drinkwater, this is Avery,” Gibson said.

  He shook my hand. “My real name’s John, but call me Drinkwater if you want.”

  “Good to meet you, Drinkwater.”

  We all sat down and got menus out.

  “So, how’d this asshole convince you to come out?” Hynes asked.

  “Just invited me, I guess.”

  “That’s all?” Drinkwater said. “You’re far too hot for this guy.”

  I felt myself blush. “That’s not true.”

  “It is true,” Gibson said, “but you should see the girls these two have been with.”

  “What do you mean?” Hynes said. “Only dimes for this man.”

  “Dimes? Man, more like pennies,” Drinkwater said.

  I laughed and Gibson smirked.

  “I’ll get out Facebook, man,” Gibson said. “I can show Avery some pretty sketchy looking girls you’ve both been with.”

  “Okay, man,” Drinkwater said, holding up his hands. “I get it. No more jokes.”

  The waitress came over and we ordered some food. The guys fell into a comfortable conversation about practice. I didn’t know most of what they were talking about, but I didn’t mind one bit. It just felt good to be outside the apartment, and the friendship between the three of them seemed incredibly stable and healthy.

  I could tell people kept looking at us, but nobody came over, which was good. It took a lot for me to ignore the looks and the whispers, but I tried my best. This was going to be my life if I was going to be around Gibson at all, or at least if my child was. I couldn’t let it bother me.

  Gibson clearly didn’t. He dominated the conversation, smiling and laughing and making jokes. People were looking at him, but he didn’t care one bit. Gibson probably would have stared right back if he even noticed. He was so confident, so attractive. He made the whole room seem less dim.

  “So, what do you do?” Drinkwater asked me. “We’ve been talking about football for too long.”

  “I’m a bio major,” I said. “I want to go into sports medicine, or maybe do sports research.”

  “She’s been doing some research on our boy here,” Hynes said.

  “Oh shit. I mean I figured, but you didn’t have to say it,” Drinkwater said, laughing.

  “No, man. Like, actual research,” Hynes said.

  “What?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’ve been taking his vitals, tracking his progress over the season so far.”

  “She’s at my place every morning, bright and early,” Gibson said.

  “Yeah,” Hynes said. “For real. Bright and early.”

  I laughed. “Sorry, Hynes. You’re a good sport.”

  “I try.”

  “So wait. What are you looking for?”

  “Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, that sort of thing. I want to see what the highest level of athlete’s vital signs are like throughout a season.”

  “Huh,” he said, nodding. “That’s really interesting.”

  “It’s not bad,” Gibson said, “except sometimes I feel like a piece of meat.”

  “Oh yeah? You hate being used by her?”

  Gibson grinned at me. “No. Not at all.”

  I blushed and looked away. “It’s not like that. It’s just simple stuff.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure,” D
rinkwater said.

  “She mostly makes me take my shirt off and pokes me with shit,” Gibson said.

  “Are you guys just going to make jokes all night?” I said, smiling.

  “Basically, yeah.” Hynes said. “He didn’t warn you?”

  “No. Not at all,” Gibson answered, laughing.

  “Damn. He walked you into this unprepared? Brutal,” Drinkwater said.

  “It’s okay. I can take it.”

  Gibson smirked hugely. “I know you can.”

  The boys all cracked up, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “I walked into that,” I said.

  Gibson smiled at me. “Yeah, I know.”

  The waitress came with our food not long later, and I felt really good. Gibson was making me laugh, talking to me, flirting with me, bringing me into the conversation. I felt so comfortable with these guys, and things just felt really natural. We ate our food and continued talking, mostly about the season, but also about my life.

  I told them a little bit about growing up in my hometown. Drinkwater was from Pittsburgh, so he was familiar with Pennsylvania. Hynes talked about growing up in the Deep South and about his big, crazy family, and even Gibson shared a story about his parents.

  By the end of the meal, I felt great. I was tired, but feeling good. The four of us left Dom’s and stood outside for a minute, saying goodbye.

  “All right, Avery,” Drinkwater said. “You passed the test.”

  “What’s that?”

  “This was a test,” Hynes said. “Trying to see how cool you are.”

  “Oh yeah?” I asked, looking at Gibson.

  He held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. At least you passed.”

  “And what if you failed my test?”

  Drinkwater laughed. “Gibson here has never failed anything in his life.”

  “That’s true,” he conceded, nodding.

  I rolled my eyes. “All right, boys, I’m tired. It was fun.”

  “Later, girl,” Drinkwater said.

  “See you tomorrow,” Hynes added.

  Hynes and Drinkwater headed off, walking back to the other end of campus. Gibson and I started walking back toward my apartment.

  “Sorry about them,” he said. “That wasn’t really a test. He was joking.”

  “I know,” I said. Our shoulders brushed, and I felt a pulse run through me. “I’m glad I passed it anyway.”