“You’re not a fucking mistake, Keaton. Fuck them. You have every right to feel the way you do. You will probably always feel this way. They fucking abandoned you. All of you. You’re not the spare heir. You’re not the mistake that should have never happened. You’re one of the best people I have ever met. You love deeply and protect those you care about with a fierceness that would scare the devil himself. You say you're nothing, but you’re the glue that holds your family together. I see it. Sage sees it. You’re important. You’re important to me.”
I feel tears spill down my face while his matches my own. Reaching out, he uses one hand to cup my face, pulling me closer. Our lips crash together, our emotions taking over. His hand runs down to my neck, while the other grabs my leg, urging me over the center into his lap.
Before I can make the move, there’s a loud tap on the driver’s window. We burst apart as we both look over.
Seeing the uniform, I settled back into my seat while Keaton rolls down the window.
“How can I help you?” he bites out.
“I wanted to make sure everything was okay.” The man’s eyes flicker to me with a knowing look on his face.
“Everything’s fine.” Keaton rolls up the window.
Before the police officer can step back, Keaton puts the car in gear, taking off. I have to admit, the show of power turns me on.
“Will you be there?” Keaton’s quiet voice reaches me.
“Hmm?” I mumble, shaking away the X-rated thoughts of Keaton floating inside my head.
“Will you be there? At my game?” He doesn’t look my way, acting as if my answer won’t affect him.
I know better. He knows I know better.
“Of course I will. I’ll be the one screaming your name the loudest.”
He shoots me a cocky glance. “Wearing my name across your back with my number plastered to your tits. Yeah, I like that image.”
Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but snark back, “You don’t let anyone wear your jersey from what I hear. Well, except family.”
“You’re not just any girl, Morgan. You’re my girl. You can wear my number anytime you want.” Then as an afterthought, he adds, “I never want to hear you refer to the family as if you aren’t part of it again.”
My face heats at his first statement while my heart soars at his second. We we’re kidding ourselves when we thought we could only be friends.
✽✽✽
Tinsley puts on the finishing touches before stepping away and gesturing towards the mirror. “There. Now you look perfect.”
I’m nervous as hell for today. After the phone call with his dad the other day, I rallied the troops to make sure today was extra special for Keaton.
Looking in the mirror, I smile. I look hot. My makeup’s done beautifully. I’m wearing a pair of heels, finally, with a pair of cutoff shorts. Keaton’s jersey falls against my bare chest, adorned with number three, his lucky number, which is also painted on each cheek to finish the look.
I look like a total fangirl, but I don’t care. I might not normally go all out like this, but after the phone call with his father, I can’t help but go a little crazy for him. He deserves to know someone cares. That someone loves him.
Fuck. There’s that word.
I push my thoughts away. Of course I love him. Loving Keaton Yates was inevitable.
“You look hot as fuck. My brother’s going to want to devour you when he sees you.”
“I wouldn’t complain if he did.” I wink.
“Keaton looks at you how I wish Finley would look at me.” A moment of pain flashes across her face, but she hides it well. “He looks at you like you are a tall glass of water that he’s been searching for in the desert for the last thirty days. Even when you aren’t paying attention, his eyes follow you. Then there’s you, always searching for him when you enter a room. Tensing whenever another girl gets too close.”
I shake my head. “We’re not that bad.”
She rolls her eyes but laughs. “Whatever you say. Let’s get going. Keaton likes us there for warm-ups.”
When we get downstairs, Sage and Reed are waiting at the door.
“We’re going to be late. Let’s get going.” Reed shoots Tinsley an irritated look.
“Stop it.” Sage swats him. “You girls look great.”
When we get to the stadium, Reed leads us down to the very front, right behind our players.
“You guys sit here. I’m going down there.” He points to the sidelines.
Of course he is. Because Reed Fucking Yates wouldn’t dare not be down there with his brother.
A few minutes later, an irritated-looking Victoria waddles up with a concerned-looking Sterling hovering over her.
“I swear to God, Brooks, if you don’t back off and give me a little breathing room, we will never, and I mean never, have another kid. Do you understand?”
“You can’t blame me for sticking close. There're stairs!”
V points to the field. “Go stand with Reed and leave me alone until at least the first quarter.”
Sterling leans forward and gives her a kiss., “I love you, baby.” Then he leans forward and whispers to her stomach, “Be a good girl for Mommy while Uncle Keaton kicks some ass.”
“I love you too,” V says with a soft smile.
“Of course you do.” Sterling smirks before leaving us to join Reed.
“You guys are already planning for a second?” Tinsley says excitedly.
V shrugs. “I’m sure he’ll knock me up again as soon as I let him.”
I tune the girls out and watch the players warm up; it’s easy to find number three. He’s doing his routine with the rest of his teammates. I see my parents come in and take a seat a little ways down from us.
When he finishes up, I can’t help but yell to him. “Yates. Looking hot. Better win me a game.”
His eyes find mine, and he gives me a smirk. He says something
