Her hair is a crazy, bedhead mess around her head, just the way I like it, and her eyes are clearer, the sun coming through the windows turning them into a shining crystal blue. She smiles, her pink lips curling up at the corners, making it easier for me to breathe at seeing her smile. She scrambles to her knees and crawls to the end of the bed the moment she sees the cup of coffee in my hand before I hand the mug over.
“That was Coach, he wanted to check up on you and to let us know that Jeff has been kicked off the team for good and is behind bars in the county jail. I’ll have to give my parents a call to help.” I blow out a breath, running my hand through my hair before going to sit by her side on the bed, as she places the cup on the nightstand. “I feel like all of this is my fault. I should have chased after you and kept trying to talk to you.”
“I’m not blaming you for coming to conclusions when you saw me get into Donald’s car, because I did the same with Victoria. Donald is the man my father wants me to marry to merge his company together with theirs. He told me he had information on my father and mother, so I got in the car for all of a few minutes. Mary and Beast were my backup, and they met me outside the library to make sure he didn’t try anything. I was going to tell you everything after your game, since I didn’t want you to get distracted. As for your parents, they found out some information on my family as a thank you for opening their eyes,” she says, glancing up into my eyes and showing so much trust in me with just a single look. “I’m going to be okay, Captain. How could I not be with you right here? You’ve healed me in ways I didn’t know were broken when you showed me it’s okay to love. I can take it, place your trust in me.”
Looking down at my hands, I’m not sure where to begin. It still scares me to tell her, but I know without a doubt that she’s not going to run.
“Victoria did lie, but not about everything.” Her hand grasps mine with a reassuring grip, and it helps me gather the courage I need. “There was a baby. A baby I was told was mine, but it wasn’t. I didn’t know that, even after she told me she got an abortion.” My throat feels like it’s closing in on itself, and old pain nestles into my chest. That moment…I thought I was going to be a dad, and then it was gone.
“Jeff…” She trails off with a horrified expression before anger takes place. “It was Jeff’s baby. She told you that it was yours, and then did that to the baby? Oh God, Granger.” She tightens her hold on my hand, and I look away to blink back the tears filling my eyes before glancing back at her to see tears trailing down her cheeks.
It’s not out of pity that she’s crying, it’s for my own pain, and she’s still not running away from me. That realization is like a flood gate opening and everything spills out.
“I think she knew I was going to end things with her, and she grasped at anything to hold onto me, even with the lies surrounding her and her indiscretion. She couldn’t keep up with her own lies, they mixed together until you couldn’t believe a word she said. I didn’t know until after the baby was gone that it never was mine. Beast told me about her and Jeff. Everyone knew, Kat, everyone but me. I wasn’t ready to be a dad, but I was going to step up and be a father to that baby no matter what. Jeff told her to get rid of the baby when word got around she was pregnant, and she did it without hesitating. I think she knew it was only a matter of time before I found out. I wouldn’t have wanted that for a baby though. I don’t know what I would have done, but anything but that. I think the most painful part in this is I thought I lost the baby just when the idea of being a dad was beginning to form.” My chest expands on an inhale as old scars cut deep, and she leans forwards to cup my cheek.
“They’re the messed up ones for going behind your back. I wish you would have told me before, but I understand. After years of living with my father…all I knew was to bottle things up and trust no one. I’m here for you, always. You're not alone Granger,” she declares and cuddles into my side, showing she can carry a piece of my past with her and still be standing here, bearing the pain with me.
Getting it out, talking to her about the loss, lies, and everything else makes me feel relieved, like a weight has been lifted off my chest.
“I love you. I’m sorry for everything, for every fuck up that separated us. No more secrets, Princess. We share everything from now on, and I’ll try not to be a grumpy asshole again. My heart is literally yours,” I grumble, smiling into her neck when I finally hear her laugh again.
“I love your grumpy ass, Granger. I don’t want you to change,” she says before pulling away and handing me my phone. “I would call your parents and let them know everything that happened last night, but first, we
