Page 92 of Zone
I nod, thinking Cricket’s laugh is pretty much the best thing in the world. That and when I make Melody smile… and scream my name in ecstasy while she’s calling me God… and when she tells me she’s falling for me.
“What’s the latest on the paternity test?”
My lips tighten, and I meet her gaze. “I’m calling it off. She’s a Bradford. It’s what her mom wanted, and it’s what I want.”
Her lips part, and her brows rise. “How do you know that?”
“Jules had a friend named Stacia, who’s on the Cheer Krewe. Stacia said she went by the name Bonnie. She knew she was ill, but she was a fighter. She wanted to have one last summer of love, and for whatever reason, she wanted me to be her baby’s daddy.”
Melody’s nose wrinkles with a frown. “I don’t know, Knox. It doesn’t sound sweet to me. It sounds like she was trying to trap you.”
“I’ve thought of that, too.” Exhaling a sigh, I look down. “But now that Cricket’s mine, I kind of don’t care why Bonnie did it. I love that little girl.”
“But what if a relative does appear? You should do the test, at least to know where you stand, her medical history, anything else important.”
“I know what I need to know.” I shake my head, feeling possessive. “She’s mine. I’m not taking any chances with that.”
“You kind of are taking a chance by not knowing.” She walks over, putting her hand on my chest.
Her eyes are round as she looks up at me, but I’m confident in my decision. “The lawyer who brought her to me said she was mine. I’ve got the paperwork. It’ll be enough.”
“Okay.” With a deep exhale, she nods.
We’re both in the living room, and I hadn’t realized she was leading me to the door until now. “I guess it’s time for me to go?”
“I’d love to meet Edward sometime, but I’ve got an early plane to catch. Don’t you?”
“Yeah.” But I can’t seem to stop touching her.
I thread my fingers in her hair, and she doesn’t pull away. She rests her cheek against my palm, blinking up at me. It’s a look of love, and it’s sexy as hell.
“You’ve got to get out of here before my roommate catches us.”
“She is quite the watchdog. Pretty sure she might shank me.”
That makes Melody laugh, and she’s so happy. It makes me smile, and I lean down to kiss her once more. She puts her hands on my neck, and the unspoken words burn in the front of my brain.I love you.
It’s scary because her online persona and my popularity have both exploded this season around us being rivals. I know it’s the bulk of her subscribers, but even my audience has grown through her critiques. We’re on the front page of all the gossip sites. Our barbs are plastered all over social media.
We could continue the charade, but it’s only a matter of time before someone catches us. Looking back as I leave her door, I can’t help wondering how our worlds would change if we put down our weapons. Is it possible we could make something better for both of us?
* **
“You gonna watch Daddy play?”I hold Cricket in my arms, shaking her little body side to side to make her baby-laugh and squeal.
Her blue eyes light up with so much happiness, it tickles my stomach. She’s all decked out in a baby Saints jersey, Number 6, of course, and a fluffy little black skirt over her diaper.
“That’s my girl,” I say laughing, lowering her to kiss her neck rolls.
We’re sequestered in a private box at the Vikings stadium. So far, I’ve been able to keep Cricket’s existence a secret, even from my friends. It’s crazy and a little terrifying to think I’ve managed to pull it off, like the clock is ticking.
To be fair, football players are stars to fans and people who pay attention to sports, but outside the world of football, we’re not mega celebrities like actors or musicians.
At home in New Orleans, unless someone gets arrested or truly makes a scene, we live our lives in relative peace. I’ve racked up a bit more attention because of Melody, but it’s still a relatively small audience.
Still, I’m just waiting for one of us to slip up. I suck at keeping secrets, ask any of my cousins.
My cousins, who have been blowing up my phone ever since our video chat.
