Worth Every Risk

by Laine, Terri E.

  “Slow down. Where’s there?” Clearly, Max is confused.

  “Home. Violet may have a really bad disease. We don’t know yet.”

  He leans forward and pats my arm. “See there, you don’t know yet. So there’s no need to get all worried.”

  Shoving his hand away, I say, “No, we do know. We know she doesn’t have the run-of-the-mill anemia. What we don’t know is how serious it is. We’re praying it’s not aplastic anemia, but everything is pointing in that direction.”

  “Chase, how can I help?”

  I spread my hands wide, saying, “I don’t know. It’s so frustrating, Max, not knowing anything.”

  He checks his watch. “Maybe I can come up with something once we get there.”

  “Like what? Pull a magic trick out of your hat?”

  “No. But maybe we can get them to extend your contract here in Italy.”

  Then an idea strikes me. “I need to go back to the States.”

  The pilot announces we’re taking off and we need to buckle up.

  Once we’re in the air, Max says, “You can’t go back, Chase. It will end your career.”

  I mull this over and say, “It doesn’t matter. The two most important things to me are Andi and Violet. I can’t leave them anymore. And I can’t leave Andi alone to shoulder this burden while I’m off playing in some football game and she’s tending to a sick child. Besides, my head wouldn’t be in it anyway. A leave of absence isn’t possible. The only thing to do is go back home and have Violet get treatment. Maybe I can get a position with a team close to one of our families, so after this is over, Andi will have someone nearby who she can rely on. And if I do go out of town, she won’t be alone.”

  “The career you’ve worked so hard to build will be over.”

  “Max, you’re not listening. I don’t give a damn about it.”

  “But the money,” he insists.

  “Is socked away in all kinds of investments. I’ve been wise with what I’ve earned. I can live a nice life on what I’ve made for a damn long time.”

  “I want you to think about it.”

  “I have. If they’re willing to give me a leave of absence for six months, then I’ll do it. If not, then I have to decline.”

  “You can’t just walk. You’ll have to finish out your year.”

  “I will. I only have a couple more months. Can you ask them to allow me to take leave?”

  “This is highly unusual. They don’t generally grant these when there isn’t a known medical emergency.”

  “It’s fine,” I say. “I’ll finish out my year and go back to the States.”

  Max pushes for me to ride it out in Europe. But I interrupt him.

  “Max, I appreciate that, but we need to be closer to our families. If this is as bad as it’s looking, we can’t be on different continents without a support network nearby.”

  When we get to the meeting, at first they aren’t pleased by my deferral, but when I explain, they become more accommodating.

  The group we are speaking to clusters their heads together for a moment, and then one of them says, “May we have a moment, please?”

  Max and I leave the room. When we get out in the hall, Max stares at me, his eyes telling me more than I need to know.

  “You just killed your European football career. But I’m pretty sure I didn’t have to tell you that.”

  “It doesn’t matter. As I’ve said before, only two things matter and those are Andi and Violet.”

  He heaves a long sigh. “I hope you don’t regret this decision.”

  “I won’t.”

  Max paces the length of the hall until one of the men calls us back in. After we’re seated, they detail their contract offer.

  “However, considering everything, we are prepared to suspend negotiations until the summer trade period. You finish this season with Italy and take a few months. After that, we can offer you the contract as discussed.”

  “This sounds good. However, if my daughter is still undergoing therapy, it’s likely I will decline the offer.”

  “We understand.”

  Everyone shakes hands, and then we go for a tour of the team’s facilities. If I’m to accept a contract here, I have to be comfortable with everything. I have to admit, they are a step above where I currently am, and the stadium is fantastic. Afterward, they take me on a tour of the city and surrounding area where I could be possibly living. I inquire about schools for Violet and they assure me they are the best around.

  When I get to the hotel, Max and I head out to dinner shortly after checking in. I try to call Andi, but there’s no answer. I hope everything’s okay. I text her and ask her to text me back when she gets this.

  During dinner, I’m distracted, thinking about everything back in Italy.

  “Chase, are you listening?”

  “What?”

  “I said, that’s a sweet deal they offered you.”

  “It is. But it’s all contingent on Violet’s health. I hope it all works out for the best.”

  I check my phone again and there isn’t anything from Andi.

  Max is talking again, but I don’t hear a word he’s saying.

  Next thing I know, he’s clicking his fingers in front of my face.

  “Hey, what’s going on with you?”

  “It’s Andi. She hasn’t responded to my call or text. That’s not like her.”

  “Maybe her phone died.”

  “Uh, not Andi’s.”

  My head swims with all kinds of horrible ideas when my phone finally buzzes. I snatch the thing and practically yell, “Is she okay?”

  “Jeez, yes, she’s fine. We were outside playing in this beautiful weather and I left my phone in the kitchen.”

  I breathe out, “Fuck.” Then I sag in my chair with relief. “I’ve been worried sick.”

  “I’m so sorry. Beth is in love with this place and we took a walk around the area with Violet in the stroller. Let me tell you. She was not happy about that. She kept yelling, ‘walk, walk.’ But I wouldn’t let her. And then we sat out back for a while. It’s at least seventy degrees today.”

  I honestly don’t give a fuck about the damn weather. My heart is still beating out a rhythm that could rival Ringo Starr on the drums.

  “Chase, are you there?”

  “Yeah, Andi, I’m here. I only suffered a minor heart attack is all.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll live. I have to say I was ready to jump on the plane though.”

  “Oh no. Really, we’re good. Violet is getting spoiled. We’re going to have a rotten child on our hands after Beth leaves.”

  “I think we can handle it. You go and have a good time with your friend while I head to the emergency room to get shocked by the paddles.”

  Her bubbles of laughter put a grin on my face as we end the call.

  “Better now?” Max asks.

  “Yeah. I’m better.”

  “Good. Now eat.”

  I look at the plateful of food that stares at me. I haven’t touched a single bit of it, and suddenly I’m starving.

  “I think I will.”

  The next morning, Max and I have a meeting with the team manager and coaching staff. Afterward, we board the plane and head back to Italy. I’m more than ready to be back home, holding Andi and Violet.

  When I walk in the door, a flurry of curls and arms and legs bulldoze me, yelling, “Dada!” Then two stubby arms wrap around my knees and squeeze me. “Pick up!” she demands.

  I reach down and swing her high in the air to the sound of her squeals. Andi stands by watching. I walk over and kiss her, wanting more but knowing it’ll have to wait.

  “How was the trip?”

  “It was good after I recovered from my heart issue.”

  She smacks my ass and laughs. “Violet, why don’t you go and play with Aunt Beth?”

  “No. I want Dada.”

  I swing her around and set her down. “We can play in a minu
te. Mama and I need to talk for a little bit. Go on.” She wobble-runs into the large den where I imagine Beth is.

  Grabbing Andi, I pull her tightly against me. “I missed you. It’s not good being away from you.”

  “No, it isn’t.” Her pause catches my attention. “Chase, the doctor called this morning.”

  I look down into her eyes and don’t like what I see.

  “He wants to do a bone marrow test on Violet.”

  “Fuck.”

  Thirty-Three

  Andi

  I cling to Chase as they wheel our baby through double doors. Chase kisses the top of my head.

  “She’s going to be fine.”

  I swivel in his embrace to face him.

  “What if she doesn’t have anemia but something worse?”

  Chase’s eyes are tired. He’s been burning the candle at both ends. It’s practice, a game, or spending time with us even after a long day.

  “Let’s not play the what-if game. Whatever this is, she’ll beat it. And we should consider having another baby.”

  Butterflies race through my stomach. A world of happiness stirs at the thought he wants a family with me until my mind retracts to the reason behind his statement.

  I shake my head. “Is that fair to another child? What if—”

  His thumb silences me as he cups my chin. “No what if. Besides, I don’t want Violet to grow up an only child. I want her to have what Fletcher and I have.”

  I half-smile, remembering how he and Fletcher fought, but Fletcher would still include him. That had meant Mark had to bring me along. I can’t begrudge it because that’s how Chase and I had gotten so close.

  “There’s no guarantee our child would be a girl.”

  He shrugs. “That didn’t stop us from being best friends.”

  “Best friends, huh? You just wanted to kiss me and play doctor.”

  A mischievous grin brightens his face. “It worked, right? You let me play doctor and I got to kiss you and—”

  I play slap his arm. “Don’t go there.”

  “What?” he teases. “I got the prettiest girl in school all to myself. I consider that a win-win.”

  “Yeah, and what about Becky Big Boobs?”

  He laughs. “You’re still jealous.”

  “Did she really give you a blow job in the boys’ bathroom?”

  His eyes twinkle. “Did you kiss Andrew under the bleachers and let him feel you up?”

  We’d both been stupid, neither of us wanting to change our friendship to something more at first … until things changed.

  “I’ll answer if you do.”

  He chuckles and I realize he’s been distracting me. I turn to glance at the doors again. He turns my face.

  “Eyes here, princess. Our daughter will be fine. You have to tell me the truth.”

  I swallow and force myself not to think about the fact that they are putting our daughter under.

  “We’ve got this. Team Wilde, remember?”

  I lick my lips, noticing that his smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. He’s worried too. It’s my duty to help him get his mind off of things.

  “Team Wilde.”

  His head dips and captures my mouth in a quick kiss. When he pulls back, I say, “Fine, I’ll answer, but you first.” His gray eyes dance in the light. “Was I really your first?”

  There had been rumors that he’d bedded a ton of girls. Still, I’d given him my virginity. It had been clumsy at best, but he’d done other things that had gotten me off.

  “Yes,” he says.

  “It’s so hard to believe. Every girl in school was after you. I always thought, I don’t know.”

  He shrugs. His face alights with amusement.

  “Everyone said—”

  “I’ll admit I did a whole lot of base rounding before you, but never got to home until you.”

  “And after me?”

  It had been hard to maintain a true relationship when we were hiding it from everyone. I had been jealous, but so had he. Girls and guys had used our names as bragging rights for things we hadn’t done. It had broken us up a couple of times.

  He clears his throat. “Do you really want to know that?”

  The more I think about it, I don’t.

  “No, never mind. I have you now and we don’t have to hide it anymore.”

  He draws me close and we hold each other.

  “Are you hungry?” I nod. “You wait here and I’ll go grab us something.”

  I watch him walk off and marvel that he’s mine, though I feel bad. He’s missing a game. I’d heard him on the phone with his agent arguing about his need to be here. The owners of the club had been understanding, but they saw a biopsy as no big deal. Chase had told them in no uncertain terms he was going to be there for this daughter. The contract gave him family leave for emergencies. He said he’d argue with them all the way to a court to say that this was. He’d had no idea I’d heard.

  When he comes back, we eat. It’s not great, but it’s something. The procedure isn’t long and Violet is still pretty out of it when we head home.

  Once we get home, Chase carries our sleeping daughter inside. I love seeing the two of them together.

  I open a bottle of wine when he comes back.

  “She’s still out,” he says.

  “Doctor said she would want and need rest.”

  He moves closer to me. “And I need you.”

  His arm snakes around me and I let out a muted squeal as he hikes me up onto the counter, wedging himself in between my legs.

  “What are you doing?” I ask, giggling as he gets to his knees and shoves up the skirt I’m wearing.

  I glance back at the hall, listening for movement.

  “I’m starving.”

  He shoves aside my panties and licks my slit from top to bottom and back again.

  Breathlessly, I ask, “What if Violet wakes up?”

  His tongue is inside me and I fall back, bracing my arms behind me.

  “Listen out for her.”

  Then he’s back and I keep my eyes peeled for as long as I can. I bite my tongue as I come hard with Chase’s face buried in my pussy. I’m barely coherent when I hear his zipper go down.

  “Chase,” I whisper, trying to admonish him.

  We are definitely taking things too far out in the open. Though the doctor had said she would probably sleep for a couple of hours.

  Then he’s inside me, muttering hushed curses and other words that have me on the verge of coming again.

  “I’m going to get you pregnant.”

  He sounds like a caveman, which is a complete turn-on. I could tell him no. But the truth is, I want to have another child with him, and not just for Violet. I’d dreamed about having his kids once I realized boys weren’t gross.

  The only sound in the house is our flesh slapping together as he fills me.

  “You know how much I love you, right?”

  “Yes,” I hiss.

  He easily brings my lady parts back online. With every one of his thrusts, I’m catapulted closer to liftoff.

  “You love me?”

  “Yes,” I agree, so easily because I’d never stopped loving him.

  “Then we’ll make this official and get married.”

  The orgasm that’s been building bursts. In the back of my mind, a smile curls my lips as I wonder how in the future I’ll answer the question how did Daddy propose to you?

  Chase’s heart beats wildly in his chest as he covers me.

  “Are you going to get off me?” I jokingly ask.

  “I’m going to keep you here until my swimmers can get to their final destination.”

  “I’m sure we’d have twins or more as hard as I came.” I laugh.

  “And are you going to ask me if I’m on board with your plan?”

  “You have to know I’ll do anything for my girls, including knocking you up. But we both know you want me to,” he says with a cocky grin.

  “Your ego knows no
bounds.”

  “Maybe, but the same with my love. Violet is mine forever, but so are you. I was dumb enough for not forcing you to come to Italy with me. I’ve known all along you would be my wife. That was never a question. It just took me a while to pull my head out of my ass and admit it.”

  “You have wonderful timing,” I say, full of sweet sarcasm.

  “As long as I got you in the end, the means don’t matter.” He scoops me up. “Besides, I’m not done with you yet. You’ll be lucky to walk when I finish.”

  “Promises, promises.”

  I giggle as he heads to his bedroom, where he makes good on his threat. We are playing around in his huge walk-in shower when Violet walks in, getting a clear view of her father’s ass.

  I groan, thinking we should have locked the door, when I notice the flush on my baby’s face. I grab a towel and practically run out of the shower, barely getting it around me when I kneel to touch my daughter.

  “Mama, tummy hurt,” she says, and then throws up all over me.

  Thirty-Four

  Chase

  It’s terrible when your child is sick and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. I stand by helpless as Andi tends to Violet, cleaning her up.

  “Chase, can you fill the tub?”

  “Sure.” I get the water going.

  “And, Chase?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You might want to …” Her finger motions up and down, so I glance to where she’s pointing and realize I never got dressed. I’m running around naked in front of Violet. “It’s okay,” she assures me.

  “I’ll be right back.” I quickly pull on a pair of shorts, and by the time I get back to the bathroom, the tub is ready.

  “Hand her to me,” I say.

  Violet is limp and lethargic. I only hope she doesn’t throw up again. I’m not like Andi in that regard. She’s so tough when it comes to that stuff. I’m a pussy, though I would never admit it.

  When I dip Violet into the warm water, she whines and I want to whine right along with her.

  “Dada, don’t feel good.”

  “I know, Little One. Your tummy hurts, doesn’t it?” I ask her. “Let me rinse you off and we’ll get you back in your jammies.” I make short work of the bath and soon have her wrapped in a warm and fluffy towel. Andi has clean pajamas waiting, so we put those on her.