“So what are we doing with this, McCarthy?” our trainer asks me. “You need x-rays.”
“Pass, just get me some ice,” I reply. “It’s off-season now. I’ll be fine.”
He shakes his head, gives me two Tylenol, and wraps my right shoulder and left rib cage in bags of ice with industrial saran wrap to hold them in place.
I have to do the press conference and after several stupid questions about “How does it feel?”, “Did you feel prepared coming in to today?”, “What did Derion’s hit feel like?” or “Will you declare for the draft now that you’ve won?” I’m over it. I get up to leave and thank the press for their time. I just want to get to my girl.
I finally leave the stadium with a nervous tension. Last time she bailed. Last time my life ended. I walk briskly to where she should be. I don’t see her and my heart starts to beat fast, my mind racing. I finally see Kiernan, Blaire and Bateman waiting next to one of the concrete pillars in the parking ramp. My nerves calm. She didn’t leave like last time, which means we’re still okay. As I continue I round the corner, I see Rhett with my brothers about thirty feet away from them. Wonderful.
“Baby bro!” Brett shouts.
I nod but walk directly over to Kiernan. I bend down and give her a peck on the lips. “I missed you,” I smile.
“You just saw me.” She blushes. Then she notices the ice under my shirt. “Jesus H. Christ! What happened? From Derion’s hit in the first quarter?” She touches her small hand to my side, as if she’s trying to heal me.
“Yeah, possibly broken ribs,” I say. “Don’t make me laugh, okay? It hurts.”
“Fucking Madigan forgot about the spin move, didn’t he?” she asks with a sassy eye roll.
“And the fact that you know that is why I love you.” I smile and lean down to kiss her again.
“You’re gonna take more of an ass kicking than that in the pros, son,” Rhett says. He has officially approached. I should have known. The temperature dropped ten degrees with his frosty personality.
“What do you want, Dad?” I ask, annoyed.
“Just wanted to say congratulations, you won.” And I know he isn’t talking about the game. He’s holding a large manila envelope in his hands and he notices me looking at it.
“Oh, you want to know what this is?” He smirks, flipping the envelope back to front repeatedly. Taunting me. No, I don’t.
“Not really,” I shrug and turn back to Kiernan. Everyone is now standing close, with Blaire and Bateman behind me to my right, and my dad and my brothers flanked on my left. We’re surrounded.
He opens the envelope and pulls out large photos. “This is what your girlfriend was doing while you were moping around with a broken heart.”
I can see Kiernan’s face pale. She looks down at her Nikes. This isn’t good.
I take the photos from Rhett and look at the first one. It is Kiernan with her tongue down another guy’s throat. They’re standing outside of a red Camaro by her apartment building. I can hear Blaire gasp behind me. I’m sure she knew this happened.
“I don’t want to see any more,” I say and hand the envelope back to Rhett.
“See, not even a month apart from you and she’s already throwing herself at another man,” Rhett snaps.
“You hired a guy to follow her? What the fuck is wrong with you, Dad?” I snap.
“You needed to know what she is,” Rhett snaps. “She’s just like the rest of them! She wants something from you.”
I turn to look at Kiernan. She’s slouched over and she looks like she’s going to lose her lunch. Then, I see it. Something shifts. She straightens up. This is the Kiernan I’ve seen on the softball field. The fierce, tough, doesn’t-take-shit from anyone girl. I can see a storm brewing in her black eyes and I can feel the energy flow from her to me when she takes my hands, one in each of hers. This is the girl that will fight for us.
“Brooks, I’m sorry. That happened, obviously,” she starts and motions toward the photos. “We had just broken up and my girls were trying to cheer me up, so they took me to Eden to dance and let loose.”
“And that included sticking your tongue down another guy’s throat?” Rhett retorts with a chuckle meant to embarrass her.
She turns and glares at him. “I’ll be with you in a minute,” she snaps as she points her index finger in Rhett’s direction. She turns back to me. Holy shit, I wish I had a camera for the look on Rhett’s face. No one has ever spoken to him that way, except me.
“As I was saying,” she continues, “I was in pain. A lot of pain. Self-inflicted pain, but pain is pain no matter how it comes into our lives. This guy and his friends came up to us while we were dancing and I tried to pretend it was you. It didn’t work and it made me more depressed. He offered to drive me home and since my girls were having fun I didn’t want to ask them to leave. I accepted his offer and I left with him. Solely for the reason of getting a ride home. I swear.” Blaire is pale. Now Bateman knows she was dancing with another guy. I make a mental note to calm him down later.
“So,” she goes on, “we get back to my apartment and he gets out with me. I have no intention of inviting him back or anything. He asks if he can kiss me goodnight. He really was polite and kind all night and I thought that if there was a spark between us, something, any kind of feeling, I could move on from you. I’d know there was hope to get over you. So I kissed him.”
I feel slightly nauseous. “What did you decide?” I don’t want to know, but I have to know. It’s a weird place to be in. Everyone and everything is hanging on her next words. My life, my future, are hanging onto what she says next.
“There will never be anyone who can replace you,” she sighs. “I felt nothing. No fire, no heat. Just his lips on mine. Nothing. Then I realized I’ll be alone forever, because there will never be a time when I can get over you. I’m sorry. I was going to tell you what happened, but not before your big game, and we hadn’t had a chance to be alone since. So, I will completely understand if you can’t forgive me, but that’s the truth. I love you. I always have and I always will. There is no future for me that doesn’t include you.”
“That’s true,” Blaire speaks up. “Duncan is the only one who had sex that night and babe,” she turns to Bateman, “we were hammered. It was just dancing, I swear. Nothing happened.”
Bateman nods. “It’s okay.” He knows this isn’t about him and Blaire right now. This is about me, Kiernan, and my fucking psychotic father.
“So you were hammered?” I ask her. I start to laugh uncontrollably. Fuck that hurts. Everyone is staring at me like I grew two heads.
“What’s so funny?” Rhett raises an eyebrow in question. He looks a little pissed off.
“I wish I could have seen Kiernan shitfaced. I bet it’s quite a show. Someday maybe.” I smile at her.
“So, you forgive me?” She exhales a breath I didn’t notice she was holding.
“Of course I do,” I say, then I feel sick thinking about that sorority chick with my dick in her mouth. Bella? Brianna? Fuck, who cares? “I have a confession as well. I did the same thing.” I’m going to leave out the part about Brynn’s lips on my cock.
“You did?” she asks with a frown. She looks hurt.
“I did. I was miserable. I spent my time drowning in Jack. My boys dragged me to the Pi Kappa second semester kickoff party. I got fucking loaded. Not that that’s an excuse for either of us. But the jersey chasers all knew I was single and sad. They were making it their mission to cheer me up and the offers were flooding in. I decided to see if I could get over you as well.”
“Did you have sex?” She looks ill now and Rhett is smiling. He thinks I fucked this up on my own.
“I didn’t,” I say and I can see the tension leave her shoulders. I wasn’t going to tell her, but I have to be honest. Rip off the Band-Aid. Just get it over with. “I got a blow job in the bathroom.”
“Oh,” is all she replies and her eyes look away from mine. Everyone gasps at my honesty.
“I felt nothing.” I grab her chin and lift it so she looks at me again. “Nothing. No fire, no heat.” I use her words. “I know there’s nothing for me without you either. I was dead serious that I’ll walk away from all of this. I don’t need it. I need you.”
She smiles. “So, we move forward from this point, together? No looking back.”
“Absolutely. I’m sorry for what I did, and I’m sorry for what that asshole did,=.” I nod toward Rhett. I think she forgot we had an audience for a minute.
She nods. Then she turns and faces Rhett. Oh, shit.
“And you,” she points right at his chest. “I love your son. I will always love your son. I would never, ever ask him to give up something he loves for me. In this relationship we support each other’s goals and passions. I would never be able to live with myself if he quit football. I was scared. You,” she gestures at him again, “scared me. Sure, my mom is fucked up. She hired a P.I. to follow my dad around just like you did, so what does that say about you?”
Shit, her mom hired a P.I. on her dad. That’s news to me. I see why she was so fucked up over this. That is the next-level crazy.
Rhett is stunned and silent, so she continues. “I love him, I love football, and I love the idea of a future with him. But I am not going to come between him and football or him and his family. That is not something I would ever okay with. So you two need to work this shit out.”
Just then a hand grabs my shoulder. I spin around into the face of John Kelly.
“McCarthy, helluva game you had, boy!” he shouts. Perfect timing. Just when things can’t get worse.
“Thank you, sir,” I shake his hand. He’s massive. A little bigger than me and a hell of a lot bigger than Rhett and my brothers.
“Why is everyone so serious? You’re a national champ!” he proclaims to the world loudly and it echoes through the parking ramp.
“Dad,” Kiernan lets out a deep sigh, “please go away. We’re dealing with some shit.”
“Well, maybe I can help, baby girl,” he offers.
“Doubtful,” she huffs. She’s tense and visibly uncomfortable now.
“Well, John, your daughter and my son are dating,” Rhett starts. Kiernan’s eyes shoot up to Rhett. Something is off about what he just said and it caught her attention.
“In New Orleans you said John already knew about us,” she snaps at Rhett with some serious venom. “You lied. Not that I should be surprised.”
Rhett remains silent. He knows he’s been caught in a lie, and his facial expressions are those of a man desperately trying to come up with an answer.
“I do know, KK. I’ve known since fall ball,” John replies.
John opened the door and Rhett walked right though, still clinging to a lie. But he’s in this deep, and I know he won’t quit now.
“Brooks, here, has a future, John. You know the grind. The rules of the game. You know the toll it takes on us and our families. We’ve both lived it. You want that for her?” Rhett gestures toward Kiernan. He’s trying to get John to play the dad card.
“I sure as hell do!” John grins. Backfired, Rhett. Kiernan’s mouth is hanging open. Blaire gasps again. She should be an actress. She’s getting good at the shocked expression.
“What?” Rhett, Kiernan and I reply in unison.
“My daughter isn’t like the chicks we meet on the road, Rhett. I can guarantee you that. She’s tough. If anyone can handle that lifestyle, and actually enjoy it, it’s her. She probably knows more about football than most of the guys on that bus.” He nods toward our team coach busses.
I don’t know what John’s intentions are, but I fucking love him right now.
“Dad,” Kiernan whispers and eyes him suspiciously.
“Honey, I know our family is fucked up. I know you never wanted to end up like your mom,” John says to Kiernan.
“You know that?” she asks sheepishly.
“Yes, I’ve always known. You’ve said that since you were five.” He laughs nervously. “I know your mom and I don’t get along. I know that she was miserable being the wife of John Kelly and I know I didn’t do a damn thing to fix it. She married me because I was a football player. I married her because of her beauty. We were status symbols for each other, and that isn’t healthy. I can tell you this, you will never be your mom. You’re not walking into this for wrong and selfish reasons. And, I have a feeling that Brooks will never be me, at least off the field. He may break some of my records on it though.” He smiles at me.
Kiernan is silenced by her dad’s confession. I don’t know why this is a day of confessions, but it is cathartic. We’re all standing there. Dumbfounded. No one is speaking. It’s all just sinking in.
“So, John, are you saying you support this nonsense?” Rhett finally breaks the silence. He’s angry.
“You're damn right. Your son is just as lucky to have Kiernan as she is to have him. They’re pretty happy together from what I've gathered.” He turns and winks at Blaire. I love her at this moment too. Thank you, I nod in her direction.
“This is bullshit, John,” Rhett continues. “You know it.”
“Shut up, Dad,” Brett snaps.
“Yeah, shut up,” Bo chimes in. “You’ve controlled everything our whole lives. You and your stupid rules. Have you ever seen Brooks happier or playing better? No. You think that’s a fucking coincidence, or do you think it because he has never been in a better place because of her? Brooks is a fucking stud, but it’s not a coincidence, Dad. Get over yourself.”
I don’t know what’s happening, but Kiernan is perking up with everyone’s acceptance and the fact that we all have her back.
“So, Rhett, what do you say?” She turns to him. “I’m not going to ruin him. I promise. I love him. I don’t want money or security or free tickets to games. I just want to analyze game tape and eat nachos. I want to be the exception to your rules.” She smiles at me. She touches the ice bag over my broken ribs again.
“What happened?” Bo asks.
“Madigan forgot every third snap is a spin move,” Kiernan replies.
I nod. “He did.”
“You knew that?” Brett asks Kiernan, stunned. Bo and Dad are also in shock.
“She’s the one who saw it first when we were watching LSU’s film.”
“That’s my girl,” John says as he glows with pride.
“Huh,” Rhett huffs. He looks puzzled.
“What, Dad?”
Rhett stays silent. He’s mulling over all of this new information and I can see his internal struggle. He is impressed with Kiernan and John Kelly’s defense of her, but he also doesn’t want me to settle down with one person. He still thinks it will ruin my career.
“Rhett, she’s probably analyzed more game tape than some of the idiots we played with in the pros. She would sit with me every Monday and watch my games back, and see things even I didn’t. I’m probably in the hall of fame because she made me better at the ripe old age of ten. If she were a boy she’d be a number-one draft pick. She can throw, she’s smart, and she’s fast as hell. I’ve never known a better overall athlete.” John smiles again at Kiernan.
“Dad.” Kiernan is about to cry. “I didn’t think…”
“I love you, baby girl,” he says and wraps his arms around her. “I always have. My favorite memories are with you. Spending time with you watching football or playing catch in the yard. I would give up everything to have you back in my life.”
“I love you, too,” is all she can manage, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Jesus, is anyone charging for this therapy session?” Bo interjects and we all laugh.
“John,” I extend my hand, “thank you.”
“You take care of my baby girl,” he replies as we shake hands. With that he hugs Kiernan again and walks off.
“You good, KK?” Blaire asks.
“I’ve never been better.” She smiles. “I can’t believe he said that or that any of this just happened. It’s been years.”
“I need to get on the bus,” I turn back to her and plant a kiss on her lips. I can see the confusion still on her face over what John just said. She’s going to need some time to process all of this, but with John in my corner, I’m feeling confident. “I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too,” she replies with a smile.
“Boys.” I nod at my brothers.
“Son, we’re not done here,” Rhett growls. His face still shows confusion and anger, but I am not discussing this any more. Now that John Kelly is in our corner, I know that Kiernan is all mine.
I walk off to the bus with Bateman without listening to another word from Rhett.
Chapter 23: Kiernan
March
Life has been a blur since the national championship. Brooks is still the talk of NCAA football since he declared for the draft. He’s all over ESPN even now. Mock drafts all have him predicted in the top five. The most likely scenario is that the Minnesota Vikings will trade up to the third spot for him. Rhett’s prediction, in that sense, may come true.
I’m in full season mode now. We practice six days a week, and lift three mornings. Plus, I have my full load of classes. Brooks was famous before this season, but now. Wow. He can’t walk down the street without being hounded for an autograph or a picture, or being offered sexual favors from random girls.
We try to spend most of our free time together, which mainly consists of eating and sleeping, with some amazing, body-rocking sex in between. Brooks says he loves giving me massages. I don’t protest since most days I’m sore as hell. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that man’s hands on my body.
John and I have been communicating more since his defense of our relationship to Rhett in Atlanta. We text most days. Monica is happy that my dad and I are getting along. She was broken before, but she went into a deeper depression when my relationship with my dad tanked. I must say, I didn’t think my relationship with my dad would ever be repaired, but having that pressure lifted has set me free. I think I owe Brooks for that. It was our relationship turmoil that brought my dad back into my life.
Exception (Cambria University Series Book 1) Page 28
