Hendrix

by Kelsey Clayton

My eyes scan the room until they land on a picture on the end table. It's of Saige from years ago, holding a tiny little infant in her arms. Madelyn is off to the side, smiling brightly at her best friend, but Saige doesn't take her sights off the little girl wrapped in pink. Saige's breath hitches as I take the picture into my hands, and my chest tightens. My eyes water, and a stray tear slips out. I look up at the only girl I've ever really given a part of myself to, and the answer to my question is on her face before I even ask it. Still, I need to hear it for myself. “Please,” I beg. “Please tell me I didn't miss out on the first five years of my daughter’s life.”

She stays completely still, not saying anything at all. I'm not even sure she's breathing. She's just staring back at me, with nothing but fear and heartache written all over her. My grip on the frame tightens. “Saige,” I say a little more sternly. “Who is her dad?” Her throat bobs with a heavy swallow. “Y-you are.”

The truth hits me like a ton of bricks. Not only do I have a kid, but I have a five-year-old daughter who doesn't know me. I've never gotten to hold her in my arms. To sing ...

“I want to be involved in her life.” “I think it’s time for you to go,” she says, and then realizes what I just said. “Wait, what?” I square my shoulders and stand tall. “She's my daughter. I want to know her. I want her to know me.” Saige's grip on her water bottle tightens. “Colby, you don't know the first thing about being a parent.” “Yeah?” I bark back. “I wonder why that is.” She winces at my tone. “If you keep yelling at me, she isn't going to want to know you.” I roll my eyes. “Haven't you made enough choices for her, and me for that matter, over the last five years?” She laughs dryly. “Excuse me for not jumping at the chance to let someone who never grew up jump right into my daughter's life.” “Our daughter.” I correct her. “Or are you forgetting that there's another parent in this mix?” “You didn't want to be tied down with a halfway relationship with a nineteen-year-old, Colby.” She grips the counter and leans forward. “Do you know what a child is? Being tied down in ways you couldn't begin to imagine. For life.”

I have a daughter. Saige and I have a daughter together. Not only did I break up with her through a letter, but I left her pregnant and alone. Unknowingly or not, I can't imagine what she went through. Her parents were very conservative, so I'm sure they weren't exactly happy about the news.

Just as I'm trying to talk myself into knocking, the door opens. Colby is coming out with a blonde, laughing together, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. Fuck, I really should've called first. After all the time I've seen articles about him and the plethora of women he's been with, I should be used to this. However, seeing it in person is something completely different. It stings, worse than it did after he was seen making out with some supermodel at a party while I was giving birth to our child.

“You're mad? Not because I lied to you but because of who he is?” He comes forward until he's right up against me. “Oh, I'm more than mad, but mark my words— Brenna is not going to have anything to do with him. I get a say, and I'm saying no.” His insinuations and tone push all my mama bear feelings to the surface. “You don't get a say, Topher! You're not her father.” It happens so fast I can barely even register it. His hand flies up and slaps me right across the face. The only thing that tells me it happened is the stinging feeling in my cheek. My eyes widen as I stare at him. Remorse overtakes his features, but it's too late. “Saige,” he breathes. “Don't!” I step around him and grab my phone off the dresser. “Don't come anywhere near me.” I rush down the hallway and into one of the many guest rooms, making sure to lock the door as soon as it shuts. Tears rush down my face. He hit me. He actually hit me. I collapse into the bed and let my sobs rock me to sleep.

With the brown locks out of the way, the sun hits her face and alarm leaps in my chest. “Is that a bruise?” Panic fills her expression for a second as she moves it back. “Uh, yeah.” “What happened?” “I walked into a doorway. You know how clumsy I can be.” Her excuse kind of checks out—she was always tripping over herself and everything else in a room—but there's something about the way she says it that makes me wonder. “Saige, are you in danger?” I ask carefully. I'm really not in the place to overstep.

“What kind of name is Topher, anyway?” Saige snorts. “Better than being named after a cheese.” Brenna breaks out into a fit of laughter. “Oh, burn!” “Ouch,” I whine and feign injury. “Whose side are you on?” She giggles and goes to run away, but I scoop her into my arms and tickle her. She thrashes around and begs me to stop in her tiny voice, so I lift her up onto my shoulders instead. The small grin on Saige's face doesn't go unnoticed as she watches us. Yeah, this is happiness.

“About that,” Lennon says as I stand up. “Are you sure you want me there? I don't want to intrude.” I roll my eyes and pull her off the couch. “Don't be dumb. She'll love you.” Her face shows she's unsure. “Yeah, it's not Brenna I'm worried about.” Ah, Saige. “Don't worry about her. You're my best friend, and I want you there.” She doesn't fight me further on it, and the two of us head down the elevator and into my car.

“When you went outside, Brenna asked me if I was your girlfriend. I think she's hoping you and Saige will end up together.” It's a topic that haunts my mind late at night, but I never let myself indulge in it. She's engaged, for one, and I'm not about to ruin that for her. I've done enough damage in her life. All I'm focused on right now is Brenna and football. Anything else is simply a cherry on top of the sundae of life.

“I just want a dad.” That sentence hits me straight in the chest and makes it hard to breathe. “What?” Keeping her eyes trained on the screen, she moves her fingers around it like a pro. “Everyone at school has a mom and a dad. I'm the only one who doesn't, and I don't want to be different. When Topher asked Mommy to marry him, they said we're going to be a family now.” A stray tear leaks out and slides down her cheek. I reach over and wipe it away with my thumb. “If that's a good thing, why are you crying?” She turns to me with a heartbreaking look on her face that threatens to break me into a million pieces. “My dad didn't want me.” My bottom lip starts to quiver, but I hold it in. “Why do you think that?” “Because if he wanted me, I would know who he is. He would come to my birthday parties and see me on Christmas. He would sing me lullabies and tuck me in at night. But I've never met him.”

“We need to tell Brenna the truth, about me being her dad.” “Excuse me?” “Last night, she cried and told me that her dad didn't want her,” I argue. “She thinks that something is wrong with her and that I don't want her. She needs to know.” She scoffs and crosses her arms over her chest. “Whoa. You've spent all of like five minutes in her life—” “Yeah? And whose fault is that?” I snap back. “She deserves to know the truth!” Saige's eyes burn with rage. “So, you have her alone for one night and suddenly you're a fucking expert on what's best for her?” She shakes her head. “Fuck you, Colby.”

“Okay, enough being a bitch,” Maddie tells me. I narrow my eyes on her. “What did you just call me?” “You heard me. A bitch,” she says like it's the godforsaken truth. “You're pissed but you're taking it out on the wrong people.” A dry laugh emits from my mouth. “So, what? I should go scream at Colby instead?” “No, because he's not in the wrong either.” In all the time that I've known my best friend, I've never wanted to slap her so much. “Oh, really?” She shrugs. “You're angry at yourself. You realized you did something wrong and something that hurt Brenna by not telling him about her when you were pregnant.” “He changed his phone number!” “Oh, please. There were ways for you to get in touch with him if you really wanted to and you know it.” She stands up and comes over to help me clean up the broken bowl off the floor. “I didn't push you to do it because I figured you were doing the right thing, or you were afraid he would ask you to get an abortion. But now? The only thing that matters is Brenna and her happiness. If that's Colby, that's just something you're going to have to deal with.”

“Hey, B,” he greets her. “I've missed you.” “I missed you, too!” she replies. “I asked Mommy every day when we could go see you again. Didn't I, Mommy?” I cringe, but I know I need to answer her. “That you did, princess. That you did.” As she hugs Colby again, he subtly glares at me. It doesn't take him saying anything for me to know he's pissed that I kept her from him when she wanted to see him. It was wrong, I know, but I couldn't bring myself to let her see him again. A part of me is afraid he's going to take it upon himself to tell her the truth, and make me out to be the bad guy in the process. Not that I think he's vindictive like that. Maddie called it—a part of me really believes I am the bad guy in this.

“Where is she?” She steps back and out of my way. “Upstairs. She won't open the door. She won't talk to me.” 'Well do you blame her?” I snap. “None of this would be a fucking issue if you had just let me tell her when I wanted to! Instead, she had to overhear it! Who knows what she's thinking up there!” “Don't speak to my fiancé that way,” Topher growls. I turn around and look him up and down. “Don't even get me fucking started on you. That's my daughter up there, and I'm not about to listen to your ass tell me how I should and shouldn't handle things that concern her.”

“Go away!” she sobs. “B, it's me,” I tell her softly. “Can you open up?” It takes a minute, but the lock on the door clicks, and I'm able to open it. Not wanting Saige to come in, I lock it again as soon as I'm inside. The minute I see the state Brenna is in, my heart breaks. It's obvious she's been crying, and being as the arm she broke is her dominant one, she's having trouble wiping away the tears. “I-is it true?” she whimpers. “Are you my dad?” I drop down in front of her so we're eye to eye. The way she looks at me, it’s like she’s begging for someone to finally be honest with her. To realize that she’s a person. Little she may be, but still a person with feelings that matter. “Yeah,” I breathe, letting the reality of it really set in for both her and for me. “I'm your dad.” Another sob rips through her, and when I go pull her into a hug, she steps back. “Where were you? I'm five now. Where were you before that?”

“I didn't know about you, B. I promise. If I had known, I would've been there.” “Mommy didn't tell you?” I shake my head. “She couldn't get in touch with me. I moved away before I knew she was pregnant with you and she had no way to reach me.”

“Well, I'm still mad at her.” “Why's that?” “Because,” she says, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. “She lied to me. She should have told me who you are that first day at the park.” Sighing, I sit on the floor and pull her into my lap, thankful when she goes willingly. “Sometimes grown-ups do things to try to protect people they care about. Your mom was just trying to protect you.”

As soon as I get downstairs, Saige rushes over to me. “Did she talk to you? Is she okay?” I shrug, having no sympathy for her. “She's hurt. She feels like you lied to her.” A fresh set of tears build in her eyes. “That's not what I was trying to do.” “Well, she's going to sleep at my place tonight,” I tell her. “I'll bring her back at some point tomorrow.”

I kiss her forehead and turn on the nightlight. “Sweet dreams, B.” “Wait,” she says. “I don't know what I call you now.” My brows furrow as I go back over and sit on the side of her bed. “What do you mean?” “Well, you're my dad, right?” I nod. “Right.” She looks unsure. “Does that mean I call you Dad, or do I still call you Colby?” The idea of her calling me Dad makes my heart swell, but unlike Saige, I'm not about to make any choices for her. “You can call me whatever you want, even if it's something silly like Butthead or Stinky-Pants.” For the first time all night, she giggles, and it's like music to my ears. “I like Stinky-Pants.” A dimpled grin stretches across my face. “Stinky-Pants it is then.”

Realization crosses his face, and he nods in understanding. “And that's not going to bother you? If she doesn't call you Dad?” “Eh,” I answer. There's no point in lying to this guy, so I don't even bother. “It stings a little, but I just want her to be happy. That's all that matters.” The corner of his mouth raises into a smirk. “Look at you, being all fatherly and shit. Who would've thought?”

“Hey, Bren,” I say softly, pulling out the seat next to her. “Have you had a good time with C—your dad?” She nods but says nothing. The awkward tension between us pulls at me and makes me wish I could rewind and take it all back. Tell her the truth when Colby wanted to, because he was right. If we had, there wouldn't be an issue.

“I am so sorry, baby girl. I swear I was going to tell you, I just wanted to keep you safe.” Her brows furrow. “Why would you need to keep me safe from Colby?” I know I can't tell her the truth about how he left. She's too young for that. So, I go with something safer. “Because he just came back into our lives,” I explain. “I wanted to make sure he was good enough for you, because you deserve all the best things, and I never want to see you get hurt.” She looks away and down at her lap. “But you lied to me.” I exhale slowly. “I know, and I'm sorry. Sometimes parents lie in order to protect their kids, and it's easy to forget how smart you are. I promise I will never lie to you again.”

My body goes cold at the thought of him laying a hand on her. A man hitting any woman would piss me off, but with the mother of my child? Absolute fury. “The bruise is from the monster.” We all stare in surprise at my daughter, who pulls the blanket up higher and closes her eyes again. “What monster?” She yawns. “Mommy protects me from the monsters. She had to fight one, and it gave her a bruise.” Everything in me tenses, and my eyes immediately lock with Asher's. I can't move. If I move, I'm going to get up, and I'm going to kill the fucker. I glance over at Tessa, who genuinely looks alarmed, and I know I can't just do nothing. It's not an option. “Can you watch her?” I ask, and she nods immediately. “Of course. Go.” Slipping out from under Brenna, I get up and grab my keys from the counter. As I go to shut the front door, I see Asher behind me. “What are you doing?” He slips past me and out the door. “Coming with you.” I shake my head. “So that you can hold me back? Not a fucking chance.” His hands raise in innocence. “I'm just going to make sure you don't do anything drastic and go to jail. I can’t go to the Super Bowl without you.”

“Colby!” Saige is now in tears as she tries to get me to stop. I look over at her and soften slightly, but it's not enough. “Get in the car, Saige.” She shakes her head. “No, just leave him alone. I've got it handled. Please.” “Handled? Look at your side! You call that handled?” No way in hell am I leaving her here. “Hate me for this all you want, but do it from somewhere else. Get in the fucking car!” Finally listening, she turns around and scurries from the room. I turn my attention back at Topher, who is unmoving in my grasp. Maybe he's got a brain when it comes to staying alive. “I ever see you anywhere near her again, I swear to God, I'll rip your heart straight from your fucking chest,” I hiss. “I've got a lot of connections and more than enough money. I can kill you in broad daylight and make it look like a goddamn accident. Do you understand me?” He nods like a coward, and the second I let go, he falls to the floor. I turn around and walk past Asher, grabbing Saige's purse and car keys from the table in the hallway. When he steps outside, I can see Saige in the passenger seat of my car, safe. A hysterical mess, maybe, but she's safe. I hand Saige's keys to Asher. “Bring her car back to my place.” “You got it.”

Reaching over, I put a hand on her knee. “It's going to be okay.” “It's not!” she snaps. “You ruined everything!” I recoil from the verbal onslaught. “I ruined everything? Saige, he was beating you!” “It was my fault!” The argument is weak, but the look on her face is what scares me. It's as if she genuinely believes that. “I made him mad, and I shouldn't have! I should have been more thoughtful of his feelings! I deserved it!” My heart twists as I watch her break down in front of me, not even half the girl I knew in college. “Will you listen to yourself?” My voice is softer now, because the last thing she needs is for me to scare her. “He has manipulated you into thinking that he has the right to put his hands on you. What if he had hit Brenna? Would you say she deserved that, too?” The mention of our daughter seems to get through to her. “Oh my God, Brenna.” Her hands cover her face as she breaks even more, and I pull her into my arms. “It's going to be okay, Saige. We'll get you through this. I promise.”

“Where's my phone? I have to call Maddie and tell her I'm going to be staying with her for a bit.” He shakes his head immediately. “Not happening. You'll just go back to Topher's.” I throw my head back and groan. “Then where do you expect me to stay, ruler of my life?” “Here,” he says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

Tessa whispers something to Asher and then moves over to me. “Are you okay?” Honestly? Not even a little, but I don't know this chick well enough to tell her that. I felt a little better about the fact that she did my daughter's hair after finding out she's dating Asher, but that doesn't make us friends. Even my best friend doesn't know about any of this. Ugh, that will be a conversation for the books. “I will be.” I repeat what Colby has been telling me, hoping if I say it out loud, I'll actually believe it. Tessa must be able to sense I don't want to talk about it because she takes a step back. “Well, if you ever need someone, I'm here.”

MADDIE SITS ACROSS FROM me at Colby's, with her jaw practically on the floor and a very angry scowl on her face. I didn't want to tell her. As much as I love her and trust her with my life, I didn’t want her to know. She already never liked Topher as it is, but this—this may drive her to commit murder. “I'm going to kill him.” Yep, there it is. “Mads, stop. It’s not worth it.” She scoffs. “Not worth it? S, he fucking hit you!”

I wrap my arms around myself and refuse to make eye contact with her. “I know, but he's not all to blame. I should've known better than to make him mad. He’s dealing with some serious problems.” “What the fuck?” she says in disbelief. “Are you even hearing yourself right now? There is nothing, and I mean nothing, you can do that would make it justifiable for him to put hands on you. Not a damn thing!” Cowering at her tone, I swallow down a lump in my throat. “Please don't yell.” She takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. “I'm sorry, S. I just hate seeing you like this. You're smarter than that.” I shake my head. “But I'm not. I'm not smart, or pretty, or anything.” “And who told you that? Topher?” Colby comes storming out of his bedroom, where he disappeared to when Maddie arrived. Honestly, I think she scares him. He comes over and grabs me by the wrist and pulls me with him.

Maddie follows behind as he brings me into his bathroom. He turns me so I'm facing the mirror, and I already know what he's about to do. I shake my head and squeeze my eyes shut as he pulls up my shirt. “Don't,” I plead, trying to get away. “I don't want to see it.” “Open your eyes, Saige,” he demands. “No.” “Saige,” Maddie says, and I can hear in her tone, she's crying. “You need to look.” Reluctantly, I force my eyes open and stare at my reflection. There are bruises all over my body—some healing and others still livid and swollen. My skin looks more black and purple than it does my normal pale complexion. As I look over all the damage Topher caused, I feel my chest tighten. “He loves me,” I croak, not even sure if I believe my own words anymore. Colby shakes his head. “Someone who loves you wouldn't do this. Take it from someone who knows what it's like to love you.”

My gaze meets his in the mirror and searches for any sign of him lying. He and I had never exchanged those three little words in all the time we dated, so hearing it from him now is a shock to my nervous system. “You did?” He nods once. “He doesn't know the girl he lost. It'll be the biggest regret of his life.” As he lets me go, I'm finally allowed to pull my shirt back down, but I don't. I take a step closer to the mirror and commit each one to memory. To remind myself that love shouldn’t hurt. I run my fingers over one particularly dark one and wince at the deep ache.

Walking over to Maddie's driver's side, he reaches in and grabs the keys. “You can have these back when you feel a little less murderous,” he tells her. I can't help but laugh. “Look, now you're a hostage, too.” The two of us start to follow him back inside like children in trouble. “This is just his way of getting that threesome he always wanted,” she replies pointedly enough to sound like an accusation. He chuckles. “It wasn't me that wanted that, Madelyn.” Maddie cringes at the use of her full name, but he has a point. That threesome was something Mads brought up one night when we were all drunk. Granted, Colby seemed completely on board with the idea and it had to be stopped by me, but it wasn't his idea originally. And like all those years ago, it's never going to happen.

She isn't backing down as she sits back and crosses her arms over her chest. “Either you take the damn money, or I'm going to find an apartment for me and Brenna.” B pouts. “Mommy, no! I like it here.” She turns to me. “Dude, just take the money.” I nudge my daughter in the side. “Oh sure, take her side.”

“How about you give the money to me?” Brenna suggests, making me snort. “I mean, he is my dad. That makes this my house, too.” “Brenna Elizabeth!” I practically choke on the piece of pancake I had just put into my mouth. “What did you just say?” Saige's eyes widen when she realizes. “Uh, I...um…” She's completely tongue-tied, and actually, so am I. I open my mouth to say something, but I realize Brenna is sitting right here and maybe it isn't the conversation to have in front of her. Especially if she is just as unaware about it as I was. A brilliant idea comes to mind, and I finally take the envelope. “Fine. I'll take the money, Saigeasaurus.” As I fold it up and slip it into my pocket, Brenna giggles. “He called you a dinosaur.” Saige scowls, but there's a hint of a smile behind it. “You're such a jerk.” I shrug. “Better than being a dinosaur.”

I pull the envelope from my pocket and smirk. One by one, I put each bill into the piggy bank. Saige said I had to take it. She never specified what I need to do with it. Take that, Saigeasaurus.

Saige and I are finally alone. She's working from home, since that shithead Topher sent flowers to her job and made her worry he might show up there. I step behind her. “You named our daughter after my mother.” Even the words coming out of my mouth sound foreign. I can't believe I never thought to ask about her middle name. I've been making it a point to get to know her, but being someone who doesn't have a middle name, I guess I never realized I didn't know Brenna's. Saige freezes at my words and then sighs. “I figured that if you were there, that's what you would have wanted.”

“I don't get it. You hated me for leaving.” She nods and looks down at her lap. “I guess a part of me subconsciously always hoped you'd come back for her.” “I would have been there the whole time had you told me. You have to know that.” The topic of why she never told me isn't one we've ever talked about. It's one of those things that can't be changed, so I've left it in the past. But now, knowing she chose Brenna's middle name with my mother in mind, I have to ask. “Why didn't you reach out? And don't go bringing up my number being changed. There were other ways for you to get in touch with me. Especially you.” Fiddling with her sweatshirt sleeve, she sighs. “Your letter said you didn't want to be tied down by a relationship. All your dreams were finally coming true. I didn't want to ruin that for you.” I pull back, watching her expression. “You thought I wouldn't want her.” “The strings attached to a child are a lot less breakable than the strings attached to a girlfriend.”

I shake my head and let her words sink in. All this time I thought she didn't tell me because she was angry I left, or because she wanted to keep Brenna all to herself, but I was wrong. She thought she was doing right by me, letting me follow my dreams.

“So, what's the end game here? What's the ultimate goal, other than getting them to stop standing outside your house?” I look over at Saige, because she's just as much involved in this as I am, and she shrugs. “What would you suggest?” Selena grins at her. “Well, I would like to put together a plan where we release little bits of information over the course of a few weeks or months, ending with Colby doing an interview where he proudly tells everyone that Brenna is, in fact, his daughter. In the meantime, I'm going to work on getting an order that says they're no longer allowed to sit outside your house.”

Saige looks unsure, but as I reach over and grab her hand with my own, she exhales. “Okay. You're the expert here.” “Great,” Selena responds. “Let's get to work.” She goes off into a ramble of questions and explains how certain things will transpire, but all I can focus on is the feeling of Saige's hand in mine and how neither of us are letting go.

“The problem is that it's dangerous. Him and I didn't end well. You should know, you had to watch the fallout.” Her head tilts from one side to another. “Yeah, but that was also six years ago, S. What if he's grown up since then?” My brows raise. “Wow, you're on Team Colby. Now I've seen everything.” She grabs a fry off her plate and throws it at me. “Don't even. You know I'm always on Team Saige. I just also remember what you refuse to.” “Oh, yeah? And what's that?” “How happy you were when you were with him.” Her words hit me right in the gut. “I think that was the happiest I've ever seen you, other than the day Brenna was born.”

“We were pretty cute, weren't we?” He sighs and turns his head away from the phone and toward me. “We always were good together.” I know I shouldn't, but my body doesn't seem to be listening to me as I let my gaze lock with his. He's closer than I originally realized, and way closer than he should be, but I can't fucking move. It's like a magnet, pulling me in and not letting me go. His eyes drop down to my lips and back up to my eyes. If I don't stop him, he's going to kiss me. I know this, and yet my mouth just won't open to say the words. The storm booms around us, but nothing compares to the one brewing in my mind right now.

“Saige.” He goes to take a step toward me, and I hold up a hand to stop him. “Don't. Please, don't.” I exhale in relief when he freezes. “If you come over here, you're going to kiss me, and I'm going to let you. So, before I lose all control of my brain again, I'm asking you not to.” He sighs and runs his fingers through his hair. “Would giving us another shot really be that bad?” “No,” I admit. “Probably not. Chances are it would be as wonderful as it was the first time. Maybe even better.” “Then why won't you let me come over there?” My shoulders sag. “Because there's still that chance it could all go wrong, and for Brenna's sake, I can’t do that. She finally has you in her life, and the relationship you two have together makes me so unbelievably happy. I won't play games where she's concerned, and things between you and me are a gamble.” He rubs the back of his neck and nods. “Okay. I can respect that.” With a thankful smile his way, I continue my way out the door—not knowing if I just protected myself from chaotic heartbreak or pushed away the love of my life.

“I just haven't wanted anyone. Not anyone I can have, at least.” Realization fills his face. “I knew it! This is because of Saige!” “And you're supposed to be the smart one?” He flips me off. “Fuck you. Why don't you just go for it?” A breathy laugh leaves my mouth. “I tried. She rejected me.” His eyes widen bigger than I've ever seen them. “Holy shit. Really? I thought every girl wanted you.” “That's the thing, I know she does.” I pick up a rock that's close by and throw it. “There have been two times where we almost crossed that line, but when I finally tried to talk to her about it, she said that we can't risk it because of Brenna.”

I wish I could go back to that night. Hell, I wish I could go back to the night I wrote the letter. I'd rip it up and throw it away. Maybe then we'd still be together. I would have been there through the pregnancy, and she wouldn't feel so close yet just out of reach. But life doesn't give you a chance to rewind. I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it.

Looking up at the ceiling, she tries to blink back her tears. “He always used to tell me he was slumming it with me. That he could get so much better. And he was right.” My brows furrow. “What? Because he's dating that celebu-slut?” “She looks like a supermodel, and I'm just an everyday mom with the stretch marks and cellulite to prove it.” I shake my head, blinking like I can't believe what I'm hearing. “Topher James never deserved you for a second, and that chick”—I point at the TV behind me—“doesn't hold a goddamn candle to you. I'm not going to sit here and let you think that you aren't good enough.”

She scoffs. “Oh, whatever. What do you know? You’ve had every girl you’ve ever wanted.” I take a step closer and cage her in against the wall. “I know that if you hadn’t rejected me last week, I would’ve made you see just how well you deserve to be treated.” Her breath hitches, but I'm not done. “You asked me not to risk it, and I meant it when I said I’d respect your wishes, but that doesn’t mean my eyes aren’t glued to you every damn time you’re around.” Knowing that if I don't leave now, I'm going to do exactly the opposite of what she asked, I take a step back. “Fuck, Saige. You don’t even know how perfect you are.”

“All right, B.” I lift her into my arms. “I've got to go get ready, or I'm going to get in trouble.” She giggles. “You can't get in trouble. You're a grown-up.” “Tell that to my coach.” “Give him a hug, and we'll go find our seats, okay?” Saige suggests. Brenna nods and wraps her tiny little arms around my neck. “Good luck, Daddy. I love you.” A lump builds in my throat as I hear the words I've been wishing would come from her mouth, and they're everything I thought they would be. I don't think there's any greater feeling than this one. Not scoring the winning touchdown. Not taking the Super Bowl Championship. Not even getting drafted into the NFL in the first place. Saige must have heard it too, because she covers her mouth to hide the fact that she's getting emotional. I hold Brenna even closer and press a kiss to the side of her head. “I love you, too, B. Always.”