Hunter (Campus Kings): A Football Secret Baby Novel (14 page)

Chapter 35

Britt

"I choose you and Max," Hunter replies, his voice
husky and full of emotion in the darkness. He leans forward, and our lips
touch. I gasp at my body's response to him. It feels like a fire rippling
across my skin as he slips his tongue against mine and our warm breath mixes. I
know he feels it too, the urgency, as I slide my palm across his stubble and
feel his arm around my back. Maybe someday we'll be able to take our time
again, but it won't be tonight.

"Move your seat back," I tell him, and he presses
his legs against the floor and pushes back. He reaches back over, sliding his
rough hand across my bare thigh and then up against my aching slit. A couple
flicks of his fingers almost send me over the edge, but then he leans forward,
and pushing my nightgown and robe up until they pool around my waist, he
presses his face into me.

His tongue circles my clit and I tilt my head back and
spread my legs for him. The ecstasy he's creating is almost unbearable. I moan
as pleasure builds up inside me, and grip the door handle as he sends me over
the edge. He sits back and wipes his mouth as I gasp for air, and I quickly
jump over to his seat, straddling him and pulling at his belt.

I pull his cock out of his boxers and slide my hand along
his length and hear him groan. I hold him in place with a hand wrapped around
his base, and then lower myself down on top of him. I no longer feel any pain
as he sheathes himself inside me, but his size still stretches me to the limit.

"Oh, fuck, Britt," he moans, and wraps a hand
around the back of my neck, hungrily pressing his tongue into my mouth. I raise
myself up as our tongues dance against each other's, then lower myself down and
move my hips in a circle, feeling him touch every sensitive nerve inside me.
Again I raise myself up, and feel him thrust up to meet me. Again, again,
again, until we're lost in each other's bodies, moving as one.

We come together, and I collapse against him, feeling his
chest expand and contract against mine. I tuck my head under his chin, and my
eyes close.

"Let’s just go to sleep here," I whisper, and feel
his chest rock a little with a laugh.

"Soon we'll be able to sleep in the same bed,"
Hunter replies, pulling my hair out of my face.

"Can we tell my dad soon?" I ask.

"How about tomorrow? I don't have practice."

"Tomorrow? You're sure?"

"I want to be able to tell Max, to have you guys over
at my house…"

I sit back and look at him. "You're sure you're ready
for this? Having a kid around, it's different."

"I think I am," he replies with a smile. I give
him a quick kiss, and then drop back onto the passenger seat and pull my robe
back down.

"Want to come over after lunch?" I ask.

"See you then," he tells me. I hop out of the car
and give him a quick wave before tiptoeing back into the house. I turn at the
window next to the door, and watch him drive away.

* * *

The next day after lunch, I park Max upstairs in his room with
Sesame Street on. If he sees Hunter arrive, he'll want to play, and that's not
the reason he's coming over. Just after 2, I hear a car out front and head
toward the front window. Hunter is pulling into the driveway.

I sit back down on the couch next to my dad, who's watching
Sports Center, while my mind races. I have no idea how my dad will react. I
wonder who he'll be more upset with, me or Hunter.

The door opens, and Hunter pokes his head in.
"Hello?" he calls out.

"Come on in, Hunter!" my dad replies, clicking off
the TV. Hunter walks in, shutting the door behind him, and heads for an
armchair next to the corner of the couch where I'm sitting. "You want
something to drink?" my dad offers.

"I'm good," Hunter says.

"Actually, Dad, there's something I—we, wanted to talk
to you about," I say, glancing nervously at Hunter.

My dad looks between us, then smiles a little. "Are you
two dating?" he asks.

"What? I…" I stumble.

"I'm not blind," he says. "I saw you talking
at my birthday party."

"You would be okay with that?" Hunter asks,
sounding surprised.

"Sure, you're two willing adults," my dad says.

"When I was in college, you always used to warn me
about football players," I point out.

"Yeah, but that was different. You were just a kid
then. There's a world of difference between a freshman in college and a senior.
Plus, you were a different guy back then," my dad says to Hunter, then
turns to me. "The stuff he and the other players would talk about in the
locker room…" he says with a shake of his head.

I clear my throat, regretting that I asked him to illuminate
us. "Well, that's the thing, Dad."

"Britt and I
did
date in college," Hunter
says, biting the bullet.

"What?" my dad asks, frowning. "After I
explicitly warned you to not date football players? And after I warned
you
to stay away from my daughter?"

"There's more," I say, bracing myself. "Max
is Hunter's son."

"WHAT!?" my dad erupts.

"Dad, stay calm, okay? You're not supposed to
get—"

"Calm? How am I supposed to stay calm!? You abandoned
my pregnant daughter?!" he shouts, leaping up and approaching Hunter, who
stands in case he needs to defend himself. I jump up and get between them.

"No, Dad! He didn't know! I didn't tell him!"

My dad looks at me suspiciously. "Well, he knows
now!"

"I only told him a few weeks ago," I tell him.
"Back in college, I knew that Hunter would never abandon me if he knew I
was pregnant, so I didn't tell him. I knew you'd be furious, and I was worried
about his NFL chances. So I went to Oregon without telling either of you the
truth."

"You didn't know?" my dad demands of Hunter.

"No, sir," Hunter tells him. "I never would
have let Britt raise a child alone, believe me. I've always intended to do
right by her."

"It's true, Dad," I echo. "Hunter has always
been a perfect gentleman to me."

My dad turns and runs a hand across his thinning hair.
"So you were both running around together behind my back. And after all
this time, you didn't tell me," he says, directing the final accusation
toward Hunter.

"I'm sorry," Hunter says. "I really am,
Coach. After Britt left, I was devastated, and being able to come to you for
advice, for company, I didn't want to give that up. It was selfish, but you're
the only reason I got through that time."

My dad sighs, and collapses back onto the couch. Hunter and
I both sit back down, and let him sit in silence for a moment as he processes
things.

"So, what now?
Are
you dating?" he finally
asks.

I smile tentatively at Hunter. "Um, yeah," I say.
"I guess we are."

"It seems a little strange to be dating at this
point," Hunter acknowledges. "But it'll be a relief to do it out in
the open finally."

"So have—" my dad begins, but breaks off as little
feet pad down the stairs.

"Mama?" Max calls out, then spots Hunter.
"Hunter!" he yells, and runs toward him. Hunter leans down and scoops
him up into his lap.

"Does he know?" my dad asks quietly, indicating
Max. I shake my head no.

"We wanted to tell you first."

"Well, I'll give you the room. I need some time myself,"
he says.

"You think we should do it now?" I ask worriedly.

"I think he's going to take it fine," my dad
replies, indicating Max's grinning face on Hunter's lap. "Seems like now's
as good a time as any."

Chapter 36

Hunter

"Now?" I ask Britt, as Coach heads upstairs.

"You don't have to," she tells me. "After
this, things will be different with him," she says, nodding her head down
at Max. "Telling him is a commitment. You won't be able to go back."

"I don't want to go back," I reply, looking down
at the warm little body in my lap. My son.

Britt takes a deep breath. "Okay, then." She sits
on the edge of the couch and places her hand on Max's leg to get his attention.
"Hey, honey, Hunter and I have to tell you something."

"Yeah," Max acknowledges.

"You know how other kids have mommies
and
daddies?" she says, and Max nods. I watch his face carefully. What if he's
angry that I missed out on all that time with him? "And I told you that
you have a dad, too, but he was away."

"Yeah, he away," Max repeats.

"Right. Well, actually…" Britt looks up at me,
giving me the moment.

"Actually, I'm your dad, Max," I tell him slowly,
trying to make sure he understands.

He looks up at me, his eyes focused on mine. "You my
dad?" he asks.

"Yeah, honey. Hunter is your dad."

Max gasps and claps his hands together. "You my dad?
You sure?"

Britt laughs. "Yep, we're sure."

"Wow, wow," Max says. I grin down at him and feel
my eyes start to well up.

"Think I could give you a hug, Max?" I ask.

"Yeah," he replies, and opens his arms. I bend and
wrap my arms around him, holding his little body delicately. I can't believe
this is my son.

"You my dad!" Max announces, more sure of himself
now.

"That's right!" I confirm.

"Dad, want to go play?" he asks, tugging my
sleeve. I burst out laughing, both from the exhilaration at hearing him call me
Dad, and at how quickly he's able to take this news in stride.

"I do want to go play," I tell him.

"We'll all go," Britt suggests. I look up at her,
and see that her face is streaked with tears. I lean forward and kiss her, and
Max bursts off my laugh, forcing us apart. Britt laughs and wipes her face.

"Come on!" Max encourages us. I take Britt's hand
and we follow our son out to the backyard. He runs straight for a foam
football, and I have to let go of his mom's hand to catch it.

"Nice throw, Max!" I tell him. My mind starts to
flash forward to all the things I'll be able to teach him. Not just about
football, but about how to be a man, how to be a leader. "He definitely
got some of my genes," I say to Britt with a smile.

We toss the ball around for a while, and Max switches off
between calling me Dad and Hunter. I don't really care what he calls me for
now, I'm just enjoying spending time with him. When Max finally tires out,
which takes much longer than I thought it would, he runs up to me and pulls me
upstairs to show me his bedroom.

"You stay in here?" Max asks.

"No, Max, Hunter has to stay at his house," Britt
explains as Max pushes a racecar back and forth on the floor. I sit
cross-legged, feeling too large for this small room.

Max frowns. "Why?"

"I have my own house," I try to explain to him.

"No. Dads and moms live together," he informs us.

I glance at Britt. "Usually that's true, Max. But right
now, your mom and I live apart. Do you want to come over and see my
house?" I ask him.

"Yeah," he nods.

I smile, an idea forming in my mind. "I think you're
going to like it."

Chapter 37

Britt

We pull up to a huge, gated mansion. Max leans over from his
car seat in the back and presses his face against the glass as I lean over and
buzz to be let in. The gates swing silently open and I continue up the circular
drive.

"Wow," Max says. "Dad live here?"

"Yeah, Dad lives here," I reply, smiling at how
quickly he's adjusting to the news that Hunter is his father. I should have
known he would. Kids at Max's age have brains that are still growing, and new
information is much easier to take in than it is for adults.

Hunter opens the door as I park. Max waves and starts
undoing his seat belt. He's just figured out how to do it himself, which is a
little worrying for me, since sometimes he'll try to do it in the middle of a
ride. As I take Max out of the back seat and shut the car door behind us, I
smile up at Hunter, feeling more like a nerdy girl in high school seeing the
popular jock than the mother of his child. He's clearly just gotten home from
practice. His hair is damp from a shower, and he's wearing a white t-shirt and
sweats that hang low on his hips, and has a protein shake in his right hand.

"Hey, Max!" he greets him, leaning down to pick
him up easily with one arm. I walk up the front steps after him, and Hunter
leans down to brush a kiss across my lips, sending a tingle down my spine.

My eyes widen as we step inside. The foyer is marble, and
has two staircases winding up to the second floor. I can see straight through
to the glass doors at the rear and out into the back yard. Jeez, is that a
lake?

"Let's go upstairs, Max. I have a surprise for
you," Hunter says, and I follow them up the right side staircase. Hunter
walks the length of the hallway with Max in his arms, and then stops at a door
on the left just before the end of the hallway. He sets Max on the floor and
opens the door.

Max runs in as he sees the room is full of toys. My jaw
drops open as I follow him inside. It was only a few days ago that Hunter
invited us over to see his house, so how did he get this done so quickly? It's
a huge room, and completely outfitted with everything that Max could want.

Hunter turns to me and sees my shocked expression. "I
hired some people," he explains with a smile.

"For me?" Max asks, sticking his little hands into
the boxes of toys.

"Yeah, this is for you, Max. And if your mom says it's
okay, maybe you can have sleepovers here."

Max pulls a box out of the toys and dumps it on the floor,
then sits among the pieces. He quickly starts building a train track out of the
pieces.

"Max, we'll be right down the hall, okay?" Hunter
says. Max barely nods, he's too entranced by all his new toys. "I have to
show you something," he says, taking my hand and leading me back into the
hallway and to the final door. He opens it, and ushers me inside.

"Beautiful," I nod, taking in what is clearly the
master bedroom. The furniture is all modern, dark wood, with white linens and
gauzy curtains.

"This is what I wanted to show you," Hunter says,
opening a closet door. I walk over and look inside the space. There's room
enough to walk in, but all the shelves are empty. "This closet's all
yours. I had a second one installed."

"Wow, Hunter, this is a lot," I say walking back
toward the bed and sitting on a cushioned bench in front of it. I rub my
forehead, feeling a little lightheaded. "I mean, it's great, it's just…"

"I thought you'd like it," he says with a frown.

"I love it. It's just...this all feels really
fast."

"It's been four years."

"Four years since we've even gone out on a date,"
I point out.

"So what, you don't want to live here?"

"That's not what I'm saying! I just don't want to move
here for Max," I finally say, realizing that's why I'm so emotional.

"What do you mean?"

"I just want to make sure that...that we're not
together just because we have a son together," I admit.

"Is that why you're here? Just because you want a
father for Max?"

"No, of course not!" I reply. "I'm worried
that you feel like you
have
to do this, like it's your duty."

"I don't—" he breaks off at the sound of an
electronic ringing noise. "That's the front gate. Hang on." He
leaves, and I put my head in my hands. What am I doing? He's done all this
great stuff, and I'm ruining it.

"Mama?" I hear from the other room, and hurry over
to Max's room. He's standing near the doorway with a wooden train in his hand.

"I show Hunter," he says, holding it up.

"Okay, honey, let's go find him," I say, extending
my hand. Max takes it and we head down the hallway. At the top of the stairs. I
see Hunter and his agent Rich talking in the foyer. "Sorry, didn't mean to
interrupt," I say as they both look up toward us.

"No, that's okay," Hunter says. I walk down the
stairs slowly with Max. "Rich, this is Britt, and her son—our
son—Max."

"Yeah, we met at the—wait, whose son?" Rich asks.

"Mine and Britt's. Long story," Hunter says. He
signs the papers in his hand and gives them back to Rich.

"Ah. Well, congrats, then," Rich says, but his
smile looks a little forced to me. "Thanks," he says to Hunter,
indicating the papers. "Good to see you again, Britt, and Max."

"Bye!" Max offers as he leaves and Hunter shuts
the door.

"I'm sorry," Hunter and I say at the same time.

"You think we could go on a date?" I ask.
"Like in public?"

"We've never really done that, huh?" Hunter asks.
"Okay, leave it up to me."