Touchdown Baby (14 page)

“Of course she does, her name is Ava, and we have been friends since elementary school.” Jace halted any further questions by calling on a different reporter.

After twenty minutes of taking question after question, the same things just worded differently, no one thankfully brought up his own paternity again. Jace called the conference to a close and asked the press to please respect his privacy during this time and promised to let them know about the results once he knew.

Luckily, they escaped through a side door and promptly left down a hall to an awaiting elevator. Once the doors closed, Jace ran his hand across his face and breathed a sigh of relief.

“You can’t possibly tell me that bothered you. You looked so natural.”

“I’m used to the reporters after a game, discussing the details of every snap, the penalties, the players, the coaches, but this is the first time I’ve had to discuss my personal life. It sucked.” The moment he finished speaking the elevator doors opened up, and the photographers swarmed.

One hand firmly on Ava’s elbow, he escorted her through the flashes of light that blinded her. Amazed when they finally made it out of the hotel and into the waiting limo, Ava blinked in an attempt to alleviate the spots that floated in front of her eyes.

“I don’t think I could ever get used to that. The flashes are horrible.” Giving up, she gently rubbed her fingers against her eyes, smearing her mascara and leaving streaks of black under each eye.

Jace reached across the expanse of the limo and wiped away the smudges. The feel of his rough fingertips on her face should have felt harsh, but his touch was so gentle she turned from him to break the spell he was casting over her.

“Normally, during the off-season the reporters don’t really bother me. Of course, my position puts me in more of a media-friendly environment. We have linemen who can walk into any sports bar and just be considered another guy. But let me, Alex or Mark walk into the same bar, and we can’t get through an order of wings without signing autographs or discussing how we can improve our game.”

“Does it bother you to be so accessible to people? Is that why you told them your testing is on Wednesday, when it is scheduled for Tuesday?”

“I purposefully told them Wednesday so they won’t show up and try to get pictures of me walking into the lab. As for accessibility, not normally. I’ve always tried to make time for fans, whether they be ours or another team’s, but when my personal life starts to be questioned, I don’t like it. When I was drafted, I made a promise to my mom and dad I would try to become a good role model to any kid who dreamed of growing up to be in the NFL. It looks like I let people down.”

“It feels like every time I have come home over the last few years, I made a life-alternating decision. I know better than to let my dick dictate what I do, but…”

Tears threatened to leak from her make-up free lashes. If he regretted that night he spent in Henderson, what would he say when he found out about Ashlyn being conceived?

“I didn’t mean to lay all of this on you. Look at me.” The gentle pressure of his fingers turned her head so she would have to face him; Jace stared at her damp eyes before continuing. “I was talking about us. I don’t regret our night together. I do wish I had shown some restraint that weekend, but not for the time I was with you. I don’t know if you’ll ever forgive me for taking advantage of your innocence, and I feel bad about that. I’m just sorry all this happened.”

If Jace had slapped her, it wouldn’t have hurt more. He was apologizing for giving her the best night of her life and the most precious gift, his daughter. Of course, he didn’t know about his permanent connection to her. “There’s nothing to forgive. I didn’t give you much choice.”

“You do have a point. By the way, do you still own those pajamas?”

An elbow to the ribs was the only thing she could manage. Anything more and she would be bawling like a baby in his arms and spilling her guts.

They spent the remainder of the ride back to Jace’s house in silence. The occasional glimpse out the corner of Ava’s eye confirmed he didn’t want to speak any more than she did.

Chapter Twelve

Spring weather in Tennessee was unpredictable. It could be in the eighties one day and fifty the next. Luckily, it was closer to eighty, and Ava had packed a swimsuit because she thought she would have access to the hotel pool. Lying beside the pool at Jace’s, with nothing but silence as a companion, was Ava’s image of paradise, and she planned to stay there as long as possible.

Time passed slowly or quickly; she didn’t care. All that mattered was she didn’t have any butts to wipe or anyone to feed but herself. When she felt another presence, she peeked through her almost closed lids to spot Jace standing beside her with his eyes glued to her abdomen.

“If you take a picture it will last longer.”

“I was admiring your body. Nobody would ever guess you had a baby. I don’t even see any stretch marks.” Jace spoke as if he was genuinely shocked.

“I slathered my stomach in cocoa butter daily during my pregnancy, and I started exercising and running two weeks after her birth. Is that drink for me?”

When Jace held out the glass with its pink concoction and frilly umbrella, she took it. “Yeah, I had to look up a mai tai on the Internet to get the recipe. I hope you like it.”

Repositioned so she could sip her drink, Ava felt her heart melt a little more. He listened to her while she mumbled her fantasy the day before. “You do realize that it is only two in the afternoon.”

“It’s five o’clock somewhere. Besides, you’re on vacation today. No responsibilities, no worries. Just you and relaxation, I don’t think you get enough of that in your life.”

The sweet drink gave her some time to think about her response. When she finally thought of a good one, Jace was running full-force toward the deep end of the pool and did the most unflattering belly flop Ava had ever witnessed.

When he didn’t immediately come up for air, she jumped to her feet and ran toward the side of the pool. His limp body floated on the bottom of the pool.

What do I do?

Doing what any woman would do when the man she loved was in danger, she jumped in with both feet without giving thought to the fact that she couldn’t swim.

Silence was the first thing that registered to Ava. She had wanted some peace and quiet; she just hadn’t counted on it being while she fought for her life. All thoughts of Jace slipped from her mind as she tried to remember all she knew in theory about swimming.

You can get to the side of the pool.

With every movement of her hands and kick of her feet, she sank lower.

I didn’t kiss Ashlyn goodbye. She’ll never know I loved her
.

Those were the last thoughts that went through her mind as she opened her mouth to scream and took in a mouth full of water.

The hands that slipped around her waist were firm and secure. The gentle water sluiced over her body, as she was pulled toward the surface. When her head broke into the sunshine, she breathed in much needed air and began to cough uncontrollably.

Being stroked and cradled was a wonderful way to die. As she lay in Jace’s arms, she thought she just might, if not from the water that was coming out of her lungs, then from embarrassment. Leaning forward so she could escape his hold and die in private proved futile.

“Are you okay?” Jace questioned in a shaky voice.

“Yeah, just embarrassed. I thought you were drowning, and I was going to save you. I forgot that I couldn’t swim.”

“So you were going to save me? How would I explain that to the press? I was playing a joke on my friend, and she thought I was drowning so she jumped in to help me and drowned herself? I could be doing twenty years for murder if I hadn’t seen you struggling.”

“Don’t get mad at me, you’re the one who started it. I was perfectly happy lying on the chair soaking up some sun.”

“I’ll apologize if you promise never to get back in the pool without me being present. Agreed?”

Ava thought about arguing that it wasn’t her fault and she would never have gotten in the deep end on her own accord, but what was the point? He was right. She should never get in the pool without supervision. “Agreed, but please don’t ever do that to me again.”

“Would you miss me if I died?”

“Are you kidding? I have a daughter to raise. If you had drowned, I could be doing twenty years.” Laughing out loud at the look of hurt and confusion that played across his face, she leaned forward and kissed his pouty lips. Pulling back before he took that gesture as more than a friendly peck, she tried to scoot off his lap.

Jace’s arms tightened their hold and held her firmly against him. “Where do you think you’re going? I just rescued you. I should have the right to hold you to make sure you’re okay.”

“I’m okay now. I just need to catch my breath.”

“You can catch it from here. We’re in the Jacuzzi so you’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you, you know, with you being one of my girls.”

One of his girls! “I’m one of your girls? Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Most of my lady friends would consider it one. I only meant that you mean a lot to me.”

“Oh sorry, I guess I am just a little sensitive today. A lot has been going on.”

“You’re telling me. The press conference was brutal. After you came out to the pool, my cell didn’t stop ringing. Apparently, everyone saw the press conference. It was a live feed on ESPN. With it being a Saturday, everybody saw it. Most of it was support from my teammates, but a few family members called to tell me they were disappointed in me.”

“Why would they be disappointed? You did a great job. You were honest and forthright. You accepted responsibility for your lack of judgment by consuming alcohol in such large quantities that you couldn’t make appropriate decisions. You wait till your mother hears about them calling. They will all be on the phone to apologize.”

“She’s not going to find out.” The stern line that used to be his lips was proof of his conviction that his mother would never know of the upsetting calls. “I have already caused her enough pain and stress. I won’t add more to it.”

Arms wrapped tight around his broad back so she could help shoulder some of his burden, she laid her head against his chest and silently vowed not to cause him any more pain until she felt he was able to handle it.

“Damn, you’re skinny,” Jace proclaimed as he held her firmly against him.

“I’m not skinny. I weigh more now than I did in high school.”

“Most people weigh more as adults than they did as teenagers, but what I meant was that it really is hard to believe you had a baby.

“Well, I have an over-two-year-old who’s proof, and one stretch mark that shall not be seen as proof. What other proof do I need?”

“Oh yeah, so where’s the stretch mark?

“Not going to tell you.”

“Then I guess I’ll just have to find it.” Her wiggling had Jace’s body reacting to their intimate embrace and Ava blushing. “I’m not going to act on it. I’m not sixteen anymore.”

“I trust you.” Hopefully, he would never have to know how much she dreaded saying that because if she really had trusted him she would have told him about Ashlyn years ago.

“What was it like?”

She could have pretended to not know what he was talking about, but it would take better acting skills than she possessed. “It was crazy. The first few months I was so sick I didn’t think I would ever be able to get through it. Then my belly started growing, and it was a miracle. Every day I would get a little bigger and not just my belly, but my breasts, butt and feet.”

“Your feet got bigger?”

“Uh-huh, I am now half a size larger than I was before I got pregnant.”

“Everything else seems to have gone back to normal.” With a glance down at her tiny bikini top, he added, “Well, almost everything.”

“Yeah, they were a surprise. I always had them, and then when I got pregnant they just kept getting bigger. After I had her and was breast-feeding, they told me that they would get smaller. Unlucky me, they didn’t.”

Jace knew she meant it in a derogatory way, but he just didn’t see her magnificent breasts as problems. “You look perfect. When did you have her?”

“She was born on January fourth. I went into labor at your mom’s house, helping with dismantling the Christmas decorations on the third. I was a week late, miserable, and willing to do anything to bring on contractions. I was stupid. It was the worst thing I have ever gone through.”

Head resting against his broad chest, Ava told him all the gory details. “The pain is unexplainable. My body had a mind of its own. I took all the drugs they offered, but nothing helped with the pain. After twenty hours, they were about to do a C-section when she decided to give up the fight and just come out.” Ava enjoyed telling Jace the story of his daughter’s birth. He may not know Ashlyn was his, but he could empathize with her struggle to bring her into the world.

“I heard my dad mention once that they called her the Touchdown Baby in the nursery. Why?”

“Well, this part actually was told to me. The story goes that our dads were watching the football game in the waiting room of the hospital while our moms were helping in the delivery room. When I finally pushed her out, the Renegades had just scored a touchdown, and the dads yelled
touchdown
when she was born. The whole maternity floor heard them, and from then on Ashlyn was dubbed Touchdown Baby by all the nurses and the doctor.”