The Quarterback's Love Child (A Secret Baby Sports Romance Book 1) by Stephanie Brother Page A

opened the door. She looked so beautiful, she was standing in her white nightshirt that covered her from shoulder to toe and holding Mia’s hand. Neither of us spoke as I took her hand and said, “It didn’t feel right going with a date tonight.” I cupped her face and she purred, then opened her mouth to protest.
    I knew what she was going to say. I was being selfish being here, but I didn’t care. The last few weeks had been so hard on me that if it meant giving up my career and taking care of her then I would do that.
    “Dance!” Mia said as she clapped her hands. She was cute and had bright eyes just like her mom, the type that lit up as soon as I walked into the room. I smiled at her and asked Michelle, “Would you dance with me? Just once? Tonight, as if we were at the Prom together?”
    She frowned, “Was that why you came, for the last dance?”
    I stroked her arm as I grabbed it and wrapped it around my neck, “Until four years’ time. It will be something to hold on to.”
    It was as if I had awoken her from the bad dream that had become her reality.
    “We can’t do this. They’ll be back at any time and then I’ll be punished again,” she pushed me back. I knew that I didn’t deserve it.
    “Five minutes,” I pleaded. “Harmony and Faith are watching my back.”
    I took in a deep breath so that she wouldn’t panic. “They said that they would,” I nodded, hoping that she wouldn’t push me away and that we could have at least one special moment. I had texted them both when I was in the car before I entered the house. They had said that they had it covered. I knew that there was more to the story than them turning their backs on Michelle, as I had caught them a couple of times in her locker. So, it was clear that she was leaving. I wouldn't stand in her way. I held her in my arms as she surrendered to me and held me so tightly and then Mia started to sway as she hummed to a made-up tune.
    A slow one, I wondered if it was a lullaby, but I was lost in her scent which was simply soap. I knew that every type of luxury that any girl her age had in their house wasn’t allowed in this household, but as her hair tickled my nose, I enjoyed the smell of her strawberry shampoo and wondered where she got such a treat.
    I imagined Faith and Harmony putting a small bottle in her locker.
    It didn’t matter as we hardly moved, but just held each other and I whispered in her ear as a tear escaped my eye.
    I confessed, “I thought about not going to college. Getting an apartment or something and a job, so we could be together now.”
    She shook her head, “Please don’t do that. Not only will you be miserable giving up on your dream, but I would be too.”
    She was right and the voice of reason, but I hated the idea of her gone. I should have asked her then. Gotten it out of her, but I came to have a dance. A special moment with her. Everything else would have to wait.
    I knew that it was time for me to leave, “I love you, Michelle.”
    “I’ve always loved you, Carl. Don’t you forget it. No matter what happens.”
    And I knew then that this was just temporary as I squeezed her one more time. I didn’t want her to see the sadness on my face or know that I was crying, but I could hear her silent cries.
    And then Mia said, “Why you crying?”
    Michelle replied, “Come, let me put you to bed.”
    Four years, that’s all it would be until I held her in my arms every single night, for the rest of her life. I promised myself this as I started the car. When I got back to the Prom, Faith and Harmony gave me the thumbs up to tell me that everything was alright.
     
     
     

Chapter Twenty Four
    Michelle
     
    The car was parked outside the school gate, just like Harmony had said it would be at four. Everyone was inside the church hall preparing for the graduation party, the celebration which would mark my last day in town. I thought that I would feel sad about leaving, maybe even change my mind, but over