Page 128 of Forever Offsides

We use a combination of screws and buttons to secure the graft so he’ll have good immediate knee stability with less graft stretching and good overall strength for it. We finish up and scrub out while they wheel Reynolds to the PACU. He’ll stay the night and be discharged tomorrow.

“Half the team is in the waiting room,” my mother informs me as we wash our hands.

“I’ll update them. It’s part of my job.”

“I hope you’re not lying to me about Russel.”

I pause with my hands under the water, my gaze fixed on the stream. “I’m not. Why would you ask that? And why the hell are you asking me in public?”

“Because it’s the only place I have your attention, and you can’t run off. You’re having sex, Quinn. Good sex from the looks of it.”

“Mom!”

She ignores my outburst. “But more than that, you like someone. A lot. Don’t bother lying to me and telling me it’s nothing. I’m your mother. I know you. You have a lot of me in you, and I remember being this way when I finally relented with your father.”

I don’t know what to say. I don’t want to lie to her, but I can’t tell her either.

“It’s not Russel.”

“I’d like to meet him when you’re ready.”

I nod. That’s it. Because crap. Just… crap. This secret is growing out of control, and the lies are mounting. I have no idea how much longer we can do this before the whole thing blows up in our face.

39

QUINN

“How’s Baby Valentine?” I ask Skylar, my phone tucked between my shoulder and my ear as I approach my car and get in. I start it up, and she comes through CarPlay on my screen.

“She’s good. Sweet. Pukey. Not sleeping. Pooping and peeing every ten minutes and wanting to nurse every five.”

I grin as I pull out of the garage, look both ways, and take a left to head to the stadium. Skylar went into labor while I was at the team’s away game a week ago Thursday. I was devastated not to be here when it happened, but we flew home that night, so I got to see her and the baby in the hospital the next morning.

“Sounds like typical new baby stuff.”

“In all its glory,” she deadpans. “But really, how weird is it that I grew a baby, pushed it out of my vagina, and now I’m feeding it from my boobs?”

“Um. I think that’s called normal.”

“I know. But it’s still weird. I asked Aston if he still wants to have sex with me, and he told me I’ve never been sexier. But how? He has to be lying, right? I don’t feel sexy. Not even a little.”

“Because you’re a hot baby mama with huge, milky tits. It’s a caveman thing.”

“I guess. He’s pretty much the best husband and dad ever, so I’m not complaining. And Zoey is loving being a big sister. Are you still planning on coming by this evening?”

“If that’s okay. I’ll text after the game and see where you’re all at and if it’s a good time. And yes, I’ll bring pizza, but only cheese, so it’s not spicy.”

“Fantastic. Brae is working today, but I think she’ll try to jump over after too. She’s on till seven though.”

I merge onto the highway to get to the stadium. I left extra early this morning. After sneaking out of Rhett’s. Speaking of…

“How’s your guy?”

I smile. “Good. He’s good.”

“We want to meet him. Like for real. More than the handshake I got.”

I tense and chew on the corner of my lip. “I know. But I already feel bad you’re keeping this secret for me and meeting him will only make it more real.”