Headstrong Quarterback: A New Adult Sports Romance by Ava Catori Page A
Authors: Ava Catori
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unapologetically.
Steel growled. “I did it for you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.” Hot tears stained my face. He wanted to tear off my scar and let it bleed fresh again. What he was asking me to do was go back to the past and…no.
Steel braced himself on the back of a chair and slurred. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? What do you want from me?”
“What do you want from me,” I challenged.
“For you to have my back, like I had yours.” His glare said it all.
He was right. He had my back, and I wanted to run and hide in response. I dropped my head, the shame of the words kicked me in the gut. “Fine.”
The tension in his jaw relaxed as he sat back down.
I had no idea what that would mean. If I could follow through, but it was time to have his back. He shouldn’t suffer for my mistakes.
“My sister’s flying in later this week. I told her what was going on. She wants to be here.”
Great; somebody else to judge me.
Chapter 12
Kira wasn’t what I expected her to be. She was maybe an inch or two taller than five feet, a spitfire, and anything but frail. How he’d described her in the past, being broken… that wasn’t the girl I met. She was feisty, strong, and independent.
She was on a kick about her weight. She felt she’d put a few pounds since she’d seen her brother last, and was lamenting about it. To me, she was rail thin, and how she worried about weight confused me.
Steel scoffed. “You’re beautiful inside and out, whether you weigh one hundred pounds soaking wet or two hundred pounds. Any guy that can’t see how special you are doesn’t deserve you.”
The way she looked at him, it was obvious she adored him. They had a dynamic connection, almost mirroring one another.
When Steel introduced us, we sat and filled her in on all the details. He’d only given her bits and pieces before she arrived.
They were happy to be together again, but I felt like a third wheel.
“You should stay,” Steel started. “There’s nothing left in Seattle anyway. Move in here. I’ve got the space.”
I couldn’t see the three of us living together. I was pretty sure I’d be pushed out of the picture quickly. I sensed her sizing me up, questioning my intentions. Her brother was a big time football star. I was the person that brought trouble into his life.
***
“So, this is Avery,” he started.
She motioned with her hand, and eyed me up.
“Be nice,” he cautioned. “She means a lot to me.”
“Yeah, well, she’s gotten your ass into trouble already.” She turned and glared at me, as if I’d asked him to jump my step-brother. Everything inside of me wanted to tell her to fuck off, but I bit my tongue, knowing restraint was the better choice.
The longer we sat and talked, the more I realized it was jealousy that drove Kira’s actions. At first I thought it was anger, but she didn’t like another woman holding his attention. She wasn’t used to sharing him. He’d been her savior, her protector for such a long time, she was struggling with the fact that he was doting on another woman.
I think she truly wanted him to find happiness, but she had trouble knowing she wouldn’t be the only woman in his life. She saw it in his eyes, the way he looked at me. Regardless, it was easy to pin the blame on me. If I wasn’t here, he wouldn’t be in trouble.
Steel stretched out, owning his space. He didn’t apologize for his presence. He was a big guy. I watched him, then looked down. I was scrunched in, trying to take up as little space as possible. My legs were crossed at the ankle, my arms were tight against me, and I scrunched my shoulders in and down. I’d never paid much attention to my body language, but on noticing Steel, it put attention on my own.
Kira continued. “Okay, so what do we know so far?”
“Her step-brother is pressing charges like I mentioned on the phone. Avery needs to tell her side of the story, so there’s just cause.”
“Of course,” she
Steel growled. “I did it for you.”
“I didn’t ask you to.” Hot tears stained my face. He wanted to tear off my scar and let it bleed fresh again. What he was asking me to do was go back to the past and…no.
Steel braced himself on the back of a chair and slurred. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? What do you want from me?”
“What do you want from me,” I challenged.
“For you to have my back, like I had yours.” His glare said it all.
He was right. He had my back, and I wanted to run and hide in response. I dropped my head, the shame of the words kicked me in the gut. “Fine.”
The tension in his jaw relaxed as he sat back down.
I had no idea what that would mean. If I could follow through, but it was time to have his back. He shouldn’t suffer for my mistakes.
“My sister’s flying in later this week. I told her what was going on. She wants to be here.”
Great; somebody else to judge me.
Chapter 12
Kira wasn’t what I expected her to be. She was maybe an inch or two taller than five feet, a spitfire, and anything but frail. How he’d described her in the past, being broken… that wasn’t the girl I met. She was feisty, strong, and independent.
She was on a kick about her weight. She felt she’d put a few pounds since she’d seen her brother last, and was lamenting about it. To me, she was rail thin, and how she worried about weight confused me.
Steel scoffed. “You’re beautiful inside and out, whether you weigh one hundred pounds soaking wet or two hundred pounds. Any guy that can’t see how special you are doesn’t deserve you.”
The way she looked at him, it was obvious she adored him. They had a dynamic connection, almost mirroring one another.
When Steel introduced us, we sat and filled her in on all the details. He’d only given her bits and pieces before she arrived.
They were happy to be together again, but I felt like a third wheel.
“You should stay,” Steel started. “There’s nothing left in Seattle anyway. Move in here. I’ve got the space.”
I couldn’t see the three of us living together. I was pretty sure I’d be pushed out of the picture quickly. I sensed her sizing me up, questioning my intentions. Her brother was a big time football star. I was the person that brought trouble into his life.
***
“So, this is Avery,” he started.
She motioned with her hand, and eyed me up.
“Be nice,” he cautioned. “She means a lot to me.”
“Yeah, well, she’s gotten your ass into trouble already.” She turned and glared at me, as if I’d asked him to jump my step-brother. Everything inside of me wanted to tell her to fuck off, but I bit my tongue, knowing restraint was the better choice.
The longer we sat and talked, the more I realized it was jealousy that drove Kira’s actions. At first I thought it was anger, but she didn’t like another woman holding his attention. She wasn’t used to sharing him. He’d been her savior, her protector for such a long time, she was struggling with the fact that he was doting on another woman.
I think she truly wanted him to find happiness, but she had trouble knowing she wouldn’t be the only woman in his life. She saw it in his eyes, the way he looked at me. Regardless, it was easy to pin the blame on me. If I wasn’t here, he wouldn’t be in trouble.
Steel stretched out, owning his space. He didn’t apologize for his presence. He was a big guy. I watched him, then looked down. I was scrunched in, trying to take up as little space as possible. My legs were crossed at the ankle, my arms were tight against me, and I scrunched my shoulders in and down. I’d never paid much attention to my body language, but on noticing Steel, it put attention on my own.
Kira continued. “Okay, so what do we know so far?”
“Her step-brother is pressing charges like I mentioned on the phone. Avery needs to tell her side of the story, so there’s just cause.”
“Of course,” she
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