DEAN
What the hell? After practice, I pull up to my apartment complex around eight thirty, and I’m greeted with several news vans.
Are they here for me? God, I hope not.
I already gave one interview for the local news, right before practice. Actually, it was more of a photo op. I was presented an oversized gift certificate, and the reporter made a plug for the daycare facility that offered me one hundred hours of daycare. It was over in sixty seconds. Alternatively, practice dragged on forever because I couldn’t stop worrying about Fia. She was left in capable hands, but I was still chomping at the mouthguard to get home.
I park my truck at the side lot of my complex and take the back stairs to my apartment. If those news vans are here for me, I want to avoid being seen. I’m anxious to find out how things went with Fia. Also, there’s the whole pedestal thing I’m working through. News equals attention I might not want.
I’m almost to my front door when I spot a woman in tight jeans and a snug black sweater. She has long dark hair, dark eyes, and deep olive skin. She is drop-dead gorgeous. Also, I have a thing for brunettes. I think because my first porn was a video called Grecian Babes of Grease. So much baby oil. Mmmm…
I slap my juvenile sex-pumped thoughts away and get back to the issue at hand: the hot woman in spiked heels strutting toward me. She’s flipping her hair, swinging her hips, and puckering her cherry-red plump lips like she’s giving a performance.
Oh, look. Here’s me wanting to hand out an Oscar. I’m watching every move, feeling my chest puff out and my cock thicken with thoughts of spending the night with a tasty vixen who looks like she’ll outsmart me, chew me up and spit me out before I’ve even come.
I do love a little danger. I love a challenge more, and this girl brings it all. Plus, a bag of glitter.
“Hi, Dean. I’m Dannie. Can I come in for a minute and talk? I have a business proposal.”
I stare like a rabbit in the crosshairs of a hunter. If that rabbit really wanted to hump said hunter.
“I’m Dean,” I say like a brainless moron.
She laughs. “Yeah. I know, cowboy. So is that a yes?”
I shake my head and try to snap out of my lust-fog. “Wait. Who are you?”
“The free daycare. Green Babies? I’m the owner.”
It’s a little strange that she’d show up at my place like this, but who am I to complain? She’s brought material for my wank bank.
“So,” she jerks her head of silky straight hair toward my door, “can I come in? Or do you want to talk out here and get mobbed by all those reporters looking for fresh video footage of the hot dad of the hour?”
“Yeah. Sure.” I’m about to go inside, but then I remember Lara and Fia are inside. “Actually, the baby might be sleeping. What if I come by Green Babies tomorrow? I can bring Fia. You and I can fu-fu-talk.”
Wait. What am I thinking? Oh, that’s right. I’m not. I am in no position to date, hook up, or otherwise. No new plates. My current ones are still spinning, but barely.
She flashes a predatory smile. “How’s seven a.m.? I can show you around our establishment.”
“Seven’s great.” I can leave Fia for a few hours, hit the gym, pick up my books, and stop by the financial aid office. In the back of my mind, I make a note to call Flip, too. I still haven’t had the chance. “Hey, but, if you don’t mind, what is this about?” I’m curious.
She leans in and whispers in a muted voice, “I’m going to change your life.”
She is? “How?”
“How’s a hundred thousand dollars sound for a few hours of your time?”
For sex? Wait, no. This lady is hot. She can get sex for free, including from me. “To do what?”
“We need a face for our growing company. And you, Dean, have quite the face.” She winks.
I’m about to change my mind and invite her in when the door opens. Lara is standing there with a dish towel over her shoulder and white stuff down the front of her shirt. Baby vomit.
Lara sneers in my direction. She probably wants to get going.
Meanwhile, Dannie doesn’t even acknowledge Lara’s presence.
“See you in the morning,” Dannie says.
“I look forward to hearing more about the offer,” I say.
I watch Dannie walk off. I’m blinded by lust, but there’s no ignoring the quiet nagging voice in the back of my head. She’s a shark. Is this really what I need in my life right now?
On the other hand, one hundred thousand dollars for a spokesperson gig is exactly the kind of help I could use. With it, I could get Flip into that private facility.
“Hello? Earth to Dean. You can put your tongue back in your mouth now,” says Lara. “Dean? Dean?” She grabs my elbow and gives it a squeeze.
“Sorry. What?”
Lara shakes her head. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What?”
“Never mind.” Lara goes inside, and I follow.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Nope.” Lara goes to grab her purse. “Fia had a bottle about thirty minutes ago. She went down to sleep five minutes ago. You’re welcome.” Lara sails past me, heading for the door.
I reach for her wrist to stop her. “Wait. Why are you mad?”
She jerks free and points a finger in my face. “You need to get your head on straight, Dean. That little girl is counting on you.”
“She can. And I’m doing my best.” It’s only been a few days.
“Do better. And a word of advice? Don’t make people wait around, taking care of your kid, so you can line up your next fuck.”
“I wasn’t lining up a fuck. That woman is the owner of…” My words fade off because Lara is out the door.
Crap. And she’s right. I was thinking with my dick. Actually, no. I wasn’t thinking at all because my dick was too busy dancing around the giant bonfire of lust that Dannie woman just lit.
Still, Lara is right. I have to do better. If that Dannie wants to make a spokesperson deal, I should have it flow through a lawyer. Yes, I’d still like to try out the daycare, but I can’t afford to get pulled into a bad deal just because that woman is hot and she could probably talk me into anything. Also, I should be more careful whom I invite into my life.
I park my thoughts. I can deal with all that in the morning, including apologizing to Lara, though I’m not sure why I have to. She and I are not in a relationship. We are not going to be in one either. I find her attractive more and more every day; however, she’s my friend and coworker. I’d be stupid to add a Lara plate to my table.
But maybe a nice fuck? “No. Stop it, Dean,” I mutter to myself.
“Stop vhut?” Igor saunters in through the front door, also returning from a long practice. “Oh, did choo know there are many reporters out in the parking lot? They want the big interview with the ‘hot daddy.’”
Great.
Igor goes to the kitchen to make his usual dinner—some fish recipe he loves that stinks like hell.
I go to my bedroom and see a tiny little person sleeping. I instantly forget about my long crazy day. Yeah, I do need to try harder; even if I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Marli, I kind of do want to be a part of Fia’s life.
I just wish it didn’t have to be such a small part.
Reality is, even if I kept Fia, which I’m not saying I will, when would I see her? How would I have the time between football, college, and work?
Of course, if I’m drafted, I’ll probably have to put college on hold. I’ll have to relocate to whatever city takes me. I’d be on the road for a good part of the year.
I know plenty of pro players have families, but I wouldn’t be able to take care of a baby on my own. Even with a really great nanny, the kid would be raised by strangers. Wouldn’t a foster family and stable home environment be better? Or maybe things between Marli and her ex will work out.
My mind quickly throws out all the things I hate about those two options. Foster care is still a crapshoot. Some are great parents, I’m sure. Others are not. As for Marli, would I really want her cheating ex raising my daughter? And what kind of mother just abandons her baby like that? She’s either incredibly selfish, or she’s unwell mentally. Neither are good for Fia.
Fuck. I run a hand through my sticky hair. I need a shower. And I need to figure this out. More and more I’m beginning to see that I might be Fia’s only option.
I just can’t see how it’ll work. Not unless I give up football. And college. Both?
No, I can’t. I refuse to give up after I’ve worked so hard to get here. I’m this close to either having my formal education or getting into the NFL. If I quit now, what sort of future will I have?
No chance in hell am I going back to a life of poverty. And that is exactly what Fia would get if I threw in the towel on all my plans just to take care of her full-time. Or even part-time.
Bottom line, the pieces of this messed-up puzzle don’t fit. And I hate every single option on the table.
I don’t know what to do. I only know how I feel. Or…am starting to feel? Like I can’t just dump this little girl off on someone else’s lap. She’s my plate. I have to spin it.
So which other plates do I drop?