Chapter 189: Hurt - Coach Murray

I have a son.

Of course we still need to take DNA tests, but I did sleep with his mother. To me, she was just one of the girls I had fun with for the night. I was young, I was rich, and I was finally single after I broke up with my college girlfriend who is now my wife.

I thought the world was my oyster and I could fuck who I wanted, when I wanted and how I wanted.

I was such a fucking fool then.

I remember Cole's mother vividly. I thought she was different from the other girls who would gladly sleep with me.

We just won a game, and we were flying out early the next morning. Me and a few teammates just wanted to blow off a little steam, nothing too hectic, so we went to this small dive bar where there weren't many patrons.

I remember we were sitting at a table having a few drinks when she entered. She had none of the glitz and glamour the other girls who were usually interested in me had. No, her face was devoid of makeup, and her long blonde hair hung freely in waves down her back. I think that's what made me notice her. Her complete lack of attention seeking, and the fact that I thought she was really pretty, and that she didn't need any of the usual shit.

One of the guys saw me looking at her a little too long, and he hit me playfully on the shoulder. "Pass. That one is definitely not a cleat chaser."

But I was too mesmerized, so I walked up to the bar and took a seat next to her.

"Not interested." She said without even looking at me.

That made me chuckle. "Noted. Want a beer anyway?"

That made her look my way, and her vivid blue eyes looked bored as they traveled over me.

"Let me guess, jock?"

I loved the fact that she didn't know who I was. "Correct."

"So what's a guy like you doing in a bar like this?" There was a small tilt to her lips, fascinating me.

"I could ask you the same thing." I smiled, noticing how long her eyelashes were.

"Lets just say I had a really, really bad day." She sighs. "And then I just wanted to go somewhere and drink a beer, I thought this place looked cute from the outside. Guess it was fate who brought me here."

"Guess it was."

And that is how the blonde ended up in my bed. She had a bad day, and believed in fate. She wanted to forget about her problems that I never asked her about, and we spent a great night together.

The next morning before she left, she told me to get back with my girlfriend, and do the right thing after I basically told her I'm an asshole who wanted to be free and enjoy the newfound stardom and richess. I asked her what was she gonna do.

She smiled brightly and said sketch. She will sketch until she healed her heart.

We used condoms, I'm pretty sure we did, because I always suited up.

But maybe she was right.

Maybe it was fate who let her walk into that dive bar.

Fate that produced Cole.

I still can't believe it. Cole is my son. Of all the girls that I slept with, it had to be his mother, and it had to be him.

There's a knock on my office door, and Amy walks in without waiting for me to tell her she can.

"Good morning." I straighten in my chair. "I thought you slept over at Monet's."

"I did." She crosses her arms over her chest and leans against the desk. "I didn't think it was a good thing to leave her alone. She's really worried about Cole."

"She hasn't heard from him?" I frown, beginning to worry too. His adoptive mother told me he had some difficulties growing up after his mother was killed, and I might have been unfair to Amy when I found out she was dating Luke behind my back, but I always thought I was an okay parent.

I want a chance with him. I know him as my player, but I want to get to know him as my son, be there for him even though he's almost twenty-one. I've lost so much time, and fate brought him right to my doorstep.

Or was it fate? Or did Kamila perhaps know that I was his real father? She did tell me that she was Cole's mother's best friend. Maybe his mother told her she rolled in the hay with a football player once upon a time.

"His phone broke, but he called her last night, so he probably got a replacement." My daughter sighs. "But she can't get through to him. How are you feeling?"

How am I feeling? My wife can't look me in the eye right now, but I hope she can forgive me and accept Cole into our lives as my son.

"I bet you're happy." She continues, giving me that attitude that I always found endearing. "You got exactly what you've always wanted."

"And what is that?" I'm scared to hear her answer.

"A son, and the most talked about college quarterback at that. The number one pick in the draft if he decided to declare."

I can hear the hurt in her voice, and I shake my head, getting up from behind my desk.

"Sweetheart." I take her upper arms into my hands, waiting until she lifts her chin and look at me. "Just because Cole is my son doesn't make me love you less."

"It doesn't?" She says defiantly. "Do you know how I've always tried to live up to your expectations? Studied hard, stayed away from boys, but I disappointed you, didn't I? Then you get to have a whole new son. Handsome, snart and the best quarterback in the country. You got an upgrade."

I frown deeply, my heart hurting that I made her feel like she was less. "If I ever pushed you to study hard, and to stay away from football players, it was because I wanted the best for you, not for me. I hear the way those boys talk about girls every single day, I never wanted you to be spoken of like that."

I hug her to me, holding her tightly, my little girl that is not so little anymore.

"I'm sorry if you ever felt like you weren't good enough." I whisper into her hair. "You're just my little girl, and I never wanted you to be hurt. I love you so much, and I'm proud of you no matter what career you decide to do."

A sob escapes from her, and I hold her tighter to me.

When she composes herself, she pulls away from me and runs her hand through her hair. "Thank you, now lets go find my brother."

That's my girl.