This morning, when he’d told Evie where he was headed, she informed him she had errands of her own to run. It had taken everything in him not to forbid her from going out alone, but he didn’t have the right to issue orders. Worse, if he expressed his objections, she would think he didn’t trust her to take care of herself. Instead, he’d reminded her to take her gun, watch her back, and check in before ending his mini rant with a long, distracting kiss that, had they not been in a rush to go, would have ended up in bed.
“Hey. Where’d your mind go?” Jimmy asked.
Damon groaned and forced himself to think of more immediate concerns. “What’s your take on Emerson?” he asked his trainer.
Picking up a tumbler with water inside, Damon took a large sip. He didn’t want to put any negative thoughts in Jimmy’s head. All he wanted was the man’s take on the backup quarterback. Jimmy had been a trainer in the league for over ten years and had been around all sorts of players and personalities. Damon wanted his opinion on the man soon to take the field in his place.
Jimmy leaned on a piece of equipment and met Damon’s gaze. “I know you’re pissed you tested positive and can’t start the season. I’m not sure how Greg will perform under pressure, but I know he’s going to try his best to make you proud. The kid looks up to you, you know.”
“You noticed.”
Jimmy chuckled. “Everyone sees it. But I think as shitty as the situation is for you, it’s good for him. He’ll see what he’s capable of.” Jimmy put a hand on Damon’s shoulder. “And you’ll be back leading the offense before you know it.”
“Thanks.” He paused then decided fuck it. He wanted to know. “Did Emerson ever mention to you that his father knew Doc back in college?”
Jimmy blinked. “No. That’s an odd connection. Huh.”
He didn’t wonder why Damon had asked and he didn’t want to talk smack about Emerson when all he had thus far was coincidence. Two men who’d gone to college together. Frat brothers. But Damon wished he had answers.
His cell rang and he glanced down and grinned. “Gotta take this, Jimmy. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He hit the accept button. “Braden!” He yelled his brother’s name. Braden, Bri’s twin, had been out of touch for too long. “Hang on. Let me go somewhere private.”
Tucking the phone between his shoulder and cheek, he scooped up his things and headed out for the privacy inside his car. He didn’t need a rabid reporter overhearing anything if he spoke in the parking lot.
“Hang on,” he said, climbing into the car. He turned on the ignition so the AC would ease the sweating just from walking from the gym to the vehicle. Damn Florida heat. He waited until the phone connected to the car microphone. “Hey, bro.”
“Hey! Sorry I’ve been out of touch. You know I’m in Venezuela, and we’re now helping people in Sao Paulo who don’t have access to vaccines.”
“Just be careful,” Damon warned.
“Always,” Braden said. “Anyway, I spoke to Bri this morning,” he said of his twin. “I’m sorry for what you’re going through and that I haven’t been there for you.”
Damon rested one hand on the steering wheel. “It’s okay. You’re out saving the world. I understand.”
“But I missed your concussion. Austin’s engagement. And I haven’t met the baby.” He sounded truly upset.
“Are you homesick? Thinking of coming back? You already met your commitment time, so no one would have a problem with you leaving.” Damon hoped Braden was finished running.
Though Damon understood why Braden had wanted to get away and live life on terms that had nothing to do with sports, their father had been gone for a long time now, and Braden had nothing more to prove to anyone. Not that he ever had.
“Yes. No. I don’t know, okay? I have ties here,” Braden said.
Now that was new. “What kind of ties? Colleagues? Patients?”
“Girlfriend.”
Damon let out a low whistle. “Is it serious?”
“It’s … something,” Braden said, obviously vague on purpose.
“Okay, fine. You don’t want to discuss it yet.”
Braden laughed. “Do you want to talk about the fact that you have a woman living with you?”
“Fucking Bri,” Damon muttered. “She’s such a gossip.”
“Actually, the information came from Mom first.”
He shook his head. “Yeah I’ve got a woman staying with me. She has some safety issues and I want her where I can keep an eye on her.”
“So, you’re doing her a favor and the favor actually gets her where you want her,” Braden said, guessing the exact nature of the situation.
“You’d like her, man. She’s smart and savvy. Not to mention sexy,” Damon said.
“And you’ve got it bad.” The connection suddenly sounded gritty.
Damon dipped his head and admitted the truth. “Yeah. I really do.”