I Dare You (The Hook Up #1)(57)

Fred exhales. “I see. Do you gamble, Mr. Monroe?”

Ah, the crux of the matter.

“I have never gambled, and Leslie Brock has already told the NCAA that.” I go on to tell them the details of the organization, how Leslie’s casino is a legit business and I merely worked as an employee.

“I never placed a bet on myself or a fight or a football team. What I did was fight, that’s it.”

“How much money did you get for the fight?” is Fred’s next question.

“Fifty thousand, and every penny went to the facility to take care of Raven.”

Raven is crying softly, and Delaney hands her a tissue then pats her on the shoulder. They’ve grown close these past few weeks.

Fred nods, a softening to his face. “Is it true that you requested the money you’d already paid to the facility be returned?”

I smile. “Yes. We donated the money to fund an animal shelter in Magnolia. It was Raven’s idea. She’s going to be volunteering there some.”

Raven glows at my words.

Really, that was all Delaney. She sat down with Raven and they talked about what kinds of volunteer work she’d like to do. It was something I’d never thought of, mostly because I’d have to get her there and back.

“And what about your sister? We’ve heard from a close personal source that you don’t have anyone to take care of her.”

“I’m taking care of her,” Delaney says proudly. “She’s my family.”

Love slams into me. What I ever did to deserve her, I don’t know.

What she doesn’t say is that Raven and I have moved in with her, and she’s quit her library job to take care of Raven on the days the nurse can’t come by. Skye said she’d chip in a day a week too.

Fred looks at the viewers. “Well, the question on everyone’s mind is if you’ll be playing for Waylon this year.”

I swallow. “I don’t know. I haven’t been informed yet.”

He nods. “What do you think the ruling will be when it comes to being drafted?”

“I have no idea.” I look at Delaney and Raven. “We’re still waiting to hear.”

I do know that whatever happens, I’ll be okay.





Delaney comes out of the kitchen, wearing a big grin and her May the Fork Be With You apron. She and Raven are making dinner and pecan pie for Ryder since he helped us move into her place a few weeks back.

It’s the end of the year, and we’re celebrating.

I think back to how everything played out after the interview. After much discussion and interviews, it was determined that the only technical rule I broke was accepting money. There was no indication of foul play, and most importantly, no gambling. Because the scandal involved several star players in the SEC who’d been preyed upon by offerings of big money, the NCAA decided not to kick us out of college football completely. Myself, along with the other players, would be sitting out the first five games of the year.

It was enough.

It was hope.

As far as Muffin went, none of the players on the team would even talk to her anymore. Rumor has it she’s transferring schools for her senior year.

This fall is going to be the year—my year. I look at Delaney and watch as she shows Raven how to make her Nana’s pie. She catches my eye and smiles as Han weaves between their legs, meowing for a table scrap.

“I love you,” I mouth at her as she straightens up. She’s everything, mine, and maybe she has been since the night of the bonfire. We just had to figure it out.

She smiles, a slow blush working up her cheeks. “I know,” she mouths back.

I burst out laughing.

Forget this being my year. I look at her and Raven.

This is our year.





Few years later

Delaney



I wake up, and Maverick’s not in bed. That’s weird. It’s not quite eight in the morning and it’s the off-season, which means he gets to sleep in before training starts. Spotting the blue dress shirt he wore last night when we went out to dinner, I pick it up off the floor where I tossed it before we made love. I pull it on, pad over to the window, and look out over the Nashville skyline from our penthouse.

I sigh contentedly. After winning the national championship with the Waylon Wildcats, Maverick went on to be drafted in the first round by the Tennessee Titans. He’s already broken two records, and they went to the Super Bowl this year. They were defeated, but like he says, it gives him something to work for.

I look at the picture of him and me and Raven on the nightstand and smile. Somehow we managed to juggle her and classes and football our senior year, and because Maverick was so open about the reason he fought, people came out of the woodwork to help us. Mrs. Watson from Pineview herself volunteered to donate services to Raven, including riding lessons and art classes at Pineview.

She lived with us until Maverick was drafted, and then made it clear that while she loved us, she did not want to be attached to us at the hip. So, we did some research and found her a facility nearly identical to Pineview in Nashville.

As for me, I’m designing a line of clothing for my new Geek Girl fashion label and volunteer weekly at a local animal shelter. Maverick loves coming with me too, although I don’t think he’d ever admit it. Rescuing animals has become his charitable calling card, whether he meant it to or not.