Maddox

She's fucking pregnant. Why didn't she call me? Why did she wait for now to tell me? I'm going to be a father.

I throw my bag on the chair and it slides across it and land on the ground. A couple team mates look at me.

"Are you alright?" Jackson asks.

I shake my head. "No, my cousins ex fiancé is pregnant. It's my kid. She was outside."

Jackson pats my back. "You'll see her after the game."

"No, I won't. She left."

"Get someone to keep her at the hotel and you can talk to her after the game."

My head security guy walks into the room. "Get someone to look for Samantha Black and keep her in the hotel room. I want to talk to her after the game."

"Will do, boss." He leaves the room.

I change into my footy shorts and jersey.

The coach enters the room. "Everyone outside for warm ups."

The team and I run onto the field and we throw the ball around and stretch our limbs. Jackson throws me the ball and I catch and throw it back to him.

Donato kicks the ball over the post and he does that until he misses. I swap with him and practice my kicks.

"Five minutes to the game."

The team walks back inside.

The coach gives his pre-game speech. After the speech is done the team stands. We put our hands and chant. "Tigers, tigers, tigers." Then we all throw our hands up.

Jackson hits my back. "We're going to murder those silly cougars."

I laugh. "Hell yeah."

I hear the cougars walk out of there room and head for the field.

Jackson and I walk down the tunnel with our team. I jog down the four stairs and out onto the field.

The fans are standing and cheering on my team.

I wave at them and take my place on the field.

The referee stands next to the captain of the cougars and I. "Head or tail."

I call out. "Head."

The coin lands on heads.

I smile. "We'll start first."

The cougars kick the ball and my team catch it and they run down the field with the ball. A player gets tackled. He climbs to his feet and pushes the ball to the next player.

Jackson has the ball and I move into a position where he can off-load the ball to me. I catch the ball and run down the field. I'm tackled by a big guy.

I move like a worm to get him off of me.

I stand and put my foot the ball and pushing it out to the player behind me. He throws the ball to Donato and he runs with the ball.

I run behind him and he throws me the ball. I run as fast as I can to the try line. I dodge 1, 2, 3 players and I throw myself across the try line.

The score is 4-0.

Three of my team mates run over to me and pat my back.

Donato sets the ball up and he kicks it over the post. 6-0.

At half time the score is 24-4.

My team and I walk through the tunnel and we sit. I grab a bottle of an energy drink and I drain the bottle in 30 seconds.

The coach is smiling. "That's how we put them cougars away on the board. You have to get out there and continue this leading streak."

I'm on fire tonight. Maybe, that's because I'm showing off for Samantha. I hope she's watching the game.

I smile.

Jackson smacks the back of my head. "What are you smiling about?"

"Just thinking about Samantha watching the game. I hope she's impressed with my ball handling skills."

Jackson laughs. "Everyone's impressed, mate. I'll have to ask Donato who has bigger balls."

I smack the back of his head and roll my eyes. "Don't you dare, Jackson"

"Donato," Jackson yells.

He turns to us and I cover his mouth with my hand.

I hear his muffled voice.

When I pull my hand away I have Jackson's saliva on my hands. I wash my hands before the coach yells. "Second half."

Another forty minutes and I get to find out where Samantha is. I need to make things right with the girl and find out why she didn't call me.

Her image keeps flashing in my mind.

She's sexier now that she's pregnant.

I shake my head.

My heads not in the game this half. I've missed a couple tries and fumbled the ball when it's been thrown my way.

Jackson stops next to me. "Get your head in the game. You could lose us with win. I'm not going to have some pussy distracting you from the win.

Fuck!

I run along the field and stop next to the coach. "Put someone else in. I need a rest."

The coach puts McGuire in my place.

I take a seat with my team mates.

Coach turns to me. "Let me know when you want back in the game."

I nod.

I close my eyes and clear my mind of everything including Samantha.

Get your head in the game.

"Coach I want back in the game."

Coach holds up McGuire's number and he runs off the field.

I run over to my team mates.

Jackson has the ball and he looks for someone to pass the ball to. I run behind him and he passes me the ball. I run down the field. I dodge four players and go over the try line.

Jackson taps my back. "Welcome back, mate."

I kick the ball over the post adding two more points to our score.

At the end of the game my team won. The score was 50-16.

I shake the hands with the players from Cougars.

"Good game, Captain." The Cougars captain says.

"You, too. I'll see you the next time we play." I walk up the tunnel to the change rooms.

I stop next to the door when I see the head of my security.

He turns to me. "She's gone, Mr Colt."

I should have gone after her out there.

I hit my fist against the wall. My knuckles are grazed when I pull it back and they are bleeding.

Jackson pulls me away from the wall and into the change rooms. "Colt?"

I take a deep breath before looking at my team mate and best friend. "What?"

"What happened?"

I sigh. "She's gone. I'm too late."

Jackson shakes his head. "When we get home we'll look for her online, okay?"

"Okay,"

"Take a shower and then see the doctor."

I take my clothes off and walk into the shower.

After the shower I wrap the towel around my hips and pull on a pair of black slacks and blue button up t-shirt and tie.

I knock the door and enter the room.

The doctor cleans up my hand and wraps it up.

Jackson waits for me next to the door. "Are you ready to look for her?"

I nod. "Samantha Black is the type of girl that's meant to be loved and cherished. Instead of used and left behind."

"Did you invite her back with you?"

Chapter 8

I've been living in Santa Cruz for a week. After I left Maddox behind in New York I hired a car and drove here.

I live in a one bedroom apartment that overlooks the beach.

The guy that runs the building is a grumpy old fart that makes whistling noises with his nose every time he breathes.

I think I need to get some earplugs for when I'm around whistler.

Today I'm looking for a job. I need to money for the apartment I'm living in. I pick up resume and and handbag. I walk out the door.

I walk along the boardwalk and come across cafes and shops. I put my resume into all of them.

The last cafe on the boardwalk has people lining up onto the streets.

There's a girl around my age pushing through the crowd and collecting cups from the tables.

I walk over to her. "Do you need some help?"

She nods. "Yeah, can you collect all the cups and bring them into the kitchen?"

I put my bag behind the counter and collect the cups from the tables and wipe them down.

The line moves and it takes fifteen minutes until the final person on the street is served.

The girl my age sits at a table. "Do you have a resume?"

I give it to her.

She flips threw the pages. "I want you here tomorrow morning at seven for an induction. I'll train you how to make coffee using our machines."

I shake her hand. "Thanks."

She smiles. "My name is Lauren."

"I'm Samantha."

"It's nice to meet you. I have to go to the office. If you want something to drink one of my employees will get it." Lauren walks behind the counter and into a room.

On the way back to my apartment my phone rings and I look at the called ID before answering it.

"Hey, Maddie,"

"Guess who's back in town?"

I shake my head. "I'm not in the mood for games. Who's in town?"

"Maddox Colt."

My grip on the phone tightens. "What's he doing there?"

"He's looking for you."

I sigh. "Does he know what happened between my parents and me?"

"Yes, his Aunt and Uncle took him to my work and told him over lunch. Maddox isn't happy and I think he's ready to hurt people."

"Don't tell him where I am."

"I won't. Sam, please go to one of his games before you give birth to the kid. Take care of yourself and I'll see you in two months."

"Okay, I'll show you around town and where I work."

"You got a job? That's great."

I hear a male say. "Maddie is that..."

I hang up the phone.

I can't talk to Maddox right now.

I stop in front of the rundown apartment building I'm staying in.

Whistler exits the building. "Stop loitering girl and get inside. You make the place look dirty."

I laugh. "Yes, Sir." I salute him.

I enter the building and walk up the stairs to my apartment.

A guy run down the steps. His shoulder brushes against mine and I nearly fall down the stairs.

He grabs my arm and tugs me to him. "I'm sorry." He drops his hands.

"Be careful next time." I start to climb the steps.

He grabs my hand. "I'm Jaxon."

"Samantha."

"Do you want to grab dinner sometime?"

"Sure, find me when you want to go on the date."

"Alright, I'll see you around, Sam." He runs out of the building.

The door to my place is ajar.

Whistler walks up the stairs. "Is everything alright, miss."

I shake my head. "The door to my place is ajar. I locked it when I left. What if someone is still in there."

"No ones in there now. If it makes you feel safer I'll check it out for you." He enters the place.

A couple seconds later he exits the room. "It's all clear."

I enter the place and everything is thrown all over the place. The fridge and freezer are open.

I start cleaning up the place.

Someone was after something I don't have.

I don't feel safe here.

I walk into the hardware store.

A guy stops next to me. "Can I help you, Miss?"

I nod. "Sure, I need some locks for my apartment. My place was broken into and I need to feel safer in my place."

Damn, I need to learn when to talk and when to keep my mouth shut.

This is the time when I need it keep my mouth closed.

The guy pulls some things off the shelf. "Is there anything else you need?"

I shake my head. "That should be it." I stop. "Tools, I need something to use to put those in the door."

He picks up the tools and puts it in the pile. "Follow me to the register and I'll ring your order up."

I follow him the register and he puts the items through. I give him the money and take the brown paper bag from the table.

I hear the pounding of feet as I step onto the street.

The guy from the apartment trips over his feet. He lands at my feet.

I laugh. "Hey, handsome."

He looks at me. "Of course it had to be you that I fall in front of."

I help him to his feet.

He points the bag. "What did you get."

"I got some tools and locks for the apartment door."

He shakes his head. "Your place was the one that was broken into?"

I nod. "Yeah, does that happen all the time?"

"No, only to the new people to the apartment. Did you have anything valuable in that house?"

"No, everything I had valuable was left behind with my old life."

"What about the baby?"

"That's another story and something I don't want to talk about."

Jaxon put his hand on the small of my back and we head toward our apartment. "Do you need help installing the stuff you have in the bag?"

"Yes,"

"I'll have a shower and then come over."

Jaxon enters the apartment next to mine.

I put the bag on the floor next to door.

I pull out the mince from the fridge and the spaghetti from the cupboard.

I start making dinner.

There's a knock on the door and I open it.

Jaxon looks great in his jeans and t-shirt. His black hair is tousled from his shower.

I pull the tools out of the bag and give them to him.

He takes it from me. "Thanks, babe."

I check on the food on the stove and turn it to a slow setting. I put a timer on for twenty minutes.

I watch Jaxon put the locks into the door.

The timer goes off and I turn off the stove.

Jaxon stands. "The locks are done. I should go."

"Please, stay. I don't want to be alone." I set two plates on the table.

Jaxon and I sit on the lounge and eat dinner.

Chapter 9

Maddox

I've been looking for Sam for the past week in New York and I haven't had any luck finding her. After tonight's game I brought a ticket to LA I'm going to search her old town for her.

I hope my family will help me find my pregnant 'one night stand.' I don't like the idea of her running through town unprotected.

I wonder if she's told anyone who's the father of the baby she's carrying.

I look at the boys on the field. "Alright, boys make this game count."

There's three minutes on the clock until the games over. My team are in the lead. The score is 50-16.

I want to score a conversion and a goal before the game is over. Samuels has the ball and he runs down the field. Before he's tackled he offloads the ball and I run it down the field. I avoid three players and then I'm tackled. I stand and give the ball to Curtis.

Curtis runs down the field and he avoids a couple of players before he throws the ball back to me. I run over the try line and score for my team.

The buzzer goes off to end the game.

I kick the ball over the goal post and it goes over. The final score is 56-16.

I shake hands with the guys from the other team. I run off the field and have a shower and get changed.

I step out of the change rooms and sign autographs for the kids.

I climb into my limo and tell the driver to take me to the airport.

At the airport I check in and watch my stuff leave my sight on the conveyer belt. I walk through the checkpoints and take a seat at the departure lounge.

I order a drink at the bar.

At midnight I board the plane and take my window seat.

At LA airport my Aunt and Uncle are waiting for me.

I run over to them and give them a hug.

My aunt looks at me. "What are you doing back here?"

I lift my bag on to my shoulder. "I looking for Samantha. She's pregnant with my kid."

"Are you sure it's yours? Her sister has told everyone that she's been sleeping with a whole heap of people after you left."

"I don't believe what the sister said."

My uncle takes my suitcase. "Let's go somewhere for lunch. Lisa and I will tell you what we know about Samantha Black."

At Mason's palace we step out of the car and enter the building. It has chandeliers on the ceiling, the walls are painted a creamy colour with black and white autographs. People are talking over the top of each other and looking over the menus that are placed in front of them.

A girl walks over. "Welcome to Mason's Palace. Would you like a booth or a table?"

"A booth, please. I'd like some privacy while I'm here."

The girl turns to me. "Alright, Mr Colt."

She looks familiar.

She shows us to our table. "I'll be back with some menus."

I remember how I know her. She's Best Friends with Samantha.

The girl places the menus on our table. "I'll give you a couple of minutes to look over your orders."

I watch her take care of other people around the restaurant.

A couple minutes later she returns with notepad and pen. "Can I take your order?"

We give her our orders and she walks away.

"Okay, what do you need to tell me about Samantha?"

"That girl has been kicked out her house and disowned by her family for getting pregnant out of wed lock and trying to ruin her sisters life with your cousin. Samantha Black isn't the type of girl I want my nephew to hang around."

I slam my hand on the table. "It's a good thing it's not you decision on who I fall in love with than. Your son and his wife ruined that girls life. She has no one to turn to. I might have been the last person she could turn to cause I'm the father of her child and I turned my back on her because I believed the lies told by your son and his wife. Since it's clear she's not in town I'm going to finish lunch with you and head back to the airport."

Aunt Lisa shakes her head. "You can't leave Kayne and Gina want to see you.

The waitress walks over and places the food on the table.

How much did she hear.

The girl leaves our table.

Maddie

I can't believe Maddox Colt is standing in front of me with Kayne's parents. "Welcome to Mason's Palace. Would you like a booth or a table?"

"A booth, please. I'd like some privacy while I'm here."

I turn to him. "Alright, Mr Colt."

I show them to a table. "I'll be back with some menus."

I pick up three menus and place it on the table for them. "I'll give you a couple of minutes to look over your orders."

I walk around the room and fill up cups for my patrons and take orders for coffee/tea and deserts. I fill up a couple of glasses with water. After that's done I return with notepad and pen to take Maddox's tables orders." Can I take your order?"

They give me their order and I walk to the kitchen and place it with them. I pick up tea/coffee for my patrons and take it to their tables. I pick up the deserts that were ordered and deliver it to the tables.

I walk over to the kitchen window and look at the orders that are up. I take the food over to a table close to the Colt's.

On the way over to my customers table I hear my Best Friends name mentioned and about her being disowned by her family.

I hate the Colt's.

I place the order at my table and ask them if they need any refreshments. They tell me they're fine.

I walk back over to the kitchen window and pick up the orders for the Colt's table. I place the food in front of them and I leave them to their conversation about my best friend.

At the kitchen I yell. "Frankish, I'm taking my ten minute smoke break."

I don't smoke but I'm going to use this time to call my Best Friend and tell her that Maddox is in town looking for her. I hope this information will bring her back home.

Since I know her too well it won't bring her home. She's a stubborn woman and she hates handouts. She's fierce and loyal. The type of woman you want as a Best Friend.

I pull her name up on my phone and call her.

"Hey, Maddie,"

"Guess who's back in town?" I say.

"I'm not in the mood for games. Who's in town?"

"Maddox Colt."

"What's he doing there?"

"He's looking for you."

I hear her sigh. "Does he know what happened between my parents and me?"

"Yes, his Aunt and Uncle took him to my work and told him over lunch. Maddox isn't happy and I think he's ready to hurt people."

"Don't tell him where I am."

"I won't. Sam, please go to one of his games before you give birth to the kid. Take care of yourself and I'll see you in two months."

"Okay, I'll show you around town and where I work."

"You got a job? That's great."

Maddox comes around the corner. "Maddie is that..."

She hangs up on me.

I nod. "It was. She doesn't want to talk to you Maddox."

"Do you know where she is?"

"I do. When I visit her I'm going to bring her home. I'll call you when she comes back. For now Maddox Colt you concentrate on winning games and making every fan proud to support and your team. Don't stay her a second longer and get sucked into the lies the Colt's tell you."

He sits on the ground. "Is it true about her parents?"

"Yes, it is. You were her last resort of happiness, Maddox. You believed the lies your family told and you lost her. Samantha won't be gone forever. She just needs time. She'd want you to be apart of your child's life."

He hugs me. "Thank you, Maddie."