He didn’t respond. He didn’t have to.
We both knew what his answer was.
Less than a minute later, the door flew open and the nurse charged in with a scowl. She scolded me thoroughly for raising my father’s heart rate and promptly kicked me out.
I muttered an apology and left. My own heart slammed against my rib cage with bruising force.
If you had to choose, who will it be? Your team or your son?
Anyone who wasn’t familiar with Holchester football fan culture would say it was a ridiculous question and that family was the obvious answer, but I’d seen men go to prison for beating another senseless over a missed penalty kick. Others have taken out bank loans to buy merch and follow the team around the world.
For some people, football mattered more than anything else. I had a sinking suspicion my father was one of them.
“What happened?” my mother asked when I stepped into the hall. Her worried eyes traveled from my face to my father’s room and back again. She must’ve heard the nurse yelling at me. “What did he say to you?”
What did he say to me, not what did I say to him.
As much as she loved my father, she was well aware of his faults and our long-running dynamic.
“The usual.” I didn’t look at Scarlett, who stood quietly next to my mother. I was too embarrassed by the family drama. “I’m sorry, I should’ve kept my cool. I know how he can get, and he just had a heart attack. I shouldn’t have risen to the bait.”
My mother glanced at the window again. “He’ll be okay.” Anxiety threaded her voice, but she didn’t press for more details. “I know how your father can get too.” She touched my arm with a gentle hand. “Why don’t you and Scarlett go to our house and freshen up? There’s no use having all three of us wait around when his condition is stable. I’ll stay and call you if anything changes.”
“Are you sure?” It would be nice to change into a more day-appropriate outfit. I kept an emergency stash of clothes at my parents’ house for occasions just like this.
“Yes. I need someone to bring me a change of clothes and lunch anyway. Don’t make me eat hospital canteen food.”
I cracked a real smile this time. “Change of clothes and lunch. Got it.”
“Don’t rush back,” my mother warned. “I don’t need you getting a speeding ticket.” She gave me a gentle shove toward Scarlett. “Now go.”
So we went.
CHAPTER 25SCARLETT
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Asher’s childhood home. A giant football-shaped halo, maybe, or some other sign that it once housed a future superstar.
Instead, I was greeted with a normal house that looked like every other on the block. White window frames, brick walls, a little black gate separating the front garden from the pavement.
“I’m sorry. This probably wasn’t how you imagined spending your Saturday,” Asher said ruefully as he unlocked the front door.
“I didn’t have anything special planned, and I’ve never been to Holchester, so I actually have to thank you for the free trip,” I said, earning myself a quick smile. I hesitated, then asked more softly, “How are you feeling?”
He didn’t tell me what happened in his father’s hospital room, and I didn’t ask. However, the argument had clearly taken a toll on him. His eyes lacked their usual sparkle, and exhaustion darkened the grooves of his face.
I wasn’t used to seeing him so subdued. The sight sent an unexpected pang through my chest.
“When I figure it out, I’ll let you know,” he said with a short laugh. “Coming home is always an experience. I hope my mother didn’t scare you off too badly with her interrogation.”
“No, she was lovely.” Pippa had startled me with her initial barrage of questions, but we had a nice chat while Asher was with his father. I could tell she truly loved her son and wanted what was best for him, even if she was a bit…intense about the grandchildren thing. “But she kept mentioning something about me and Hedy Lamarr?”
“Famous movie star from the forties,” Asher said. “My mum’s a big fan of classic Hollywood, and you look a lot like Hedy.”
“I’ll take it as a compliment.” Looking like a movie star could only be a good thing, right?
“You should.” His mouth quirked. “She’s probably imagining little Lamarr clones running around her back garden right now.”
I huffed out a laugh even as my heart tripped at the thought of having babies with him. It was way too early to think about that considering we hadn’t even clarified our relationship status yet, but for the briefest of moments, I allowed myself to indulge in the fantasy.
The prospect of marriage and children with Asher wasn’t as scary as I thought it’d be, which was worrisome in and of itself.
We’d had sex once. I was not going to be the person who started planning her wedding in a state of orgasm-fueled delusion, so I shoved the image of little green-eyed babies to the back of my mind as he showed me the house.
It was cozy and charmingly lived-in, with family photos strewn across various surfaces and an array of tchotchkes from France, Italy, Australia, and other holiday destinations. However, the overwhelming decor theme was football, especially in the den and front hall. I felt like I was walking through a Holchester FC gift shop.
“You weren’t kidding when you said your dad’s a Holchester fan,” I said, equal parts impressed and alarmed.
Posters of the team decorated the walls, the edges curled and yellowing from age and wear. A shirt signed by the entire 2018 team was framed and displayed like the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. Photos of Asher in his Holchester kit lined the mantel along with a miniature gold football.
I noticed there were no photos of him in Blackcastle colors on display.
“Fan? More like fanatic.” Asher didn’t look at the mantel on our way past.
“I suppose. Either way, it seems like today’s the day for home tours,” I said lightly, hoping to soften the broodiness shadowing his face.
It didn’t work.
