Defending Hayden (Second Chances #7)(16)

“No,” I blurted out incredulously. “I told you it’s nothing like that. On my way home from practice the other night, I found her on the side of the road with an injured dog. I helped her, that’s it.”

“So who is this Hayden?”

“A veterinarian at Stonebrooke.”

The way he looked at me, I knew he could see right through me. “And you didn’t get your phone back when you saw her again?”

I pursed my lips. “It slipped my mind.”

“Or maybe it gives you a reason to see her again,” he teased.

I snorted and waved him off, even though he might’ve had a point. I’d known she still had my phone, but I’d chosen not to say anything. What the hell was I doing?

“Not going to happen,” I replied flippantly.

“Why not?” We started walking toward the door, but now he looked serious. “There’s nothing wrong with you being interested in a woman. It’s bound to happen at some point.”

“I know, but I don’t know if it’s something I’m ready to think about.”

He opened the door and smiled. “How do you know if you don’t at least try?”

As much as I wanted to deny it, he made perfect sense.

—

After practice, some of the guys wanted to grab drinks; I hadn’t really explained to them that I’d quit for the time being. One beer always led to others, and I didn’t want to fall back into the dark hole I’d been in for so long. It was best that I stayed away from it. Evan and Cooper were the only ones who knew how low I’d actually gotten.

“See you tomorrow, D,” Evan shouted, throwing his bag in the back of his car.

“Are you going to the tavern tonight?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Lara and Grayson said they’re fine on their own. I’m going to spend some time with the family. You should stop by and hang out. I know Summer would love to see you.”

“I promise I will soon” was all I could say.

I was happy for him, but I was also envious. I was ready for a family, but they’d been taken away from me. It was hard seeing others happy with theirs. I’d often wondered why it had to be Brianna who paid the price. She was a good girl and would do anything for anyone. I would’ve gladly given my own life to keep her safe. It wasn’t fair.

Evan accepted my answer and waved before getting into his car. My stomach growled, but the last thing I wanted to do was eat takeout again. On the way home, I decided to stop by the grocery store. I was a country boy, so meat and potatoes were the way to my heart. As I walked down the aisles, I could hear the snapping sound of pictures being taken. It was hard to go anywhere without someone recognizing you. Most of the time I just pretended ignorance, like I didn’t notice them trying to be sly.

“Excuse me,” a woman said from behind. I turned around and she waved nervously. “You’re Derek McLauglin, right?”

“I am,” I said.

“See, I told you, Momma,” the little boy in the buggy said. He had to be about eight years old; his whole face was beaming. He had on a red and white football jersey, the colors of our local Belmont team.

“What position do you play?” I asked him.

He puffed up his chest. “Linebacker, just like you. I want to be you when I grow up.”

I burst out laughing. “Is that so?” I walked over and gave him a high five. “I bet you’ll be better than me one day. Maybe I’ll see you on TV.”

He nodded vigorously. “You know it.”

His mother held up her phone. “Do you mind if I take a picture of you two? The odds of this happening again are slim to none.”

“Of course,” I agreed, lifting her son in my arms. He held on tight and giggled the entire time. I loved kids. They were always so full of life and eager to learn. The camera flashed, and I set the boy back in the cart. “Take care, little man.”

They walked off, and the second I turned back to my buggy, a woman with a warm smile greeted me. She had on the same pink scrubs, but now her hair was down, framing her heart-shaped face. “I guess you can’t go anywhere without someone noticing you, can you?” she asked.

“Not usually, but I don’t mind it.”

“So what are you doing here? I figured a person like you would have someone who did this stuff for you.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my gaze humorously. “Are you saying I’m not capable of doing my own grocery shopping?”

“Oh my God, no, not at all. I just figured…” She slapped a hand on her forehead and chuckled. “What I wanted to say was that I didn’t think high-profile players would just go out in public and do their shopping. I guess if I were you, I’d be worried about being mobbed by my fans.”

I shook my head. “This is a small town. Nothing like that has happened to me yet. Now, when I go to my hometown in Oneida, that’s a different story. It can get pretty crazy there.”

“I’ll bet. You’re a superstar there.” She glanced at the contents in my cart and lifted her brows. “You must love steak.”

“I’m a growing boy, what can I say?” I teased. I copied her and looked into her cart. “And you must love ice cream.” The second I’d said it, I wished I could take it back. I knew better than to tease a woman who ate sweets. Most women would think I was calling them fat. Luckily, she shook her head and grinned.