Read Online A Different Christmas (University Park #5) by CM Doporto - Free Book Online
Authors: CM Doporto
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Collin, Lexi’s ex. We weren’t close friends, but he had stood by my side at both of my hearings when PHU was determining whether I would be able to stay or would have to go. We had talked a few times on the phone — big brother made sure I knew what he thought about me leaving his sister.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s cool.” Luke handed me a water bottle.
I chugged a third of the bottle and took a deep breath. “No…things are fine. Well, life is great, just a little stressful right now.”
“I hear ya. But your stress is the good kind.”
I half smiled. “Better than the alternative.”
“You’re right about that.” Luke patted me on the shoulder and encouraged me to sit on a bench. “So, aside from landing the position of starting quarterback and expecting twins in a couple weeks, what’s the problem?”
I shot him an ‘ are you serious?’ look.
“Just kidding. I know that’s what bothering you.” He took a seat next to me at the opposite end of the bench.
“It’s a lot, man. I’m stoked about Sunday’s game, but concerned about Lexi. She needs me right now, but I have to focus on Sunday’s game. It’s not easy balancing the two. I also have to work hard if I want to be able to start the following week.”
“I get it.” Luke nodded. “This is your job, and right now, it’s really demanding. The good thing is, Lexi has your mom and grandmother for support.”
“I know.” I released another heavy breath. “I wish your mom would come stay with her, but Lexi said she has to help your sister, Ashley, with her kids.”
Luke’s made a twisted face. “My mother is lying. She never watches Ashley’s kids. Besides, you don’t want her here. Trust me. She’ll get in between you and Lexi and cause problems. Lexi’s better off with your family helping her.”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “I’m trying to get on your mom’s good side.”
“There is no good side, man.” Luke’s voice deepened. “Only the dark side.”
“You make her sound like Darth Vader.”
“She’s more like Senator Palpatine, evil flowing thick in her veins.”
I laughed. “Don’t tell me you have the Imperial March song tagged to her profile in your phone.”
“Hell yeah I do. We all do. Including my dad,” he said, matter of fact. “The person you should be focused on is my dad. Screw my mom. She has issues.”
“Believe me, I want to.” I grabbed my hand towel and wiped the sweat from my face.
“What?” Luke’s head swung in my direction. “You want to screw my mom?”
“Huh?” I pulled the towel away and it dawned on me what I said. “No. I mean, I’m trying to earn your dad’s respect.” Relief washed across his face. “I know he wasn’t happy with what I did, but I’m trying hard to make up for my shortcomings. Really hard.”
“I know you are. But if you want to get on my dad’s good side, you need to provide for Lexi and your kids. Which you are already doing.”
“I want her to see what I’m doing is for her and the twins — it’s all for us.” I waved a hand around the training room. “I’m not doing this for me alone. Sure, it’s a dream come true, but I have a family to think about now. Things have changed.”
“You’ve changed. I can tell.” Luke gave me an approving nod.
“I had to.” I leaned forward, resting my arms on my thighs. “When I found out Lexi was pregnant, that changed everything. The last thing I wanted was for her to raise our children by herself. I love Lexi and I don’t ever want to be without her again.”
“Then why did you leave? If you cared about her so much, why did you think she didn’t want to be with you? Lexi’s not that type of person. Money and fame don’t matter to her.”
My head lowered toward the floor. I hated hearing about my mistakes, but I guess I couldn’t blame Luke for wanting some answers. “I was so selfish and felt so worthless when I got kicked out of PHU. With all hope of
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s cool.” Luke handed me a water bottle.
I chugged a third of the bottle and took a deep breath. “No…things are fine. Well, life is great, just a little stressful right now.”
“I hear ya. But your stress is the good kind.”
I half smiled. “Better than the alternative.”
“You’re right about that.” Luke patted me on the shoulder and encouraged me to sit on a bench. “So, aside from landing the position of starting quarterback and expecting twins in a couple weeks, what’s the problem?”
I shot him an ‘ are you serious?’ look.
“Just kidding. I know that’s what bothering you.” He took a seat next to me at the opposite end of the bench.
“It’s a lot, man. I’m stoked about Sunday’s game, but concerned about Lexi. She needs me right now, but I have to focus on Sunday’s game. It’s not easy balancing the two. I also have to work hard if I want to be able to start the following week.”
“I get it.” Luke nodded. “This is your job, and right now, it’s really demanding. The good thing is, Lexi has your mom and grandmother for support.”
“I know.” I released another heavy breath. “I wish your mom would come stay with her, but Lexi said she has to help your sister, Ashley, with her kids.”
Luke’s made a twisted face. “My mother is lying. She never watches Ashley’s kids. Besides, you don’t want her here. Trust me. She’ll get in between you and Lexi and cause problems. Lexi’s better off with your family helping her.”
“I guess.” I shrugged. “I’m trying to get on your mom’s good side.”
“There is no good side, man.” Luke’s voice deepened. “Only the dark side.”
“You make her sound like Darth Vader.”
“She’s more like Senator Palpatine, evil flowing thick in her veins.”
I laughed. “Don’t tell me you have the Imperial March song tagged to her profile in your phone.”
“Hell yeah I do. We all do. Including my dad,” he said, matter of fact. “The person you should be focused on is my dad. Screw my mom. She has issues.”
“Believe me, I want to.” I grabbed my hand towel and wiped the sweat from my face.
“What?” Luke’s head swung in my direction. “You want to screw my mom?”
“Huh?” I pulled the towel away and it dawned on me what I said. “No. I mean, I’m trying to earn your dad’s respect.” Relief washed across his face. “I know he wasn’t happy with what I did, but I’m trying hard to make up for my shortcomings. Really hard.”
“I know you are. But if you want to get on my dad’s good side, you need to provide for Lexi and your kids. Which you are already doing.”
“I want her to see what I’m doing is for her and the twins — it’s all for us.” I waved a hand around the training room. “I’m not doing this for me alone. Sure, it’s a dream come true, but I have a family to think about now. Things have changed.”
“You’ve changed. I can tell.” Luke gave me an approving nod.
“I had to.” I leaned forward, resting my arms on my thighs. “When I found out Lexi was pregnant, that changed everything. The last thing I wanted was for her to raise our children by herself. I love Lexi and I don’t ever want to be without her again.”
“Then why did you leave? If you cared about her so much, why did you think she didn’t want to be with you? Lexi’s not that type of person. Money and fame don’t matter to her.”
My head lowered toward the floor. I hated hearing about my mistakes, but I guess I couldn’t blame Luke for wanting some answers. “I was so selfish and felt so worthless when I got kicked out of PHU. With all hope of
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