Quarterback: Bad Boy Sport Star Romance. (15 page)

Grant’s ready to leave the office. He’s been itching for a drink ever since the day started. A glass of whiskey, on the rocks, would be good right now, and he’s decided to head down to the nearby bar around the block. He closes his briefcase and turns around, but when he opens the door, Adelaide’s standing there, her fist propped against the door as if she was about to knock.

“Ade…” he says, unsure of what to say. It’s been a few days since their first date, the same night he got into a fight with Nathan and hurt her. “Come in.”

The whiskey will have to wait
.

Adelaide doesn’t sit down. There’s a paper in her hands which she hands to Grant.

“I also sent you an email, but I needed to do it in person as well,” she says, voice soft and fragile.

Grant skims through the letter, and the more he reads, the more he bites into his lip. There’s bound to be blood coming out of his lip with what he’s doing. He places the letter on his desk, even if his original plan is to shred the paper into strips.

“I’m not allowing you to resign,” Grant says, the boss in him surfacing.

Ade breathes out a sigh.
Will she fight fire with fire? Fight with the man she-

“I don’t think that’s up to you,” she answers, tone a matter-of-factly. There’s no sarcasm or pointedness in her voice. She’s just stating things as they are.

“Then tell me why you’re resigning,” Grant says, working around her words and adapting to the flow of conversation. He’s a master negotiator, has a way around words and discussions, and he’s going to use it right now if that means stopping Ade from making a mistake. “Give me a good enough reason. Are we not paying you enough? Are you not growing anymore in the company? Have your skills plateaued?”

Ade shakes her head – just the answer Grant expects.

“So tell me, Ade…” Her eyes fly up at the mention of her nickname, and she can feel her resolve softening a bit. “Why do you really want to resign?” When she stays silent, Grant hits a nerve. “It’s me, isn’t it?”

Slowly, Grant walks closer to Adelaide. He sees her wanting to take a step back, but she doesn’t go through with it. The closer Grant gets, the more Adelaide loses her composure. She knows that by resigning, she’s being a coward, walking away instead of facing her fears head on.

“
This
…
you
...scare me,” Ade says, her voice almost a whisper. “I’ve been dreaming of this day in my head, Grant. I know you’re way out of my league, so I never expected you to ask me out and like me back. I’m scared of whatever we have. It’s bound to end with our differences. But I’m also scared of…of who you are…”

Grant stays silent. He knows Ade has a lot to say.

“I thought I was only keeping your secret. That I can do…” she continues. “But now…the more I fall for you…the more I’m risking myself. I know you never meant to hurt me that night you and Nathan fought, but I’d rather avoid the opportunity completely…”

“Ade…” It’s the first time she’s heard Grant plead. It’s so unlike him to beg, and here he is doing just that. “I promise that will never happen again. I was scared Nate was going to come after you, so I did what I did. I only wanted to protect you…”

“I know…”

“I can’t,” Grant then says, finally closing the distance between them entirely. He wraps his arms around Adelaide’s waist and pulls her flush against him. He feels Ade’s warm breath against his neck as she relaxes into him. “I can’t let you resign. I can’t let you go.” There’s a quick pause until Grant says in a much firmer voice, “I want you in my life.”

Another warm breath leaves Ade as her arms automatically wrap around Grant’s waist. She knows his touch is dangerous; she knows she won’t be able to go through with what she originally came here to do.

“I promise I’ll protect you,” Grant says once more. “I know you’re scared of me, of what I can do…what I am…but I’ll protect you…from others and from myself.”

Then, Grant pulls away as he stares into her gray eyes. She’s tearing up a bit, and he rubs the pads of his thumbs against her cheeks.

“Don’t cry…”

Adelaide manages a small smile, and it’s enough for Grant to melt inside. The day he hired her, he knew he was attracted to her physically, but the more they worked together, the more Grant found out there was more to Adelaide Miller than a beautiful face and a banging body. She’s dependable and trustworthy – traits that are very important to him with the kind of secret he has.

“Tears of joy,” Ade says, as Grant feels her squeeze her arms around him tighter. “I’ll hold on to your promise…since I know you’re never one to break them.”

Grant furrows his eyebrows together.
Is she giving him the ‘go’?
A small chuckle leaves Ade’s mouth before she tips her head into a nod. Grant smiles, a full-wattage one, before he leans his head down and meets her lips with his. Ade melts into him as her lips move against Grant’s. She keeps her eyes shut tight, but she can feel Grant smile against the kiss.
We’ll be okay
.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the car home?” Grant asks when Ade tells him she’s leaving the office. “It’s late, and it’s much safer to use a car.”

Ade shakes her head as she walks over to Grant to give him a quick kiss on the lips. With plans to open offices in other regions, Grant’s been working close to midnight every day. Some days, Ade busies herself with her own work and waits up for him. Other days, all she wants is to get away from the office.

“I miss walking and taking the train,” she says, with a small laugh. “I haven’t even taken the subway since we started dating.”

Dating – it’s such a casual word, but Grant and Ade don’t need to label their relationship. It’s only been a number of weeks, four at most, but they know their feelings for each other run deeper than what time and society dictate.

“Fine, then,” Grant says, standing up from his seat and walking her to the elevators. “Message me once you get home.”

Inside the elevator, Grant’s tempted to back Adelaide against a wall. There’s enough time for a quick make-out session, but the security camera at the corner is a big enough distraction. Ade pushes Grant away with a chuckle when he teases her and presses his chest against her whole body.

“Stop, Grant…” she says, smiling from ear to ear. “Just a little patience. I’ll see you when you get home.”

After a kiss and a quick wave ‘goodbye’, Ade leaves the office building and pulls her coat tighter around her. She misses walking home and taking the train. She loves hearing random noises, immersing herself in city lights, and watching strangers pass her by. She loves the city, its life – and that’s something walking allows her to experience.

The train station is a couple of blocks away. It’s a couple hours before midnight, but there are still a number of people milling about the streets. They’re not too empty, but they’re not too crowded either. Ade’s been listening to music on her earphones, but she presses ‘pause’ when she feels a figure, or more, looming behind her.

“Hey, gorgeous,” says a masculine voice, and she automatically feels a shiver run down her spine.

“What do you have there?”

She walks faster, as fast as her heels can take her, but the men show no sign of stopping. They’re chuckling behind her, and she knows the moment she turns around to face them, they’re going to rob her. Ade’s waits for them to attack; she knows there’s no running away from thieves, until she hears a familiar voice behind her.

“I suggest you stop harassing the woman,” she hears the man say, and when Adelaide turns around, she meets Nathan’s eyes.

The men, three of them, laugh.
What harm can a preppy guy cause?

Ade rushes to Nathan’s side, and she’s wishing the three men would just leave if they know what’s good for them. It’s been a month since Grant and Nathan’s confrontation, a month since she’s last spoken with him.

One of the robbers swings his arm and tries to punch the side of Nathan’s face. The man, with the speed and agility of a lion, effortlessly ducks away before he lands a blow right on the man’s nose. As blood spills down his broken nose and bruised lips, he turns and runs away. It’s smart of his accomplices to follow his lead and run behind him. When the thieves round a corner and disappear, Nathan turns to face Ade.

“What are you doing walking late at night?!” he asks incredulously. “Why aren’t you taking Grant’s car?”

She smiles sheepishly at him. “I wanted some fresh air.”

At that, Nathan shakes his head, but there’s an inkling of a smile on his face. Before Nathan can open his mouth to speak, Ade takes the opportunity to do so. She has a lot to say to the man.

“Thanks, Nathan,” she says. “You saved me tonight…” Nathan knows she’s not finished, so he stays silent as they walk along the street. “But more than that, I’m sorry with what’s happened with you and Grant.” She feels the coming of a rant. “I knew you were only trying to protect Melissa, the same as what Grant did to me.” At this, Nathan nods his head. “For what it’s worth, I hope you and Grant bury the hatchet. I know how close you are. I also know he’d rather bury himself in work than face his personal problems…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Nathan finally speaks. “We’ve never really stayed mad at each other for too long. We’re okay, actually. It’s Melissa I’m worried about…she can’t forgive herself for doing that to Grant. She just wants their friendship to go back to the way it was…”

“I’m not condoning what she did...” There’s a wariness in Ade’s voice, the kind of uncertainty that gives Nathan hope. “But I believe you if you say she’s really sorry…I think I can help with that.”

“What’s this?” Grant asks, his arms falling from around Ade’s waist to his side.

Before them, seated at the table, are Nathan and Melissa. They stand up to kiss Adelaide on the cheek, and Grant looks dumbfounded at the three of them.

“Never knew you were best friends,” Grant tells his girlfriend, as he turns to Nathan and pats his friend on the back.

The tension between Grant and Nathan is almost negligible now.
Time does heal all wounds
. As for Melissa, it’s a different story since trust is something he considers vital in relationships. Melissa tries to make a move – a handshake or a kiss on the cheek – but Grant steps back. He scoots into the booth and Ade takes the space beside him.

“Hey, man,” Nathan says, trying to ease the tension between his girlfriend and his best friend. “Melissa wants to say something.”

“Last time you said that, we almost killed each other,” Grant replies, a hint of amusement in his tone. Then, he turns to Ade, who has a hand on his knee. “You’re smart, aren’t you? Bringing us in a crowded restaurant?”

“Of course. This way, you’ll behave,” she says, kissing him on the cheek, before she turns to face Nathan. “Have I told you I almost got mugged a few nights ago?”

She sees the rise of Grant’s shoulders as he balls his hand into a fist. “What!? Was this when you decided to walk home for some fresh air?”

Ade tips her head, trying not to chuckle. Grant
can
be overprotective at times.

“Yes, but Nathan was there,” she says. “He took care of it…of me. And he was just taking care of Melissa
that night
.”

“So you’re ganging up on me?” Grant says, twisting his lips up into a smirk. He’s not angry; he’s more amused actually at his girlfriend and his best friend working together. “Are we going to braid each other’s hair now?”

Ade shakes her head. Grant can be too stubborn for his own good sometimes.

“You’ve forgiven Nathan,” Ade starts, and she knows Grant isn’t going to like her next words, so she places a hand on his shoulder to relax him a bit. “I think it’s time to forgive Melissa.”

When Nathan and Ade turn to face the redhead, they give her a nod of support.

“Grant, I’m really sorry,” she says, fumbling for something inside her pouch. She takes out a small vial containing a clear liquid, and Grant doesn’t have to ask what it is. It’s a memory loss potion. “I know you won’t be able to trust me ever again, but I’ll do what I can to try to earn it back.”

Slowly, she twists the lid open and pours the liquid into her glass of wine. Her fingers close around the stem of the glass before she raises the tip closer to her mouth.

“I’m really sorry for what I did…” she says. There’s only genuineness in her voice; that much Grant can tell. As she tips the glass to the edge of her lips, Grant tells her stop.

“Melissa…” he says, reaching for her arm and bringing the glass back down on the table spread. “You don’t have to.”

Nathan and Adelaide look at each other at the sudden turn of events. Now, they don’t know what’s happening. This, Grant stopping Melissa, isn’t part of the plan.

“I know how much you love Nate. You love and trust him so much you told him my secret,” Grant begins. He lets his shoulders fall, letting the tension leave his body. “And I know my friend loves you as much…if he’s willing to get into a fight with me.”

Grant lets out a heavy sigh. He doesn’t want to do it, but he knows it’s the right and respectable thing to do.

“If you drink that potion, you won’t remember anything related to my secret…and to Nathan’s as well. That means you won’t remember a major part of who Nate is. And I don’t think that’s fair.” Slowly, Nathan and Ade slowly tip their lips up into a smile at hearing Grant’s words. “So I wouldn’t drink the potion if I were you. If Nathan trusts you, then I should learn to do so too.”

Grant reaches for Nathan’s whiskey across the table and finishes it in one go. He feels the alcohol rush down his throat and he shakes his head at the sting.
It’s exactly what he needs
. When he meets Melissa’s eyes, all he sees is gratefulness as the woman leans her head on Nathan’s shoulder. He may not have fully forgiven her for what she did, but he’s not going to get in the way of love.

He wouldn’t want anyone getting in between Adelaide and him.

“Excuse me,” Grant says, stopping a server mid-walk. “Can we please get a bottle of your best wine?”

The waiter sends a small smile and nod Grant’s way before he heads over to the cellar. When the waiter returns and pours the red into their glasses, Grant’s the first to hold his glass up in the air.

“To friends,” he says, his eyes dancing from Nathan and Melissa, and last but not least, to Ade.

“To friends.”