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hated him and seemed to live to ride his ass for every misstep. He knew he’d stepped out of bounds when he asked out both of their women, but in his defense if his teammates couldn’t close the deal then it should have been every man for himself. Football is a team sport, but sex was a one-on-one game. “Coach has a big mouth.”
    Terell shook his head. “We share agents.”
    Billy had warned Carlos not to interfere again. He’d fire the prick, but he was the rare combination of genius and shark. His clients received the best contracts and the most lucrative endorsements. The man even plotted out the future, for life after football, which no player could conceive of while playing. Call it a superstition, call it ego, or maybe a little of both.
    Since his teammates knew about his daughter, Billy better get around to telling his father. He dreaded the conversation knowing his father would blow up. Even as a man Billy still tried to please him. Why? Habit? The easy way out? It was something he needed to examine. Dating Angel had pissed off his father and it was the first time and last time they’d ever gone head-to-head. Angel only proved his father right by tearing out his heart.
    But now grandpa would just have to deal with it. Hell, if Gabriela couldn’t melt his father’s steel-dipped heart, then there was no hope for the man. Regardless, Billy wasn’t going anywhere and planned to be a major part of Gabriela’s life.
    “Did you get a DNA test?” asked Miller.
    Billy fisted his hands, fighting the instinct to punch Miller in the mouth. He shot back a retort instead, “Did you ask Hannah for one? If I remember, you two split for a while last year.” He knew the comment would drive Miller crazy, since Billy had asked out the supermodel at the time.
    Miller pointed a finger at him. “If we weren’t teammates I’d be scraping what’s left of you off of my cleats.” Miller stormed off to the locker room.
    Billy laughed it off, but his humor quickly faded when Terell gripped him by the jersey and tugged him forward.
    “You’re an asshole,” said Terell. “You’re not a rookie anymore. Grow the fuck up.”
    Before Billy could reply with an insincere apology, Terell pulled at Billy’s jersey again. “We’re only looking out for you.” The frustration on Terell’s face was not an act.
    Holy crap . Terell wasn’t kidding. Billy had been so busy trying to prove himself an asset to the team that maybe he hadn’t realized Terell had been trying to mentor him all along. Perhaps all those perceived digs about his play had actually been constructive criticism. Stunned by the truth, Billy decided to chuck the chip on his shoulder and his bad boy ways for the good of the team and for the sake of his daughter. “Sorry, man.”
    Terell let go of his jersey and gave him a light shove. “It’s not me you need to apologize to.”
    “Yeah, I’ll get on it.” Billy turned to go and Terell followed.
    “Burner, watch out for Marcus tomorrow. He hits hard.”
    The Texas Stars lineman was feared throughout the league but Billy never showed fear and normally Terell didn’t either, which was a bad sign for his teammate. Had Terell lost his edge? Is that why he had announced his retirement after the upcoming season? “He’s gotta catch me first.”
    “You know Marcus is not going to be the only one to enjoy seeing that smirk of yours pounded into the turf on Sunday.”
    Billy might not be afraid of going one on one on the field against Marcus but as he approached Miller in the locker room his insides shook. “Look man, I⁠—”
    “Forgotten.” Miller and Burner bumped fists. “Hopefully your kid doesn’t look like you.”
    Relieved, Billy laughed and then shook his head. “Looks like her mother, except for the eyes.” And why he didn’t need a DNA test. This unspoken truth lay between them, as did the awkward silence, which seem to drown out the shouts of the other players and music blaring in the