Chapter 13

Billie took the apartment keys, then with a shake of her head she reached into the locker, grabbing out Jay’s dirty clothes and stuffing them into the gym bag folded at the bottom of the locker.

“May as well catch up on his laundry while I’m here.” She muttered, hating to come across all ‘mom’, but unable to stop herself doing it.

Nick just grinned, waiting while she zipped the bag, then he took it from her and slung it over his shoulder, his hand again sliding easily onto her back to direct her movement.

“C’mon.” He said softly. “Pretty sure Coach won’t need me, but I should check.”

“Y’know, I can get a cab to Jay’s place.” Billie said as they headed toward the field, but Nick shook his head.

“Nope. I’ll drive you.” His eyes twinkled as he grinned at her. “Bet I can out-stubborn you.”

“I doubt that.” Billie smiled. “But okay - thanks for the ride.”

He bit back any comment he might make about repayment in kind, just nodding as they got to the field. After a quick word with Coach, verifying that he wasn’t needed, he came back to Billie’s side.

“Let’s go, then.” He turned away from the field, heading in a different direction as he went for the staff car park.

Billie waved to Coach and the players, who yelled goodbyes as they left, but Mike was watching Nick darkly, knowing the guy was married but also knowing him well enough to see his intentions toward the woman currently following him.

“Fuckin’ prick.” He muttered to nobody in particular. Maybe he’d take a trip out and visit Jay later.

Nick led Billie to a car which was pretty much what she’d expected of him - black and sleek, crouched in the parking lot like a half-tame beast. He dropped Jay’s bag into the trunk then frowned in confusion.

“Uh, where’s your stuff, Billie?”

“In here.” She hefted the oversized purse on her shoulder. “I was in a hurry to get here - just threw in a clean shirt and underwear.”

“Oh. Okay. Did you want me to stop somewhere so you can buy anything?”

“No, s’fine. Jay told me his apartment is near a decent mall - I’ll take a run out later. Right now I just need to shower.” She replied as Nick opened the car door and helped her in, closing the door before he murmured a response.

“I can work with the shower.” He mumbled to himself, trying to hide the smirk since he was trying to be all supportive and friendly right now.

Traffic was light, and Jay’s apartment wasn’t far away, so the trip didn’t even take ten minutes, Nick pulling into the adjacent parking lot and stopping the car.

“This is us.” He opened his door, but before he could get around the hood to do his gentlemanly act Billie was out of the car and standing looking up at the building.

He led her into the building, knowing Jay’s apartment number and so heading for the elevator and punching the button for Jay’s floor. When they reached the apartment Billie unlocked the door then turned to face Nick with a smile.

“Thanks, Nick. For the ride and for the……friendliness. I’ll maybe see you around.”

He blinked in surprise. That wasn’t quite how he’d seen this going. But, ever the optimist, and more than willing to bide his time - hell, wasn’t as though he was pushed for female company, his darling wife was waiting at home after all, and she was always available for a fuck if there wasn’t a better offer - he just smiled, reaching past her to drop Jay’s bag on the floor.

“You’re welcome, Billie. Here….” He handed her his business card. “That’s my cell number - gimme a call and I’ll take you out for that coffee. Probably see you at the hospital, too.”

Not that he’d intended spending much time there, but Billie’s gentle refusal of what hadn’t yet been suggested only piqued his interest. The chase was, after all, most of the fun for him. Once he caught - and bedded - his prey, the game was pretty well over. So he just relished the challenge as a sweetener to the inevitable victory. For now, he reached out and hugged her gently, Billie rubbing her hands on his back before they stepped apart again.

“I’ll see ya.” He winked, and left her there at the apartment door.

Billie watched him for a moment, then she stepped into the apartment and closed the door, almost immediately hit by the odour of stale pizza. Wrinkling her nose distastefully, she headed deeper into the apartment, leaving Jay’s bag where it lay for now.

An hour later, the apartment no longer smelled like the morning-after in a pizza restaurant, with the windows opened wide and the far more appealing smell of fresh coffee scenting the air. Billie had filled the washing machine - one thing she’d insisted on was that Jay should find somewhere he didn’t need to go use a communal laundry. Something about that scenario had always bugged her for some reason - no doubt down to her country-girl mentality - and he’d grudgingly acquiesced to her demand, though pointed out reasonably that he was a professional athlete - not a fresh-faced little girl leaving home. Billie had smiled, nodded……..and insisted.

While the first load of laundry swished around in the machine, she took a long, leisurely shower, letting the water ease her tension. Part of that tension, obviously, was due to Jay’s injury and the whole worry over that, but there was also a healthy dollop of stress over the sudden meeting with Jon, and her attempts to dissuade him from ruining his marriage over something that happened so long ago.

The crazy thing was, she loved him. Not in the way his wife did, certainly - Dorothea had the right to him, earned over a couple of decades of faithfulness and support - but Billie loved him for the son he’d given her. Loved him for the man he’d been when he was with her, and the man he’d become over the years. Loved him for his philanthropy……and, sure, hated him at times for ripping her guts out with his lyrics. Damn if loving that man didn’t complicate her life, but since the day he’d ridden away she’d been able to deal with it, knowing she’d never see him again, or if she did - when she had - he’d be up on stage, unreachable rockstar, and she’d be down in the crowd, just one more adoring face among thousands. She’d been to a few of the band’s concerts over the years, and when she’d seen him perform Dry County - she always thought of it as ‘her’ song - she’d been moved to tears every time, remembering that night so long ago when he’d penned the song, sitting half-naked on her couch.

Shaking off the flood of memories as she toweled herself dry, Billie went through to Jay’s bedroom and found her bag, pulling on the clean underwear and shirt, not bothering with jeans just yet as she went to fill a mug with the coffee which was now ready. She sipped at the strong brew as she emptied the laundry into the dryer, then she went to the bedroom again, stripping off the sheets so she could remake the bed for herself. Once all those horribly motherly things were done, his apartment clean and his bed freshly made, she pulled on her jeans and grabbed her purse. Looked like she’d be here a few days, so it probably made sense to go get some fresh clothes. And perhaps something pretty, if the handsome and attentive Nick was going to take her out somewhere.

Chapter 12

While Jay was flirting - pretty successfully - with his new friend Kadie, his mother was waiting patiently outside for her cab, and by the time she was in the back of the vehicle Jay was wincing theatrically as Kadie - so gently he barely felt it - drew blood from him for tests.

“Don’t I even get a lollipop?” He asked with a pout as she declared herself finished, and she laughed, liking this handsome young man a lot already.

“Sorry. Nope.”

“Damn.” He flicked her a wicked smirk. “What about something else for me to suck on?”

For just a moment, Kadie’s mouth fell open. Damn, but he was forward. Not that it was necessarily a bad thing - her last boyfriend had been undemonstrative to the point she didn’t know if he even cared about her - but it was refreshing. And of course he was a patient, dammit, so out of bounds for her.

Jay misread her silence, raising a hand apologetically.

“Sorry, Kadie. I guess sometimes I just don’t think before I speak.”

“S’okay.” She assured him, smiling again. “I could say that I thought it would be more my job. Sucking, I mean. But you’re a patient, Jay, so……”

“Professional ethics?” He asked, then when she nodded he pretended to yell. “Doc? I wanna sign myself outta here!”

“You’re a nut.” Kadie laughed, gathering up her vampire kit, stilling as Jay laid a gentle hand on hers.

“Don’t run off. Please.”

She made the mistake of looking into his eyes, and her professional detachment wobbled, especially when she saw the edges of his eyes crinkle in a smile. Jay saw her interest and instinctively knew not to quit pushing.

“I won’t always be a patient, though, right?” He said with a smile.

“Guess not.” Kadie fought her impulse to turn her hand under his, to grip his fingers like she wanted to. Well, not completely accurate. She wanted to kiss him. Wanted to feel those fingers on her skin - and she wasn’t thinking of her hand - but right now it just couldn’t happen. “You could always give me a call, when you break outta here.”

“Give me your number.” He said instantly, and she smiled at his enthusiastic response, reaching for a pen.

Jay offered her the book he was reading and she scribbled her name and cell number onto the flyleaf. Taking the pen from her, Jay ripped off the bottom half of the page - Kadie wincing at the unthinking damage to the book - and he wrote his own name and number, offering her the paper with her pen.

“You know I’ll be calling as soon as I get outta here, right?” He grinned, and she giggled.

“I may even answer.” She teased. “Now I gotta go do some work.”

“A vampire’s work is never done, huh?” Jay smirked, catching her hand and pulling her toward him, but Kadie’s initial concern that he’d try to kiss her wasn’t quite accurate, as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the smooth skin. A chivalrous move that was almost more destructive than anything else would have been right now.

“I’ll bite you later.” She promised as she drew away, and Jay watched happily as she carefully folded his number into her pocket before leaving the room.

Sighing contentedly, he laid his head back on the pillow, closing his eyes to enjoy visions of the young nurse. Visions of her clad in far less than the uniform he’d just seen.


Billie’s ride to Wachovia was straightforward, but she found more difficulty when she got inside the building, wandering lost until she was stopped by a member of staff.

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is a practice day.” The guy explained. “No spectators allowed.”

“I’m not……” She sighed. Why did she have the feeling this could take a while? “I’m not here to watch. I’m looking for……Coach? Is it Munsey?”

“Coach is here, ma’am, but he’s busy. Is he expecting you?”

“Uh, no. I’m Billie Kelsall. Jay’s mother?”

The guy gave her a sceptical look, and Billie cursed the genes that had kept her looking younger than her years, seeing the guy’s disbelief that she could be Jay’s mother. She couldn’t think what to do, then remembered Jay’s snipe about Nick recognising her. What the hell - it was worth a shot.

“Okay. Is Nick….” She dredged her memory for the surname. “Nick Fabian around? Could you find him for me?”

With a weary sigh the staffer nodded. He could see this woman wasn’t for going anywhere, so maybe Nick could get rid of her.

“Wait here, please, ma’am.” He said, pointing to a bench against the wall. “I’ll see if he’s available.”

Billie perched obediently on the bench to wait, and it was only a few minutes before she heard the slightly familiar voice of the physiotherapist.

“Billie?” He walked swiftly toward her, clear worry on his face. “Is everything okay?”

“What?” She realised he must think Jay’s condition had deteriorated, and she raised a reassuring hand. “Sorry! Everything’s fine with Jay, Nick. He told me to come here, to get his apartment keys? Said they should still be in his locker.”

“Oh!” Nick nodded. “All his stuff’s still there. Does he need something?”

“Not exactly. I do. I didn’t book anywhere to stay, and he said since his place is empty……” She laughed. “I think he just wants me to clean up for him.”

Nick shut off the immediate image that flashed into his head, of Billie in a French maid’s outfit of short black dress and white frilly apron. Or perhaps just the apron and a pair of killer heels. Forcing it away, he offered a hand to pull her to her feet.

“Come on. I’ll introduce you to Coach, then we can grab Jay’s keys for you.”

She followed him along the hallways to the field, a little uncomfortable as he kept hold of her hand the whole way, but he dropped his grip just before they reached the field, instead laying his palm on her back. Her lower back. A fraction off her ass.

“Coach?” Nick said loudly as they approached, and a dark-haired guy turned around, his apparent youth surprising Billie.

“Yeah, Nick?” Munsey frowned in surprise at the brunette with Fabian. Whoever she was, it certainly wasn’t Fabian’s wife.

“Hey, Coach, I’d like you to meet Billie. Billie Kelsall.” Nick saw the confusion on Munsey’s face and he explained. “Jay’s mom?”

“Jay’s mom?” Munsey looked her over quickly. Damn, but she didn’t look old enough. Strange, too, because in a way he’d assumed Jay’s mother would have the same blue eyes. Must be from his father. His musings had left him silent for a moment, and he shook it off, offering a hand. “Sorry. I was miles away. Bret Munsey. Nice to meet you…..Mrs Kelsall.”

There was a question in the name, and Billie shook her head as she shook his hand.

“It’s Miss. But Billie’s fine, Bret.”

Nick wondered whether he should explain to her that ‘everybody’ called Coach, well, Coach, but his boss just nodded and grinned at the brunette.

“So how is he?”

“He’s good, thanks. He actually sent me here to get his apartment keys, since I’ve nowhere to stay tonight.”

“Sure. I’ll get someone to open his locker for you.”

Munsey became aware of the low murmur of voices from the field, and when he looked across he saw his players huddled together, obviously discussing the newcomer. He sighed. Typical players - show them a pretty face and concentration was out the window. But was he any better? Either way, he lifted a hand, waving them over. When they were crowded in front of him, he gestured to Billie.

“Boys - this is Billie. Jay’s mom.”

Billie was starting to get pissed at all the stunned looks. For God’s sake - it wasn’t like she looked like a teenager! Before she could get too mad, though, one of the players stepped forward to offer his hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs…..”

“It’s Billie.” She interrupted firmly. “Billie’s just fine.”

“Okay. Billie.” The guy’s face brightened in a happy grin. “I’m Mike. Mike Brown.”

“Jay’s mentioned you.” Billie smiled, and he looked pleased.

“All the good stuff I hope.” He joked as he let go of her hand.

The rest of the players introduced themselves - some with handshakes, some just saying hi. It was the tall quarterback, Tony, who surprised her, as he folded his arms around her in a hug, whispering in her ear so she reached up to pat his back as he said he knew how Jay must be feeling, as he’d taken a tackle like that years before. The hug was interrupted by Coach’s voice.

“C’mon guys. Let’s get back to work.” He snapped, downtime over, and the players immediately got back into work-mode, heading out onto the field as Coach turned to Billie. “Nick can get you Jay’s keys, Billie. Nice to meet you. Tell the kid we’re all asking after him, ‘kay?”

“I will, Bret. And thank you.”

Knowing it was ‘safe’, since all the players were on the field, Nick led Billie down a tunnel and into the locker room, a clearly male preserve. There was the unmistakable smell of sweat - male sweat - underlaid by the smell of cleaning fluid and cologne. Not exactly an unpleasant mix, but certainly one which was unique to locker rooms.

Nick led her over to the bank of lockers, stopping at the one which bore Jay’s name, then he pulled open the door - none of the lockers had padlocks attached - and looked inside. The keys hung on a hook just inside, and as he reached for them, pushing the door wider, he heard a tiny whimper from Billie. Turning around, he saw tears trickling down her face, and he laid his hands on her shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” He asked gently, and she shook her head, trying to fight it back.

“Nothing. I just……” She pointed into the locker, where Jay had stuck a photo of her and him together on horseback. “I just realised how close I came to losing him. He’s all I have.”

Pulling her close, Nick hugged her comfortingly. Comforting wasn’t what he had in mind for this lady, but it was always a good way in, pretending to care, when all he really cared about was getting between her legs. Billie leaned into him, her arms around his waist as she took the reassuring comfort he was offering, reading no more into the gesture, and not seeing the satisfied smirk on Nick’s face.

After a few minutes, she drew away, wiping a palm over her face to dry the tears.

“Thank you.” She whispered, and Nick just nodded.

“My pleasure.” He paused just long enough. “Really.”

Without saying any more, he turned to get the keys from the locker and closed the door, offering the keys to Billie.

“C’mon.” He suggested. “I’ll make sure Coach doesn’t need me, then I can give you a ride to Jay’s place.”

Chapter 11

Nick spent a little while visiting with Jay - and his mom - with his trained eye seeing no obvious lingering problems from Jay’s injury. Looked like the kid was lucky and had gotten away with just a brief concussion, which meant he should be fit to get back in the game in a few weeks. Of course, the other lucky thing about this whole episode was that it had brought Mrs Kelsall - Billie - into the equation, he thought, and he set himself to carefully and subtly get into her good graces. Only as a way to get into her panties.

Billie would have been a liar if she’d said that the gentle attention of the handsome physio wasn’t enjoyable, but right now most of her attention was focused on her son, watching him closely as he chatted with the other man. After a little while, she excused herself, leaving them to talk while she went in search of coffee - an addiction that hadn’t waned over the years - and Nick watched her go with a speculative eye.

Lying back in the hospital bed, Jay’s eyes narrowed as he watched Nick. Like all of the guys in the team, he was well aware of Nick’s reputation for loving and leaving - or cumming and going as Mabry had put it one day - and he didn’t particularly want to see his mom on the receiving end. Before he could find the right words to warn him off, though, Jay watched his mom walk back into the room, a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

“You must be desperate if you’re drinking that.” He joked, and Billie wrinkled her nose as she took a sip.

“Pretty much. At least it’s caffeine.”

“When Jay gets out of here, I’ll take you to the best coffee shop in Philly.” Nick promised with a winning smile, and Billie looked at him for a moment before smiling back.

“I’ll maybe take you up on that.” She said.

In the bed, Jay ground his teeth in a way so like his father, Billie recognising it and hiding a smile. Somehow, until she’d met Jon again, she hadn’t realised, or remembered, just how many of his mannerisms came from Jon, but now she could see the man in the boy. Boy? She thought suddenly. Wasn’t really appropriate any more. Her little boy was almost out of his teens, a professional athlete and becoming more independent with every passing week. Becoming stronger, too, which could only be a good thing with what lay ahead of him.

She realised that she’d fallen silent, gazing blindly at the white cover of the bed, and she raised her eyes to meet those of her son.

“Sorry.” She said softly. “I was miles away.”

“As I should be.” Nick said as he glanced at his watch, standing swiftly. “You may be able to get out of training, with the pathetic excuse of being in hospital, but Coach’ll kick my ass if I’m late to the session.”

Jay laughed. “Yeah, well, trust me - I’d rather be at training than lying here.”

“I’m sure you would.” Nick nodded. “Just enjoy having your mom here to look after you. I know I would.”

“Would what?” Jay snapped, and Nick backed off a little for now, raising his hands pacifically.

“I’d enjoy having my mom look after me if I was sick.” He turned a wink on Billie. “I turn into a little boy again when I’m sick, and all I want is my mom to come tuck me in.”

“Don’t all men?” Billie smirked, offering her hand to be shaken.

“I guess we do.” Nick agreed, shaking hands, then just slapping a hand on Jay’s shoulder. “I’ll see ya, Jay.”

“Yeah. Bye.”

The blue of Jay’s eyes followed Nick as he left the room, and Billie could feel the ice washing from them as he stared after the physio. Seemed like her son was as protective of his family as his father was. As he still stared at the now-empty doorway, she reached to flick her fingers against his bare arm.

“Hey! Remember me?” She joked.

“Sorry, mom.” Jay turned his attention back to her with that soft, smirky smile. “I was miles away.”

“I noticed.” Billie checked the time. Although he seemed okay, the nurses had asked her to not over-tire Jay, suggesting that she leave after an hour or so, and maybe come back later. Worked for her, because she still needed to find somewhere to stay, having just jumped on the first plane to Philadelphia without any real plans. “I should go, Jay. The nurse told me to not get you too tired, and I don’t have anywhere to stay yet.”

“My apartment’s empty.” Jay said immediately. “The keys will still be at Wachovia, I guess.”

“And how messy is it at your apartment?” Billie checked.

“Not too bad.” He shrugged. “I don’t really remember. When I went to play, I wasn’t intending sleeping at the hospital.”

“I could get a cab to Wachovia, I guess.” Billie mused. “Would they give me your keys?”

“Don’t see why not. Nick will recognise you for sure.” His eyes clouded a little. “He spent enough time staring at you….”

“Hey!” Billie flicked his arm again.

“Sorry. Yes, I’m sure they’ll give you the keys. If they say no, get hold of Coach and have him call me here, I’ll confirm that you’re…..you!”

“Okay.” Billie stood, gathing up her jacket and purse then leaning in to kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back later…….unless you’re expecting anyone else? Your girlfriend?”

“Nice try, mom.” Jay laughed. “I told you already I’m not seeing anyone. But the boss said he might stop by again. So cool that he visited!”

“Who? Your coach?” Billie didn’t realise who ‘the boss’ was, until Jay explained.

“No. Coach is just ‘Coach’. The boss is your favorite man…….Jon Bon Jovi.”

“Oh.” Billie flushed, Jay fortunately taking it just as embarrassment at finally meeting - again - her favorite singer. “Well, if he stops by you can tell him I said hi.”

“You mean I’ve not to tell him you’ve been in love with him for years?” Her son teased, and Billie bit on her lip. He was so much closer to the truth than he’d ever understand.

“No! Just behave yourself!” She grinned. “Okay. I’ll see you later, Jay. And please try to not hit on the nurses too much. They’re all kinda giggly over the whole ‘injured football star’ thing.”

“Oh, mom! I’m not a star!” Jay protested, and she ruffled his hair in a way she knew would irritate the hell out of him.

“You are to me.”

As Jay rolled his eyes, Billie grinned at him and walked out of the room, and as she disappeared he slumped back against the pillows. He’d never tell her, but her visit had taken a lot more out of him than he’d have ever expected, and his head and neck ached viciously. Not really surprising, he guessed, since he’d been given a blow-by-blow account of the Dallas tackle by his team-mates and knew that he’d been hit by a player, not a Mack truck. Still felt like the truck though.

He’d just closed his eyes when he heard a soft footstep, the unmistakable sound of a nurse’s shoes on the vinyl floor, and he opened his eyes to see a pretty redhead bearing a tray.

“I’m hoping that’s dinner?” Jay asked, grinning at her, the grin widening further as she blushed and shook her head.

“Sorry.” She lowered the tray so he could see the needles and tubes for taking blood. “I’m the vampire squad.”

“You can bite me any time you like, darlin’.” He purred, his interest piqued by her, and he pushed himself a little more upright in the bed.

“Later.” She winked, now past the initial blushing as she reached for his arm. “First I gotta work.”

“Well at least tell me your name?” His blue eyes were as seductive as his father’s, drawing her in and holding her there.

“Kadie.”

“Katie?” Jay asked, thinking he’d misheard, but she shook her head, the light bouncing off her hair making him wonder just how long that mane would be when it was released from the surgically-tight knot.

“No. Kadie. With a ‘d’.” She shrugged. “It’s really my initials. Kay and dee. My parents, for some reason only they know, decided to name me Karenza Desiree, which is just……ugh.”

Jay repeated the name silently to himself, then shook his head. “I think it’s beautiful.”