“I want to.” He shook out his shoulders, determined to do this right. “I hated that people stared at my dad. I was sure he was embarrassed about all the attention, and I wanted him to feel normal. So, I did stupid shit because I thought it distracted people or something. Then I grew up and realised my dad was fine. I was the one who was embarrassed. And instead of dealing with it, I acted like a clown. And in the peak of fucking irony, I made him uncomfortable because all the other parents thought he’d raised a dropkick. So, yeah. That’s something I have to live with.”

Eden pressed a hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He touched his ugly, scarred fingers to her face. “People are always complicated, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love each other.”

“Willow, don’t…”

“Don’t what?”

“Comfort me.”

“Too bad.” He pulled her back into his arms. As he held her, he wished he could reach into her chest and rip out what was hurting her. But that was exactly what he’d wanted to do for his dad. There were no easy solutions to pain. You just had to be there. To help carry it as best you could.

“Willow, if I’m not a bad person, why am I like this?”

The question was whispered, barely audible over the music, but the pain in Eden’s voice tore him open. “Baby, you’re not a good person or a bad person, you’re just a person. Sometimes you’re nice and sometimes you’re tired or bored. But having a bad day doesn’t mean you’re not a good girl.”

Eden wrapped her naked body around his clothed one. A sense of completeness washed over Willow. He felt he was exactly where he needed to be. He kissed Eden’s forehead, and she made a small happy sound that stung.

“Want me to change the subject?” he asked.

“Yes, please.”

He smiled into her hair. “We fucked up the game today. Big time. A real fuckin’ shit show.”

Eden leaned back so they were face to face. “Do you want to know a secret?”

“Of course.”

“I watched you play.”

He grinned. “That’s cool, what did you think?”

“You don’t get it. I’ve never watched a game of football in my life. But I watched yours. I was lying here, and I watched the whole game.”

He mentally ran back over his better moments—stopping Lewis from kicking a goal, clean-tackling the Cats forward. “What did you think?”

“It was more entertaining than I thought it would be. And you were amazing.”

“You don’t have to flatter me, gorgeous.”

“I’m not. You can really run.”

“Yeah, I’ve always been fast for a bigger guy.” He paused. “Now, can you keep a secret?”

She crossed her heart.