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"Why aren’t you in that ambulance, Miss Brannon?" I say with a smile

"Dad will take me to the hospital The ambulance just seems…a little dra as I walk up the two steps and sit down beside her "Yeah You’ve had a little tooover, I take her hand I wait to see if she’ll pull away, as this is our first true display of public affection, and her father is standing ten feet away He actually looks over at us, eyes dropping to our clasped hands, and with a neutral expression turns back to listen to whatever the cops are telling him

Gray and I just sit there and watch

Cops co around us on the porch steps Brian Brannon makes about a dozen phone calls

And Gray and I just sit there and hold hands

When a news van pulls up, Gray gives my hand a squeeze and I knohat that means Time to part ways

I stand up fro with her, and alk doard her father When Brian turns toward us, he doesn’t spare lance but looks at Gray "You ready to head to the hospital?"

"Yes," she says, but then gives a pointed look at the news van "But what kind of dae control?" her father asks sarcastically, but I hear a tone of teasing "You mean the fact that a player you fired came to your house and assaulted you at knifepoint, only to have you saved by your secret boyfriend who also is a player?"

I wince because dae control

Brian looks between the two of us "How long has this been going on?"

Gray doesn’t toucha united front "Three months"

"And you--what?" Brian asks with a cocked eyebrow at ht it best for Gray’s career not to rock the boat," I tell hiratitude and then sifts his fingers through his silvered hair "Look, I’ive a statement to the news and basically tell the to tell the by Gray’s house to work on a charity ca too, and that should quell any questions as to why Ryker saved the day"

"I don’t think that’s necessary," I say as I cut a quick glance at the reporter standing outside the van "Ito announce my retirement after this season That reether, so why don’t we just come out with it?"

"Don’t you dare," Gray hisses atto announce your retire, you can score a lucrative deal next season, if not with our teaot a lot of play left in you I don’t think you should let your career go just yet"

"With all due respect, sir," I say, and then turn ive a shit about ether"