Page 135 of Unexpected Prejudice

What?

“I’ve already taken care of all the necessary arrangements. I’ve spoken with your mom about it, and she’s on board. I also arranged for her to have a job. A proper one.”

“Hold the fuck on—” I tried to stop him as he continued.

“I’d be paying for everything. Your housing. Your private tutors so you won’t need to repeat senior year. I’m covering medical and physiotherapy bills. Even life expenses.”

My heart pounded fast, and my chest became tight as my anxiety rose. Was he sending me away to the other side of the country? Where was this coming from?

“And, of course, you don’t need to worry about college. I’d pay your full tuition, no matter what school you choose.”

“Look at me,” I urged him, but he ignored me and continued talking.

“Like I said, your mom is already informed of all the details. Your doctors said you’re stable enough to travel, so I took care of the transportation. My private jet is ready to leave tomorrow. Obviously, you’ll be escorted by a team of doctors.”

“Tomorrow?” I gasped. “You’re expecting me to leave tomorrow?”

Finally looking at me, he nodded. “Yes.”

“To New York?”

“Yes.”

I was angry. “Fuck that. I’m not leaving tomorrow or any day. This is my home.”

“Your home?” he huffed. “You’ve got nothing here, remember?”

“I’ve got you and I’m staying wherever you are.” I clenched his hand harder, but he broke the connection and stood.

“Oh, shut up, you idiot,” he snapped.

“What? I love you, Shay-Lee, and I’m not leaving you.”

“Enough with this romantic bullshit. You need to get better.”

“It’s my choice.”

“It’s not your fucking choice, Jordan. Not anymore.” He waved his hand at the Ilizarov frame screwed to my leg. “No one on the West Coast can save your leg. I already checked. For the past two weeks, I have searched everywhere, and the best I came up with was New York.”

His face had grown red with anger, and he pinched the bridge of his nose before taking a deep breath. “If you don’t go to New York, any chances for you to heal completely are gone. Let alone your shot to play football again. You worked your whole life for it, and I’m not going to be the reason you give up on your dream.”

I already knew that my future in football was as good as gone, and that pained me, but there was nothing I could do about it. My leg was ruined, and another head injury? That was it for me. But Shay-Lee was right here, and leaving for New York meant leaving him, and the mere thought of being away from him terrified me above all. Maybe if I went there, I’d have a slim chance to play football. But I knew for sure that if I were to leave him, I’d never have another chance with him, and that was a risk I wasn’t willing to take.

“I’m not going.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No.” I met his eyes. “I’m staying here with you.”

He shook his head, almost as if he was fighting himself. “Then you should’ve thought about it before you chose not to trust me.”

His words pierced me like a knife to the heart.

“So, that’s how it is?” I unsuccessfully tried to swallow the lump that formed in my throat as tears coated my eyes. “You’re punishing me?”

Shay-Lee’s face twisted with horror, and he hurried to sit by my side, putting his hand on my cheek.

“No, god, no,” he whispered, pressing his lips to mine. “I’m saving you.”