Loyal

Chapter 73

Colin's POV

            "Are you sure I have to leave now?"

                        "Yes, it's for a photoshoot. You'll only be gone two days," Becca says, not meeting my eyes as she texts rapidly on her iPhone. I feel like a commodity, something that's constantly being passed from place to place to smile, train, dance for an audience. It gets tiring. 

            "Damn how many photoshoots do I have to do?" Becca looks up momentarily to pat me on the shoulder. 

                        "Hello, Mr. Kaepernick. It comes with the territory. You shouldn't have signed up to be the quarterback of the Niners if you didn't want to do all this," Becca jokes. The pressures of being a football player and constantly under public scrutiny can be unbearable. Especially when you have your own life outside of the damn stadium. Relationships...That's why so many football players don't have any serious ones. The added stress could drive someone fucking crazy.

            "How is she?"

                        "Who?" Her question is patronizing, it pisses me off. 

            "Come on Becca. Who else?"

                        "She's fine Colin. She's healing up pretty well, I just think there are some emotional scars that need healing. She's been at home, going to her appointments, Leah is taking great care of her. I've been over a few times myself. Other than that, she's a strong girl."

            "And you're sure she doesn't want to press charges?" It irritated me when I ended up not using the lawyers I had in line for Vera. Ever since I talked with Leah how Vera doesn't want to take him to court, I've kept tabs on Cam and his whereabouts every second. I don't trust that fucker. I have no idea what he will do when he gets back to health. 

                        "Positive. She doesn't want anything to do with him, and if that's what she wants, so be it."

            "I'll kill him. As soon as he's walking again."

                        "Colin, don't worry about that. The only thing you need to worry about is going to Florida, doing these interviews, and getting back. Cam is in the past." The past? How could everyone be taking this situation so lightly? He beat her. He beat her unconscious. She was passed out for two days. He signed his death wish the moment he laid a finger on her. 

            I reach down to play with my phone, rubbing the metallic silver with my thumbs. I haven't texted Vera in so long, but I still expect to see her name light up across the smooth screen. I'm a damn fool.

                        "You can go back to your house, pack some stuff, and head to the airport. Everything's already in place for you," Becca says hurriedly, pressing her ear against her phone. She's always on the phone with someone. Amidst all the chaos, I'm thankful to have someone like her to take care of all my bullshit. 

            "Ok, Ok. I'll see you later. The driver gonna pick me up?"

                        "Yup. And why did you move out of your apartment?"

            "How do you even know that?"

                        "I know everrrrything Colin, you should know that by now," Becca winks before turning away to continue a conversation on her phone. I laugh and grab my gym bag, heading towards the parking lot. I'll go to Miami alright, but I have to make a quick stop. I made up my mind already. Fuck space, fuck giving her time. If Vera doesn't want to see me, she's going to have to close her damn eyes.