Page 40

"Jesus Sweetheart, what did you put in this bag? Bricks?" I grumbled as I dragged our suitcases to the taxi. I squinted in the mid-morning light and adjusted my ball cap lower over my eyes.

"Whistler is 28 degrees Fahrenheit right now!

I had to pack all of my heaviest clothes!

I don't like the cold." Charlotte checked her purse for the 50th time to make sure she had everything we needed.

I'd heard her mumbling the list to herself all morning.

Passports. Plane tickets. Phone charger.

Wallet. She had even insisted I give her all my stuff so there was no way I could forget them.

I was pretty sure a lot of her anxiety was actually because we were going to spend a week with our families as an official couple. Hell, I was nervous about that too. So I just let her focus her energy on packing and hoped that everything would go okay.

The last time I had seen Mr. Avery played on repeat in my mind. Charlotte said he was going to give us a chance but I couldn't help but feel like nothing I could do would change his mind about me.

I threw our bags into the trunk and opened the back door for Charlotte to climb in, still mumbling under her breath. Once I'd given the driver our departure gate for LAX I pulled Charlotte into my side and kissed her temple.

"We're going to have a good week, Sweetheart. Just relax."

My phone buzzed in my pocket so I gave her one more quick kiss and checked it.

Anger prickled my skin when I saw that it was my dad.

The dickhead had taken to calling me pretty regularly since New Years, but I never answered.

I couldn't give two fucks what he wanted to say to me.

From what my mom has said, the divorce proceedings have not gone well.

My dad's lawyers are considering her offer on the house but they are still dicking her around.

If I talked to him right now I wouldn't be able to control my anger and I was not about to act like that with my sweet girl resting in my arms.

We arrived at the airport two-and-a-half hours early, just like Charlotte had planned. By the time we got checked in and through security we had an hour to kill before our flight left. We would be the last to arrive in Whistler since everyone else flew out really early this morning from Bellmere.

I had originally thought my family would have to pull out of this trip because we couldn't afford the flights anymore, but my mom insisted that Mr. Avery's bid had included air-fair.

Something in me tingled that that probably wasn't true and that the Avery's were footing more of a bill than they let on.

I made a mental note to pay them back once I started making money.

"Oh shit," I pulled up short on our way to the gate, making Charlotte stop too. I smiled sheepishly when she raised her eyebrows at me. "We actually did forget something."

"What! No way. I checked everything so many times! What did we forget? Do we have to go back?" Charlotte talked really fast while she twisted on her fingers.

"No, we just have to go in here," I said as I grabbed her hand and pulled her into the small airport store. I peered around the aisles until I found my target then led Charlotte to the back corner of the store.

"You have got to be kidding me," Charlotte deadpanned, making me chuckle.

"No? I really forget to pack them," I said casually as I perused the shelves.

Her little fists went to her waist as she cocked out one hip. "Why the heck do we need condoms anyway? This is a family trip, our parents will never leave us alone."

I internally sighed, knowing that time together would be a long shot.

But ever since Charlotte and I'd had sex last month, it felt like we barely got any time alone.

Those short two days at the cabin had been mind-blowing.

Literally. I'd never experienced anything like it.

I couldn't have wiped the shit-eating grin off my face for anything.

But then we'd come home and we were either at her place with Madeline or my place with a bunch of idiot football players.

We'd had to take advantage of small moments of privacy but it never felt like enough.

"God knows where there's a will, there's a way baby," I said as I grabbed a box and walked to the check-out.

Charlotte hurried up behind me looking around anxiously as though we were going to get arrested for buying condoms. "Do not bring God into this, sir."

"Ooph," I said under my breath as I gave her a cheeky grin, "call me sir again."

"You're unbelievable," she sighed as a blush kissed the tip of her nose and spread to her cheeks. Fuck, she's so god damn cute. I hoped that no matter how much sex we had—and I did hope we'd have a lot—that she never lost that blush.

The flight to Whistler was painful. Those tiny damn seats are not built for 6'4 guys.

Thank god Charlotte is like two feet tall so I could stretch my legs into her space—but it only barely helped.

I spent the three-hour flight shifting and stretching to get comfortable.

When the plane finally touched down I almost started clapping like an idiot I was so relieved.

Charlotte immediately started vibrating when the cold Canadian air nipped around us on the tarmac.

I wrapped her tightly in my arms and rushed forward towards the electric doors of the airport.

The cold bite on my nose and the crunch of snow under my boots felt amazing but I didn't like to see Charlotte uncomfortable.

Once we picked up our luggage we went to a coffee shop to get warm drinks and so Charlotte could dig around in her bag for warmer clothes. She must have put on half her suitcase because by the time she was done all I could see was her cute little red nose sticking out of a scarf.

We grabbed another taxi to take us to the Villa that we'd be staying at.

Charlotte excitedly babbled on for the whole drive about the research she'd done on the place.

I guess it was pretty fancy and had been the vacation spot for many celebrities.

But March was the very end of the skiing season in Whistler so that's why it had been donated to the auction.

I thought she might have been exaggerating but when we pulled up in front of an extravagant mansion tucked into the side of vast snow-capped mountains—I was impressed.

I paid the driver then helped Charlotte out of the backseat.

She hovered behind me while I grabbed the luggage and I knew her nerves were hitting her again.

I held out my hand in silent invitation and was pleased when she instantly snuck her small hand into mine.

I straightened my spine, took a deep breath, and led us both up to the front door.

Suspense flooded my veins as I raised my hand to the large bronze door-knocker and dropped it against the deep mahogany wood several times.

Footsteps ran to the door and I relaxed when Oliver's face popped out.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is!" Ollie stepped out and grabbed my hand, pulling me in so our shoulders bumped together.

"Good to see you, man!" Vodka stung my nose when Oliver's breath wafted over me and I tried to control my reaction.

Depending on how much Oliver had drunk today, he could get pretty angry if you pointed it out.

I stepped aside to let Oliver hug Charlotte and frowned slightly when I saw that her greeting wasn't as nice as mine.

Oliver said and did all of the right things, but they were empty.

His demeanour was instantly colder and more disconnected.

The pain that shot across Charlotte's face when he patted her back told me she felt it too.

"The lovely couple has arrived!" Oliver shouted into the house as he opened the door wider for us to walk in. I shot him an exasperated looked but he just grinned at me and widened his eyes innocently.

A stampede of feet echoed around the marble tiles and vaulted ceilings of the foyer before we were attacked on all sides. Mr. and Mrs. Avery came around the corner and rushed to Charlotte just as my mom came down the large curved staircase.

I cocked an eyebrow when I saw that my mom was carrying Annie. She struggled to take each step carefully as she balanced the growing five-year-old on her hip. I stepped forward as she reached the bottom step and reached out to grab Annie from her.

The second my hands touched her back Annie shrieked and clung to Mom while she kicked her legs and thrashed against my touch.

"Woah Annie!" I looked at my mom in shock and she grimaced as she tried to calm the kid down.

It was then that I noticed the huge dark bags under her eyes and a few more wrinkles around her mouth.

Annie perked up when she heard my voice and I tried to smile gently at her but internally I was spiralling.

Annie relaxed once she realized it was me and held her arms out for me to take her. Once she was settled on my hip I pulled my mom in for a hug as well. My anxiety only got worse when I felt how boney her shoulders were. She flashed me a quick smile as she stepped back but I couldn't return it.

We all went to sit down and catch up while Mrs. Avery served hot chocolate.

The formal living room was adorned with bronze fixtures, deep hardwood, and fur rugs.

I sank into a leather armchair with Annie still clinging to my neck.

I rubbed her back gently in hopes that she'd relax her grip a bit or lift her head up but she didn't.

I sighed and looked up to see Mr. Avery watching us with a grim look on his face. His eyes were on Annie as he pressed his lips tightly together and shook his head. I kept my face neutral as our gazes connected. I couldn't tell if he was pitying us or judging us but either way, I didn't want it.

"Alright," he cleared his throat when everyone was sitting.

"So let's get the logistics out of the way.

Oliver and Archer, you two will be in the two bedrooms in the west-wing.

Charlotte you are sharing with Annie in the east. Beth and I will take the master in the west-wing as well, and Pam you have the master in the east to yourself. "

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes at the room arrangements.

Of course, he'd made sure there was a parent in both wings of this massive house.

It sparked a certain thrill in me, at the challenge he'd created.

It wouldn't be easy, but I was getting Charlotte alone this week one way or another.

She was currently sharing a small couch with her mom, they both clung to each other as though they'd been apart for years.

Oliver was in the other armchair with a drink in his hands.

His face was calm but there was a shadow in his eyes that didn't sit right with me.

It was a look that honestly I used to get a lot, and I knew it accompanied dark thoughts.

The longer we sat there the more I was convinced that this week would be a shit-show.

Later that evening, I was in my room alone as I unpacked my bags. A loud bang on the wall drew my curiosity and I walked next door to Oliver's room. I knocked a couple of times and he didn't answer, so I went in.

Ollie was laying on his bed with a liquor bottle in his hand.

He looked up when I walked in and I cringed at the dead look in his eye.

He looked like he'd been chugging away at the vodka for a while as he tried to focus on my face.

It wasn't until I was right next to the bed that he perked up and seemed to recognize me.

"Arch my man! You want a drink?" He offered me the bottle in his hand. I quickly grabbed it and put it on the floor next to me as I sat down. Oliver tried to snatch it back but he was too drunk to sit up properly.

I smacked his hand down when he wouldn't stop reaching and pouting for the bottle. "Dude, what the fuck is going on?"

Even wasted, Ollie still managed to give an easy-going grin. I'd watched him time and time again use that crooked smile to get us out of trouble. "Whaddya mean? Everythin' is good bro."

If it had been anyone else—I would have believed them. But while his smile said one thing, his eyes said something completely different. I had watched apprehensively for years while my best friend made shit decisions to deal with his problems, but I'd never seen him like this.

"Come on man, I can tell something is wrong," I sighed. "What? Is it still me and Charlotte? Did something happen at work? Just fucking tell me."

Oliver's eyes glazed over with tears which he aggressively rubbed away.

He dropped his head back against the headboard and sucked in a breath through a choked sob.

"I can't," he whispered in his drunken slur.

"I can't man. I don't know what to fuckin' do anymore.

It's too hard. And now he's—" Oliver groaned and banged his head hard against the headboard.

"Okay, okay, breathe." I tried to use the same voice I did when Charlotte was panicking. "It's okay dude, alright? You don't have to say anything tonight."

Oliver looked at me with foggy eyes as he nodded. "What do I do?" He croaked as a tear escaped his eye.

"Tonight, you sleep. Then tomorrow we'll figure it out." I pushed Oliver's shoulder a bit to get him to lie down. The second he was flat on his back his eyes started to droop closed. I went back into my room and took all of the pillows off my bed, then went back to check on Ollie.

He was already fast asleep when I dropped all of my pillows on his bed.

I grabbed his shoulders and shifted him to his side then crammed all of the extra pillows behind his back to keep him from rolling over.

I got the garbage can from his bathroom and tried to line it up under his face in case he woke up to puke.

I was about to leave him when I stopped and looked back at my best friend.

I had theories about what was going on with him, but I didn't know for sure.

We'd never really spoken about our feelings and shit.

I'd vent to him occasionally about my dad, then we'd move on.

But growing up, I'd always seen Oliver's life—all of the Avery's lives—as pretty perfect.

Now though, something was seriously wrong with Oliver.

Guilt smacked me in the face as I acknowledged that whatever it was had been brewing for a while.

This wasn't the first time I'd had to put Ollie to bed and make sure he didn't choke on his own puke.

When I was a teenager, I was too dumb—or maybe too selfish—to think much of it.

But in the last couple of years, it had been harder to ignore.

I could try to justify it by saying that I was never home anymore. I spent eleven months of the year at USC for school then training camps. But seeing him like this—no excuse was enough to make myself feel less guilty.

I grabbed a blanket from the end of the bed and crossed the room to an armchair in the corner. I tried to get comfortable as I angled the chair towards Ollie and propped my feet up on the ottoman. Sleep almost claimed me when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

"You have got to stop fucking calling me!" I snapped into the phone as I lifted it to my ear. I checked on Oliver but my raised voice hadn't woken him.

"Watch your tone your man," my father drawled on the other end of the call.

I tried to keep my voice low but deadly as I crunched my free hand into a fist. "Seriously fuck off. I don't want you to call me again. Do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? Annie is like a completely different fucking kid, and Mom looks like she hasn't slept in two months."

His voice was without remorse as he spoke. "Well, I really don't see how that's my fault? I've left them alone, I haven't done anything. But it's you I need to talk to."

"I'll give you the next thirty seconds then you're out of my life for good," I growled.

"See now, that doesn't work for me. Do you have any idea how much I've invested in your future career? How much money and time I've spent making sure you get to the NFL? I'm not losing all of that over some drama with your mother."

I stood up and paced the room as my blood boiled with anger. Every inch of my skin felt hot and irritated as I resisted the urge to punch a wall. "You really are a piece of shit you know that right?"

"You might see it that way," my dad said in a bored tone, "but I think one day you might thank me for all I've given you."

A sarcastic laugh burst from my throat. My fist was clenched so tightly I could feel the skin of my palm breaking under my nails. "So why the fuck do you keep calling me then? What do you want?"

"Here's the thing, my lawyers are prepared to draw out this divorce as long as we possibly can.

Your mom thinks she has an airtight case for child support but it won't matter much when she's fighting injunctions and delays for the next two years.

But I'm willing to let it all go, and sign tomorrow. I'll even let her keep the house."

"Oh yeah?" I seethed. "And why are you going to do that?"

"Because you aren't going to cut me out."

I stumbled for a moment as his answer threw me. "If you think I'm going to have a relationship with you then you are fucking dumb."

"That's fine, I don't really care about that. What I do care about is the opportunities that will come from you being in the NFL. When you sign, I will still be a part of your public life. I spent a lot of years planning for how your career could benefit my businesses and I won't lose that."

"So what? You want to play a happy family for the cameras?"

"Essentially," he agreed. I thought about it for a moment.

It made my skin crawl to think about him leeching off my potential-future career, but my mom needed him to settle.

A part of me also considered that this could all change in a year.

Something might happen that prevented me from getting drafted, but it would be too late and my mom would already have the house and be free.

"Fine." Bile rose in my throat as I gave him what he wanted.

"But I have conditions too. Mom and Annie get to be with me when I get drafted, and for my first game.

I'm not taking that away from them and I'm not making them be around you.

" I said firmly with no room for negotiations.

"After that, we can work something out to get you your shining moment, Princess. " I added sarcastically.

His low laugh through the phone made me want to take it all back. "Agreed," he said simply. "I'll let the lawyers know tomorrow. Good chatting with you son."

"Goodbye Bryan."

I sat up watching Oliver sleep for most of the night. A part of me was relieved that my mom and sister would be okay for the foreseeable future, but at what cost? How much would my dad expect from me in a year's time?

I couldn't help but feel like I'd just sold my soul to the devil.