Chasing Football Dreams (Diner Girl #2)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

B enjamin’s house was huge. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a palace belonging to a king.

"Does anyone else find it strange that he got a live DJ?" Andrew asked, exhibiting the scene.

Long tables were spread out on the side stacked with fancy cocktail food. I was surprised no servers were walking around offering food and drinks.

"He was to show off that he has money," Eliza interrupted, crossing her arms in front of her chest glaring holes through Benjamin's skull.

He was talking to Shane and Angela, a woman standing at his side with her arm resting on his.

We haven't seen or spoken to each other since he accused me of playing games with Shane and Angela.

"Well, I am not planning on crossing paths with him," I looked at Duncan who was gazing back at me.

"Let's go get some food," I said catching his smile before we pushed our way through the hustling floor of his living room.

The rest of the team spread up, some picking the dance floor while the rest packed food on their plates.

"You don't have to stick so close to me. You can join the guys," I told Duncan as we picked a quiet spot outside in the garden.

Duncan shrugged. "Like you. I don't trust Benjamin. He talks down on you, disregards the truth that you are Shane's daughter, and accuses you easily like he is guilty,"

I grinned at him. "Have you ever thought about becoming a lawyer? Your instincts are quite something,"

He shrugged. "Wearing an expensive suit and stealing people's money is not much in my lane of desires,"

I chuckled. "What do you want to do after we graduate from college?" We've only ever talked about what I want to become but never what he wanted.

"Either a coach or an architect like my father,"

"You don't want to continue your football career?" I was shocked to learn that he wasn't thinking of the NFL.

He shook his head. "That's your dream, Zoey. A dream that fits you very well,"

"But there ain't no girls in NFL," I reminded him.

"Then you can be the first,"

"The pressure will definitely be on," I admitted.

"Don't set your dreams aside for other people's opinions,"

"Only if I get drafted," The dream was still a fantasy.

"You will. Any NFL team would be dumb if they don't see your potential and what game you can bring,"

"Zoey," I looked away from Duncan. My eyes widened when a few players from the Atlanta Falcons joined us. We haven't seen them since training day.

I pushed to my feet. "Oh, hey, guys,"

“We just came over to congratulate you and tell you that you were amazing out there,"

"Thanks," I shook their hands.

"I am sure the coach is going to pull some strings to get you drafted,"

"Both of you,"

I was oddly surprised but relieved knowing that Shane hadn't told them or anyone besides his wife and my team.

"I've got to wait a couple of years before taking a jump that big," Hoping that no one else emerges and takes my spot.

"Ah, it will be reserved just for you. We'll make sure about it,"

I rolled my eyes but smiled at their confidence. My team peeled out the doors shaking hands with the Falcons and planted their asses next to Duncan.

I just found my teammates and formed a bond with them that I've only once formed with Eliza. They know about my past coming from riches to landing in poverty due to my kidnapping. They stood beside me through everything and didn't judge me.

They could have been misogynistic pigs accusing me of taking someone's spot who deserves it more than I did. Instead, they were patient with my growth.

"Zoey, you, okay?" Freddie asked.

"Yeah, I am good," I smiled. "I just have to go to the bathroom," I turned around and headed inside.

I found Eliza in the sea of people dancing with Andrew. I smiled knowing she was finally happy and had found a good guy.

I searched for the stairs when the bottom bathroom was occupied. I got to the second floor, finding the bathroom with ease. I splashed my face with water trying to see if this was a dream but I didn't wake up because I was already awake.

It was happening. I was happy. The unfairness that I was taken from my parents burned a sadness inside of me that was overwhelmed by a feeling I couldn't decipher.

I took a peak around Benjamin's house wanting to learn about him and his likes. He had expensive taste. Big empty rooms filled with less to nothing but expensive furniture. It wasn't homey or warm. It felt almost as if a person couldn't kick up their feet and get comfy.

It was all about his reputation and how much money he could spend.

I found his study along the way, it was on the third floor at the end of the hallway. I told myself to let it go but my gut wouldn't drop the feeling of crunching my nerves together.

I looked around to make sure I was alone before I opened the door. I was hit by a wave of leather. My gaze took in the massive bookcase built into the wall. Before my eyes landed on the desk. It was a kind of an antique. Something you would find in a man's house that wants to hide secrets.

I took in the framed memories of him when he used to be an Atlanta Falcon followed by a case full of his trophies. There weren't many pictures of his family. Everything in here was all about him. Like he was an alpha.

I was almost done with my sneaking around when I touched his laptop by mistake making the screen go on. An image of a little girl appeared. I would say she was around about four years old.

She was blonde, with speckles scattered across her cheeks, and big blue eyes. I would say the resemblance of me when I used to be small was remarkable, but I can't remember having a sister.

I looked around not seeing any other photos hanging around. I wasn't aware Benjamin had a daughter or was married.

I heard footsteps and moved out from behind the desk when I knocked a book off the table. I went to pick it up when I hit a hidden leaver under the desk that opened a door behind the bookcase.

I felt like I was in a Scooby Doo cartoon when I realized there is a hidden room behind the bookcase. I stayed on my knees staring at the room. I couldn't completely see inside but I noticed a bed that was fit for a child.

I wasn't thinking much about it, but something didn't feel right. Why would someone have a hidden room in their study with a desk as the key to open it?

I peeked over the desk not seeing anyone. I got to my feet and walked over to the room. The floor started to feel like jelly when my legs became wobbly as I got closer.

Memories stung my vision as images started to appear. They didn't feel like my memories. I couldn't remember seeing this room, but it felt like my body did. My brain felt like it was unwrapping suppressed memories.

Every blink of my eyes, a night of terror unraveled before me. A little girl, scared out of her mind crying for the man to let her go. She was banging against the door when the man locked her inside. She was screaming but nobody heard her.

My feet moved further into the room on its own. I blinked finding myself standing next to the bed, touching the blanket. My gaze traveled to the corner where I visualized a small girl crawling into a ball crying.

"What do you think you are doing?"

I whirled around at the sound of Benjamin's voice. The fog in my brain cleared as the memories became clear as day.

"It was you,"