Free Headstrong Quarterback: A New Adult Sports Romance by Ava Catori

aggravating. She did the same thing back in Seattle. She’d get into trouble, I’d save her, and we’d follow some weird cycle.”
    What he didn’t say was that he loved saving her. Adored it. Couldn’t wait to do it again. He couldn’t see it . They were trapped in roles that weren’t going to undo themselves. She needed him. He needed her. They fed into each other’s psychological garbage. And why would they change? Lastly, where did that leave me?
    Kira was more than capable of taking care of herself, but why would she when she needed to be doted on by her big brother? She was the center of attention. He’d lift her up, let her feel cared about, and filled the void that her father left.
    He was forced to fix others to truly feel alive. How could I ignore what I knew? Steel Brickman was as crumbled inside as everyone else.
    ***
    I wanted to address it, even knowing it might be a blow to our relationship. Was I helping him, or self-sabotaging? Shit. I didn’t even know. Either way, I thought it was important enough to talk about. Maybe it was a mistake.
    Denial came fast and hard. “You’re completely nuts. I’m not some weak man that has to blather on about my emotions. Whatever garbage you’re trying to shovel, just stop.”
    “Steel, can’t you see it? Look how you are with your sister. The second she needs help, it’s like you light up inside. It’s like you need her to get in trouble, just so you can save her.”
    “Avery, enough,” he snapped. “Listen to yourself. You think I want my sister to get into trouble? Geez, what kind of guy do you think I am? I love her. I want her to be happy, and to get her shit together, and stop finding issues.”
    “Steel-”
    His nostrils flared. “I said enough! You have your own damn problems. Worry about those. Figure out what the hell you’re doing, now that you’ve graduated. You can’t work in that shitty bar forever. It’s like your settling and not even trying to improve your situation. What is that?”
    “My job? You never had a problem with it before.”
    “It’s a rat hole,” he fumed. “You’re better than that. It’s embarrassing. You work in a dive. My reputation’s on the line.”
    “You’re the one that found me,” I spat out.
    “What the fuck? You want to be a loser all of your life?”
    The dagger hit me squarely in the chest. It was the start of our undoing. I drew a slow, deep breath. Between clenched teeth, I pushed out the words. “Did you just call me a loser?”
    Our worlds collided. I floundered. I was a dizzy top, ready to tumble over and fall flat on my face. Could our worlds co-exist?
    “I don’t have time for this bullshit,” he berated. “My career is on the line. I can’t be worrying about your crap all the time.”
    “Worrying about me? What have you got to worry about,” I argued. “I don’t need you watching over me like some paid security guard. I can take care of myself.”
    “Is that what you think of me? Start looking at your own shit, before you throw stones at me. You can barely support yourself, Avery. You haven’t even tried looking for a better job.” The vein on the side of his neck pulsed.
    “I survived just fine before you came along,” I growled defiantly.
    “Survived? You call that surviving? Living in a room over a bar with a bathroom down the hall? You’ve got low fucking standards, lady.” He steamed.
    “I don’t need your money. I didn’t ask you to rescue me.” I stormed from the room, fire blowing from my ears.
    “You don’t know what the hell you need?” He followed behind me. “If it weren’t for me, you’d still be living in that hell hole of a room with drunks down the hall, and a bathroom riddled with disease.”
    “Screw you.” I spun to look at him, furious.
    Steel pinned me to the wall, the weight of his hip against mine. He yanked my wrists up over my head. His hot breath was inches from my face, his lips hovering over mine. “You’d like that, wouldn’t