Chapter 29
ALICIA
I walked into the stadium with faux confidence, discreetly wiping my sweaty palms down my brand-new skirt, trying to shake off some of that pent-up anticipation.
However, a subtle smirk crept through when I thought of my family’s reaction to Ethan’s tell-all interview.
Immediately after, my hands were shaking so hard I failed to type out a legible message on my phone.
“Here, give it to me!” Alexis dived, making a swipe for the device, and missed.
“Get away from me,” I said, holding it out of reach.
“What are you going to text?”
“I don’t know!”
Dad grumbled from the corner. “Maybe you should say goodbye, like he asked.”
All eyes swung his way when Mum gave a disappointed huff. “Now, Phil.”
Two words that had my dad cowering. Then, Alexis thought that would be the perfect opportunity to push her agenda.
“Better yet, don’t message! Go in person and surprise him, Ali!
Oh, my, we need to go shopping, get you a killer outfit and a matching teddy to go underneath. ” She finished with a wink.
“I want a teddy,” Austin implored.
“Not that type of teddy, baby.”
Dad choked. “Ah, make it stop! Quick, Harriot. I think I’m having another stroke.”
"I told you not to eat that chocolate,” Mum clucked.
“It’s not the chocolate! It’s my d-damn daughter’s talking all l-lewd in front of their sick father.” He flopped back on the couch, an arm dropping over his eyes. “See, I’m even stuttering my words. Call an ambulance.”
“What’s lewd mean, Papa?” Austin asked, and Dad just groaned.
Alexis tried and failed to hide a chuckle. “It’s an adult word.”
“Well, I’m going to ask Cooper. He knows everything.” He was referring to his best friend, who had the best ears and an even bigger mouth. The kid boys were dynamite and ignited trouble wherever they went.
My sister sobered. “You’re not going to ask Coop. I told you it’s an adult word, Austin.”
“Fine. I’ll ask Coach Owen instead. Then, can we get him a teddy as well, Mama?”
I fell over laughing as Alexis blanched.
Dad gave a defeated sigh. “Cancel the ambulance, Harriot. Just let me die.”
There was no question about where us siblings inherited our dramatics. But despite the chaotic scene, Alexis still ended up getting what she wanted.
I didn’t message Ethan and chose to reach out in a way that made the most sense to us— the unofficial ritual that had become ours . Which meant I had to wait until his next game.
It had been a long week, and I was desperate to see him and watch him play. I was so keyed up and bursting with nervous energy that I had to take a breather down a deserted corridor before I fainted from hyperventilating.
That was when I sensed him.
It was as if the forces had worked their magic to intertwine our destinies. Ethan Harris materialised before me, answering the direct call from my seeking heart.
“You came?”
Our passion clashed together as we reconnected after so long.
“ I love you, ” he repeated, sealing each monumental vow with a kiss.
I was lost for words and had altogether lost my mind as I willingly drowned in him. My flesh was burning from his touch, scathing with the need for more.
His love was a promise. A reckoning. One beautiful catastrophe. Yet, I’d fight through anything just to remain in that moment.
All too soon, he pulled away, our chests colliding as we caught our breaths.
That’s when I clocked the gleam in his eye. A minute conflict that he tried to push down, but could never hide from me.
I attempted to question him. To have him stay in that little piece of paradise we had stolen for ourselves. Yet, he chose to turn away.
A sinister, knowing took hold as I kept my distance and followed him to the press conference.
Although, the instinctive warning wasn’t for me. It was for him, my love.
Like everyone else, I wanted to know why Ethan had called a press conference before the game. There must be a significant reason.
I slipped through the double doors and pressed my back into a dark corner, the position giving me a clear view of the entire room.
The atmosphere was abuzz, media outlets swarming closer to the stage in an attempt to siphon some of Ethan’s fame and energy. He was trending online again. Everyone wanted a piece of him.
Not anymore. He belonged to me—every strength, each flaw, they were all mine .
A static hush fell over the crowd as the man in question swaggered up on stage to stand behind the podium.
Ethan looked strong and intimidating, but I could sense a hesitance in him. I traced the lining of his shoulders and the way they tensed. As if his mind and body were in opposition.
Then, for a brief moment, his eyes zeroed in on someone near the exit, and his spine snapped ramrod straight.
No one else caught the hint. No one else knew him well enough to notice the tell.
My gaze locked on the culprit at the same exact moment Ethan said the earth-shattering statement that had the crowd in uproar.
“I’m resigning from the East Coast Cyclones and NFL altogether. Tonight will be my last game.”
Anarchy ensued.
And as I fought to get to his mother, I made a call, my ear pressed firmly against the phone to drown out the noise.
She answered on the first ring.
“I need your help.”