Chapter 20
Emalyn
It's game day. I love the buzzing energy of game day. The shots I get to take of the players. This season, they’ve done away with the suits on game day rule. Coach King hates that. The ones who truly fear him still wear one.
The social media team is doing a ‘game day fit’ segment now that they can be more personal and I’ve volunteered to take the shots for them.
Tate shows up in boots, a cowboy hat, and of course, a white pearl snap shirt tucked into a belt buckle.
He’s so southern, it’s almost surprising he ended up with my corporate-girly of a best friend.
Liam shows up in an expensive snug black shirt tucked into black pants held up by a stylish belt.
His tattoos are on full display, from his neck down to his wrists.
He checks his watch as he walks past, giving me a near perfect shot.
“Nice, Fitzy.” I catcall, making him look over his shoulder and wink.
Chuckling, I turn back to my camera, fixed on the tripod.
My breath catches in my throat. Ronan comes down the hall wearing a scowl and a sinfully good looking suit.
He’s chosen to forgo the tie, leaving the first few buttons open instead.
He drags his hand through his hair, still frowning in the direction Fitz went.
I absently touch the corner of my mouth to make sure there’s no drool.
I snap a few more pictures than I need to.
“What, no whistle for me? No compliment?” Ronan asks, a playful grin taking over as he holds his hands out wide. When he spins, I can’t stop myself from looking him up and down. Damn, his ass looks great in those pants.
Of course, he catches me staring and smirks. My face flames.
He just chuckles as he passes, heading in the direction of the locker room.
Letting out a breath, I turn back down the tunnel. I need to switch memory cards for the game.
When I open my door, I jolt back at the sight of a person in my chair sniffling into my lemon printed tissues.
She jumps in surprise.
White blonde hair twisted into a low bun on her neck, and bright blue eyes rimmed with tears, something about their exact shade seems familiar to me.
“Oh, I'm so sorry. I was just—“ Her face crumples as she tries to explain. Recognition dawns as she looks at me, worried and apologetic. I’ve seen Ronan wear that expression a few times before. I hadn’t realized how similar they looked, although I suppose she looks different from the one photo Ro has shown me. It’s an old one from maybe twenty years ago when he was just a boy.
“Oh…I know who you are.” I close the door behind me and lean against it.
My arms cross over my chest, relaxed but guarded.
I wonder if she’s here to see him. The playoffs aren’t exactly the best time for big life changes or emotional stress.
His focus has been on the game, and I hope she doesn’t mess with that. “Ro’s my best friend.”
She looks up, her eyebrows lift. A glint of hope flickers in her eyes.
“He doesn’t talk about you. I’d just…recognize his eyes anywhere.” I’ve been looking at them since I was sixteen after all.
Ronan’s mother assesses me, surprise stamped
clear across her face. Her eyes flick over me, taking me in with a renewed interest.
“You… love him.” She doesn’t say it like a question. I don’t deny it.
“Do you?” My head tilts as my eyes scrutinize her.
The woman who abandoned him. I want to demand a good enough reason. To interrogate her. Kick her out.
It’s not my place.
Her face crumples again, her hand covering her mouth again.
“Gosh, everything’s been such a mess.” The crumpled tissue gets pat against her eyes a few more times before she looks up again. “My son wanted to come tonight. He’s in the stands with his friend and his mom, cheering on his hero…”
Her voice cracks on the last word, and she fights to keep her composure. Sympathy threatens to flood my chest but I refuse to let it. How can you only be so broken up about this now? So many years later?
“He has no idea that it’s his brother. I-I just needed a minute.”
Sinking into the guest chair at my desk, I nod.
I can imagine how difficult it must be for her.
I want to comfort her, but somehow it feels like a betrayal.
I sit quietly, letting her have a moment before I switch my office TV to the live game.
I watch with baited breath as a shot is lined up, and Ro blocks it.
“Yes!” I mutter to myself.
“Would you… tell me about him?” Her meek voice asks, tentatively.
I pause.
She twists her fingers, trying not to squirm under my scrutiny.
Keeping a reign on the protectiveness pushing to the forefront, I try to imagine what Ronan would want to happen here. My lips roll in over my teeth as I consider. I guess I can share what would be public knowledge anyways. Something a simple google search could tell her.
“He’s the second best goalie in the league right now.” A smile tilts my lips as I speak, “Although, I’d consider him the best because not only does he have a high overall save average, he also blocks more high risk shots.”
“The hockey is great, really. But I mean, can you tell me about him?” Her eyes are eager, flicking between mine as her hands grip the tissue tightly.
“Oh.”
This feels invasive.
Sure, she’s his mom, but I don’t think she’s entitled to anything after how she left things. Left Ronan. Still, her eyes are pleading. I can’t have kids… but I imagine if I did, I’d want to know they’re loved by someone in this world.
“Ronan is… the best man I’ve ever met. That may seem like an exaggeration, considering I travel the world for my photography—It’s not.
He’s kind, patient and respectful. More than that, the man has never met a stranger.
” I chuckle. “He makes it his mission to include everyone, never letting them get sucked into their own darkness.
It's impossible to feel insecure or left out around him.”
I think back to Jayce, and how hateful he was to Ronan for so many years.
Now, he works for him. There wasn’t any bad blood, or grudges held over his head.
Ronan is the type to feed those who starve him.
I don’t mention his foundation, his accomplishments or anything else that may give away too much information.
Still, she seems grateful. A small smile tips her lips before it falls again. Not before I see the wobble of her chin.
“Thank you.”
I give her a tight nod, moving to the book shelf near my desk and swapping out the memory card.
“You’re welcome to stay here and watch on screen.” I say, gesturing. She’s already shaking her head and moving to stand.
“Oh, no. I already feel as if I'm backstage. I don’t want to accidentally be seen.” She insists, “He wasn’t happy last time.”
After a brief consideration, I quickly scribble my phone number down and tuck the ripped paper into her hand. I’m not sure what makes me do it.
“Just in case,”I shrug.
She follows me out of my office and this time I use my key to lock the door. When I’m finished, I notice she still lingers.
“What was your name?”
“Emalyn Espinosa.” I shake her hand. Her eyes widen with recognition, and for a moment, I think maybe she recognizes my name from my other well known work. She doesn’t comment though.
“Thank you, Emalyn. For loving my son.” She pulls me into a hug.
“Sí, lo hago. Realmente lo hago.” Yes, I do. I really do.
“Lo sé. Está en tus ojos.” I know. It’s in your eyes.
She pulls back, a small smile on her face before taking the hall that leads toward the stands.
I watch her until she turns right, out of view.
“Emalyn!” Alli and Presley gasp at the same time when I emerge from the closet in my gown for the gala.
We are all showing up to support Ronan. The entire team and all the WAG’s.
I’m not technically a wife or girlfriend but there’s plenty of other people from work going as well.
After they won their game yesterday, it’s official.
They’re going to the Stanley Cup finals.
Ronan has so many big things happening for him this year.
I’m glad to be by his side, even if it’s only as his friend.
I peek at myself in the floor length mirror. The glittering gown accents my shape, hugging my hips.
“You look beautiful.” Dakota gives me a slow grin.
I do a little twirl before I match her smile. The girls got together in my apartment since I’m closest to the event.
“Not as gorgeous as you.” I flirt, shooting her a wink. She flushes pink and holds her gown out with both hands. “I bet Fitz would think so too.”
“Oh stop it.” She swats my arm, one hand on her blushing cheeks. The other girls giggle too.
“Sure, I’ll stop. I’ll pretend not to see you two sneaking glances at each other when you think no one’s watching.”
“He doesn’t look at me.” Dakota mutters. We all stare at her like she has two heads.
“Fitz walked right into Coach King’s back on the way out of the meeting because he couldn’t take his eyes off you.” Paige insists.
“Well, Ronan is always stuck to Emalyn like glue and there’s nothing going on there.” Dakota’s voice gets high and slightly defensive as she gestures to me. Alli snorts, turning away to zip up Presley’s dress.
“Well…” I squint one eye and tilt my head, considering how much to say. “It’s not that there’s not something there. More so, we can’t act on it.”
I pin a few golden pins to Paige’s striking red hair as we gossip.
“You could…” Alli starts. I shoot her a look. She’s mentioned this before. That we could be ‘one big family’. She doesn’t understand.
“So what… you just live life parallel to him? You will always be involved with each other through Alli. You’re really okay watching him spend his life with someone else?” Presley asks wide eyed, voice hushed with disbelief..
It would gut me. And still, I would. If it meant he got to have his dream. Every foster kid dreams of the big happy family they never had, right?
“I have to be.” I sigh. We sit in a moment of silence before I smack my hands on my thighs and stand.
“Let’s go. We look too hot to be sitting around and feeling sad for me.”
That gets them giggling and moving. Heels are strapped on, lip gloss is applied and hair spray is in the air. Presley smacks my ass on her way out.
“Damn straight, we do.”
We all pile into a limo that Tate sent for us.
That man spoils my best friend and I love to see it.
Music fills the car as we chatter and sip the champagne.
It’s not long before we are pulling up to the gala.
Tate stands on the sidewalk, waiting for Alli with nothing but love and desire in his eyes.
She takes his outstretched hand as she gets out.
He slowly kisses each knuckle, looking into her eyes.
The move is so romantic that my eyes instantly scan the sidewalk, looking for…someone.
Kade is supposed to meet me inside, like we agreed through a simple yet distant text after the meeting.
I trail a step behind the girls as they make their way in.
Ryan— who was hanging out by the entrance— immediately steps next to Presley.
She rolls her eyes but still slips her hand into the bend of his arm.
He grins down at her as she feigns disinterest. Dakota and I exchange an amused glance as we follow them in.
My gaze easily finds the man at the front of the room, where an easy smile and blue eyes charm important people.
He wears a tie the same shade of navy as his favorite hoodie, making his eyes shine.
He’s wearing his fancy suit that I bought him a few years ago for an award ceremony I was invited to.
He came as my platonic date then, but now…
the feeling stirring in my belly is anything but platonic.
Ronan looks my way, just as I notice the blue painted nails holding onto his arm.
My eyes widen slightly at the sight of Vanessa.
Of course she’s here. Ronan didn’t hide what was going to be required of him. He gave me every chance to speak up, and I… didn’t. I have no right to be upset.
Concern flashes across his face as he starts to take a step toward me. I quickly look away, taking in the room. Or pretending to.
The place is decorated to the nines. Large floral centerpieces, beautiful lights and most importantly— the stocked bar.
I make a beeline for it.