Chapter 19 #3
I sighed, thinking about the impatient woman Moira was today. She absolutely was no longer the woman I’d once fallen in love with and married. “It’s Pearce. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
“Pearce Malcolm?”
“One and the same.”
“Your friend? The basketball player?”
“Yes.” I swore my sighs were coming thick and fast.
“Isn’t he barely out of college?” There was no actual venom in her tone, just general curiosity.
“Not at all. He’ll be thirty at his next birthday. Not that his age matters,” I was quick to add.
“Right, well, congratulations. I know Charlotte speaks of him fondly.”
A fast breath raced out of me, tension I hated to admit had held my shoulders rigid dissipating. “Thank you,” I responded.
“It’s hardly like you were seeking my approval.”
“You’re right, I wasn’t, but since there’s Lottie to think about, I thought it right you should know before the news breaks.”
“Ah,” she said, and I could hear the smile in her voice, “now that is something I don’t miss about being a League wife.
” Laughter followed, taking me by surprise.
It had been years since I’d last heard it.
“Just think, Eddie, you’ll be a League husband.
Get to hang out with all the other players’ partners. Have fun with that.”
I snorted at her glee. “I think you’re having a little too much fun with the idea.”
Her laughter died down. “You know I didn’t enjoy the whole fame or wife thing.” A quiet sigh slipped down the line. “But you’ve been on the other side. I’m sure you’ll handle it all just fine.”
Surprised by her words, my eyes widened. “Uhm, thank you?” Moira was both congratulating and reassuring me? What freaky dimension had I fallen into?
“And on that note, before you curl over in shock that I’m able to impart wisdom, please let Charlotte know I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“Yeah, will do, Moira. Have a great weekend.”
“You too, Eddie.”
She ended the call, and I stared at my cell screen.
That hadn’t gone at all like I expected.
Pearce found me still staring at my cell. “You all good in here?” He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my cheek.
“Weirdly, yes.”
“Huh. That’s good, right?”
“She congratulated me.”
Pearce snorted. “Ah, so you’re wondering if she’s been abducted by aliens and brainwashed or something.”
I snickered. “Maybe a little.”
After a quick squeeze of my waist, he stepped away. “Well, I’m pleased she didn’t give you any shit. I love you, Eddie, but I seriously wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with your ex.”
Amusement trickled through me, and I faced my hot fiancé. “And I love you too much to ever ask you to do that.”
A mouth-splitting grin pulled at his lips. “You see, a perfect match.” As his gaze raked over me, he gnawed on his bottom lip. “You seriously do look hot in that suit.”
Pleasure warmed my chest. “You can show me how hot you think I am when we get home. Is Lottie ready?”
The mention of my girl’s name had him nodding and taking a deep breath. A glance at his pants showed a twitching bulge, one he was clearly trying to settle.
“Let’s get going before you make us late.”
I stepped past him, not daring to tease him further or even smack his ass like I was tempted to.
“Fine,” he whined. “If we must.”
With a roll of my eyes, I slipped my hands in my pockets and pulled the material forward a little, knowing full well my ass would be where his gaze drifted to.
When his “Fuck, Ed, you don’t play fair,” greeted me as I headed down the staircase, I chuckled, loving teasing my man a little too much.
A couple of minutes later we were all strapped into Pearce’s SUV. He was driving us there, and I’d offered to drive us at the end of the night. It wouldn’t be a late one as Lottie was exhausted after another crazy forty-eight hours. Not that she’d admit such a thing.
It didn’t take too long to reach the venue, the thirty-minute drive filled with banter and Pearce still figuring out his limerick. They were ridiculously abysmal. A poet, he wasn’t.
When we pulled up outside the hotel, Pearce eyed me speculatively. And considering the way my pulse rocketed as soon as he hit the brakes, I figured he knew the reason why.
“I love you.” The words, smooth and easy, helped to ease my nerves. Since I retired, I’d enjoyed being out of the limelight, only chasing it when raising awareness for the charity foundation I was heavily involved with.
As soon as I stepped out of this car, I’d be putting myself out there, and more significantly, Lottie too. I had to have faith she could handle it, as could we all.
“I love you,” I responded, then peered over at Lottie. “You ready, kiddo?”
She bobbed her head, her eyes a little wide from the bunch of cameras outside.
“You hold my hand or Pearce’s, okay?”
She turned to me, a patient smile appearing on her face. “I know the drill, Dad. Promise.”
“All part of your agent prep, huh, Lottie girl?” Pearce winked at her through the rearview, and a moment later, we exited the vehicle.
As soon as Pearce reached my side, our gazes connected. My small smile was all the reassurance I seemed to need as he reached out and held my hand, Lottie moving around to Pearce’s other side and clasping his hand too.
The camera flashes seemed to double, and Pearce’s name being hollered out reached a peak. These events weren’t about stopping and chatting to reporters, so with smiles and a few nods, we held on tightly to each other and reached the door, held swiftly open for us.
Exhaling slow and steady, I shook off the first layer of tension. Next up were Pearce’s friends.