7. Emily
I didn’t knowwhere I was going.
The stadium was a damn maze, and with my tear-stung eyes, I could barely see anything.
Not even the curvy figure who stopped in front of me, her smile faltered as soon as she saw my face.
“Emily, is everything okay?” Ava asked.
“No, it’s not,” I managed to blurt between sniffles.
Her warm hand went on my shoulder as she huddled me forward. “Come, you don’t need to cry out here; my office is right around the corner.”
She ushered me toward the door and scooted me in as voices sounded down the hallway.
Possibly my brother or even Liam, but I didn’t want to think about either of them.
Instead, I slumped down on a small brown leather chair as Ava closed the door and pulled the curtains.
Ava’s office was small but cheerier than what I expected.
Everything else in the maze of a building was lit with fluorescent lights.
Her office was covered in floral-patterned wallpaper, and a large, matching bright teal rug was on the floor under her oak desk.
The ceiling lights were covered in black mesh, making the whole room glow in a softer light.
“So, tell me, what the hell did Liam do that has you crying like this?” she asked, leaning against her desk and folding her arms over her chest.
I sniffled. “How did you know it was Liam?”
“You aren’t the first girl he’s had crying in my office,” she muttered.
That made the lump in my throat swell even more.
How many other girls had he been with?
That physical therapist?
Me?
Probably dozens.
And I thought he was so sincere when I gave him my virginity—thought when I got the ring that it actually meant something.
I stared down at the emerald on my finger, twisting it around.
Ava must have noticed because she took a few steps toward me and carefully lifted my hand.
“Wow, he really did put a ring on it, ey?”
“Supposedly, his mother’s, but that’s probably a lie,” I hiccupped.
“Why would you say that?” Ava asked.
I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I heard him talking to that girl in her office. They’d hooked up before, and he told her that we were pretending.”
“And this isn’t pretend?” Ava asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I don’t know anymore.” I shook my head.
She kneeled down in front of me, her face softening as she looked up at me. “Liam really is a good guy, Emily. He wouldn’t hurt you on purpose. And I’ve never seen him as protective of anyone as he was of you at the pub.”
She took my hand, running her long nails down my fingers and over the ring. “If he gave you this, it wasn’t just pretend. Anyone who gives a ring is making a promise.”
“A promise to pretend?”
She shrugged. “Maybe, or maybe it’s something more. I’ve known Liam as long as I’ve been with the team, and he’s never made a fuss with me about taking care of a girl’s reputation like he has yours. He must see something very special in you.”
I sucked in a deep breath.
Maybe she was right.
But it still didn’t make it hurt any less.
A commotion in the hallway had Ava’s head snapping up, followed by a scuffle and loud voices.
One I recognized way too well.
“Where the hell is Emily? I’m not going back in that locker room until I talk to her.”
Ava smiled softly, looking from the door to me. “Well, there’s Prince Charming now. Do you want me to let him know you’re here or let him wait it out a bit longer?”
I sniffled, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. “I guess you can let him know I’m here. See what he has to say.”
She nodded, standing up as her heels clicked softly on the floor that wasn’t covered by the rug.
The door creaked open behind me, and the yelling stopped.
“Ey. If you want your girl, she’s in here. But if you so much as make her shed one tear again, I’ll shove my Louboutins so far up your ass that you’ll be peeing red soles for the rest of your life.”
I couldn’t help the smile crossing my face. I definitely liked the team publicist.
Liam pushed past whatever guy he was talking to, and I heard his big hand on the doorway before I felt his presence.
I’d only known him a short time, yet something immediately had me drawn to him.
I glanced over my shoulder to see his disheveled hair, like he’d been shoving his fingers through it. His eyes were now glassy as they met mine across the room.
“Do you want me to let him in, Emily?” Ava asked, putting her arm out so he couldn’t fully enter.
I nodded. “Yeah. That’s fine.”
She dropped her arm as Liam slowly walked in.
He glanced over his shoulder at Ava. “Do you mind giving us some privacy?”
Instead of answering him, she looked back at me, raising an eyebrow.
I swallowed hard before nodding. “Yeah, that’s fine.”
She put her hand on the door. “I’ll be down the hall getting coffee, but if you need me, just holler, and I’ll be back to kick his arse faster than you can sing the bridge to Galway Girl.”
I smiled. “Thanks, Ava.”
She nodded again before stepping out, shooting a glare at Liam as she slowly closed the door behind her.
“Emily…” Liam said, taking a step forward. “I…I don’t even know how I can explain myself.”
I folded my arms across my chest, trying to keep my face neutral, though all I wanted to do was take him in my arms and hug him as he looked so vulnerable.
“Maybe explain who the woman was that you were talking about us just being pretend?”
He swallowed hard before running his fingers through his hair. “That’s Ella. She’s the physical therapist for the team, and we might have been a thing months ago, but that was before.”
“Before?” I asked.
“Way before you,” he said softly, taking slow steps toward me before he sunk down to his knees.
“I may have said this was all pretend, Emily, but I can’t deny that there’s something between us. For me, this is more than just a fling. When I put that ring on your finger, I meant for it to be real.”
“Real?” I managed to choke on my own words, this time happier tears springing to my eyes.
He wiped his thumb across my cheek. “Real as you want us to be, that is. If you’ll have me.”
“I want nothing more,” I whispered as I crushed my lips to his.