I just hope I get to keep it all.
CHAPTER 15
The day has been too good, and I feel that deep in my bones as we make our way toward the exit. My chest is warm and I feel like I’ve found a place where I belong even though I have no idea how long it’ll last.
Does anyone, though?
Players can be traded or fall to a career-ending injury at any time. Separation and divorce run rampant for any marriage, but ones in the spotlight come with different sorts of pressures and complications.
So I’m claiming my place here while I can.
But the day has been the sort of good where I feel something coming to blindside me, and sure enough, just before we get to the exit doors to seal in what I can only describe as a feeling that I’m home, I hear my name.
“Ellie?”
I turn around and blow out a breath. “Michelle.”
“Were you here looking for me?” she asks.
I shake my head nicely as I try to act like that’s not the most self-centered, egotistical question I’ve ever heard. “No,” I say. “Leah was just introducing me to some of the office staff.”
“You must’ve skipped by my office,” she says pointedly.
“You work here?” I ask.
“I figured you two already knew one another,” Leah says, a touch of defensiveness in her tone. The boss’s daughter really sort of puts everybody on edge.
“Yes,” Michelle says, answering my question and ignoring Leah. “I’m currently serving as the administrative assistant to the director of marketing.”
“That’s wonderful,” I say sweetly when what I really want to say is something along the lines of how it must be nice that her daddy gave her a job. Didn’t Luke say something about how she’d just gotten back from studying fashion overseas when they first met? Good to see she’s putting her fashion experience to good use.
“I’m glad I ran into you,” she says.
“You are?” I ask, and I brace myself for whatever she’s about to say.
“I was going to swing by the house tomorrow so we could have a chat since I don’t have your number.”
“A chat about what?” What could the two of us possibly have to talk about?
“About me moving back in.”
My brows practically fly off my forehead as my eyes widen.
“Oh.” She forces a fake chuckle as she covers her mouth with her hands. “I’m so sorry. Did Luke not tell you? We talked last night and I’ll be moving my stuff in this weekend.”
I narrow my eyes at her. What’s the right move? Is she lying and trying to trap me? I won’t play that game. “Luke and I haven’t discussed you moving back in. That’s not something I’m comfortable with.”
“Good thing your opinion doesn’t really matter then.” She wiggles her fingers at me and flashes me a smile over her shoulder as she turns to walk away. “I’ll see you Friday.”
“The fuck you will,” I mutter to her retreating figure.
I need to have a little chat with my dear husband.
As we walk back out to Leah’s car, she’s quiet. Once we slide into our seats so she can drive me back home, she starts up the car and glances at me. “You want to talk about what just happened?” she asks.
I twist my hands in my lap. “I hate her.”
Leah chuckles. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“She’s so manipulative. I don’t even really believe the baby is Luke’s, yet she’s moving back in? Fuck that. I need a goddamn paternity test before I even consider letting her move in. And I need to talk to Luke.” I barely know Leah, and I should be thinking about whether I can really trust her. She was one of Nicki’s bridesmaids. If Nicki trusts her, I’m sure I can, too. Right?
But I have no idea what her relationship with Michelle is.
“But you can’t until the little ten-minute window he gives you later tonight.” Leah sighs heavily. “I hate training camp month.”
The feeling is definitely mutual.
When my phone rings a little after eight, I immediately pick it up. “Hey there, hubby,” I say.
He doesn’t even muster a chuckle. “Hey.”
That one syllable sort of puts me on alert. “What’s wrong?”
“Rough day. I’m exhausted.”
He doesn’t exactly sound like he’s in the mood to chat about Michelle, but I need to get this off my chest and find some answers. And I also need to know when, exactly, he made time to chat with her when he can barely fit me in. “I ran into Michelle today.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. Leah was introducing me to the key people I need to know in the Aces organization and we happened to cross paths in the lobby. And isn’t this fresh? She said you gave her the green light to move into our house.”
“She said what?” he thunders.
“Yep. She’s moving in this Friday. It’ll be just the two of us. Isn’t that sweet? Oh, and by the way, when did you have time to talk to her?”
He blows out a breath. “We talked last night,” he confirms, and I fume.
I’ve been missing him like crazy. I get all of five minutes of his time each night...yet he somehow made time for her.
I blow out a breath. “You made time to talk to her when I barely get a second of your time?”
“She called from Calvin’s line at the office. When your boss calls, you answer.” He still sounds tired. “And I never said she could move in. I said we’d talk about the possibility.”
“So why on Earth does she think she’s moving in on Friday?” I demand.
He’s quiet a beat, and then he mutters a curse. “I may have said something just to appease her.”
“Such as?”
“That I’d talk to you about it. I figured we’d come up with a plan together, and then I had another meeting and to be honest I forgot about it. See? That’s what she does. She waits until she knows she can manipulate me because I’m not in the right frame of mind.”
“What, exactly, did you mean when you said you would talk to me about it?” I ask.
He sighs. “I told her that if you were okay with it, we’d figure something out. She must’ve taken that to mean that you were okay with it and it’s fine for her to move in.”
“I refuse to live with her until we have a positive paternity test, Luke.” My voice is flat and unmistakably clear.
“I get that. It’s fine. I’ll call her right now and tell her no.”
“Please do that. I know you’re busy and this is the hardest couple weeks of the year for you, and I know she’s your boss’s daughter, but that does not give you a pass to let her manipulate me.”
“Understood,” he says. “I will fix this.”
“Now. Bye.” I hang up with shaking hands as anger fills me.
I realize too late that it isn’t Luke I’m mad at. It’s Michelle. And I just sent him off to call her, and she’s going to lay it on thick and probably make him feel like he might lose his job over this, and it’s all because I’m insecure.
She’s winning. She’s coming between us, and I’m letting her.