“Where’s the rehab?”
“Maine.”
“Maine!” he exclaims loudly. “That’s so far. I’ll…I’ll drive you there.”
I turn and look at him. “It’s a ten-hour drive, Daylen. That would be twenty for you round trip.”
He shrugs. “It’s fine. I don’t have other plans for today.”
I shake my head. “I don’t need to be driven. Reagan is flying me there,” I say as I begin to toss my clothes into the suitcase.
He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’ll drive you to the airport.”
“Not necessary,” I answer as I continue packing. “I’ll get an Uber.”
He grabs me by the arm so I’m forced to look at him. “I’m driving you.”
“I said no,” I grit out.
“You’re my wife. You’ve had a rough twenty-four hours. You’re hurting. I will be driving you, and I will stay with you until I’m convinced you’re okay, which you’re very clearly not. Even if it means getting on that damn plane with you.”
“Stop it,” I violently pull my arm away from his hold on it. “I’m not your wife. I’m not yours to worry about. You don’t really know me. Don’t pretend like you do. You spend time with me because you’re legally obligated to do so.”
And then it hits me. “Oh, you’re just worried about our court-mandated dates.”
He tightens his face in anger. “Are you for fucking real right now? I don’t give a shit about Judge Dies-A-Lot. I’m worried about my wife.”
I close my eyes. “Stop calling me that.”
“No, I will not stop. It’s exactly what you are. You’re. My. Wife.”
“I don’t have time for this bullshit. Please just leave.”
He ignores my request and paces in my bedroom while I pack, refusing to talk to him. I don’t understand why he’s here.
Once I’m done, I reach for my phone and turn it on. It pings with notification after notification. Thousands of them. Countless texts from Daylen, Sulley, my father, Pierce, my mother, everyone on the team, Alyssa, Coach Lakshmi, Fallon, Booster, and a few other Camels guys.
I breathe, “What the fuck?” I stand there dumbfounded before I realize Daylen is looking at it from over my shoulder.
“People care about you, Kennedy. A lot of people. Me included.” He wraps his arms around my chest from behind and kisses my head before whispering into my hair, “Please let me drive you to the airport. I’m much cheaper than an Uber. I’ll only charge you twenty bucks,” he jokes.
I roll my eyes. “Fine. What do you want to do about Judge Dinosaur?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll have Tanner handle him. Is there anything I can do for you when you’re gone?”
I turn around and try not to be overwhelmed by the sincerity written all over his face. “Reagan said a bunch of new endorsement offers have come in and I might need a new agent. Someone a little bigger than the one I have. Do you know anyone?”
He smiles. “That makes sense. You’re fucking exploding on social media right now. You should wear a Black Widow costume to your first game back. It will feed into all the dialogue.”
I scrunch my nose. “Ugh. No. I’ve always hated that nickname.”
“I’d embrace it. And you’ll look hot as fuck in that tight bodysuit.” He wiggles his eyebrows up and down.
I punch him in the stomach. “Aww,” he chuckles. “You’re so violent. Maybe I should protect my nose.” He covers it with a smile. “I’ll talk to Tanner about representing you.”
My eyes widen. “What? No. He handles multi-million-dollar deals. I’m not big enough for him. I need a mid-level person.”
He shakes his head. “He’ll take you on.” He straightens his shoulders with visible pride. “Consider your new agent taken care of. When I pick you up at the airport in two weeks, it will be done. I promise.”
