"Ladies," Harper says, noticing my panic. "I’m thirsty. Let’s get her out of this dress and head to my bar.”
That sounds perfect. Ten minutes later, we are walking into the hotel lobby and being treated like royalty. That’s when I realize it’s one of Harper’s family’s hotels. We are ushered into a private room, away from prying eyes. Harper orders a bottle of champagne for the table.
"Jo," Issy says gently. "I’m sorry about earlier. You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to."
"But if you're seeing someone," Harper adds, "we're happy for you. We just want to make sure you're okay."
"You've been different lately," Issy continues. "Happier. Glowing. We thought maybe it was just work going well, but ..."
My heart is beating wildly out of my chest, I’m in a blind panic, but thankfully, the bottle of champagne comes out, and I don’t have to answer the question the girls have. I watch the waiter pour my glass of champagne, and I instantly throw half of the glass back. Harper raises a brow at me.
“Jo,” Collette gasps.
“Is everything okay?” Issy asks.
I nod. What am I supposed to say? I have to say something because they are not going to give this up. I take a shaky breath. "I'm seeing someone, and it's ... complicated."
"Complicated how? He’s not married, is he?" Issy asks.
“No!”
“Just checking. I know you wouldn’t do that, but when you said complicated, my mind went there …” she stills. “Oh …” I think she’s just fingered it out. “You mean complicated like ... he's on the team." No one says anything. Issy looks around the table. “Do you all know?”
Harper shakes her head. “Not officially, but I have my suspicions.”
Shit.
“I’m pleading the fifth,” Collette adds.
Issy looks back at me, and then her eyes widen. “Please don’t tell me the mystery guy is Emmett Black?” Wait. What? How did she figure that out so quickly? Harper smirks, and Collette looks stunned. “I thought I noticed something, but then I convinced myself I was seeing things.”
I finish the rest of my glass of champagne.
“I think you need another,” Harper says, pouring me another glass. She’s not wrong.
“Jo, you can trust us. Whatever you tell us, I know Harper and I would never tell your brothers.”
Collette reaches under the table and squeezes my hand, reassuring me.
“You cannot tell my brothers,” I plead with them as tears well in my eyes.”
“Hey. No. Promise,” Issy adds.
“It’s locked in the vault,” Harper states.
“I’m seeing Emmett.”
"I knew it," Harper says excitedly. "I fucking knew something was going on. The way he looks at you during games. The way you both disappear at the same time. I thought I was imagining it, but …"
"Wait," Issy interrupts. "How long has this been going on?"
"A while," I say quietly.
“It’s a little more complicated than what Jo is saying,” Collette adds.
“How can it be more complicated than dating the captain?” Issy asks.
“Maybe that’s the wrong word. This started long before she ever joined The Mavericks,” Collette explains.
