“Aren’t you going to introduce me, Reese?” he asks.
I feel her deep inhale against my palm.
“Emmett, this is Jeremy.” Over her shoulder she looks up and meets my eye, trying to silently tell me something before she adds, “My ex-husband.”
8
Reese
“Well, I hope you’re taking care of our girl out there in Chicago,” Jeremy says.
It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes.Our girl? Please. He’s only laying it on thick now that another man is around.
“She takes care of herself just fine,” is Emmett’s answer.
And there’s something about the conviction in his tone that reminds me that I do.
Being ignored by every other team owner in the league did a number on my self-confidence today, so I don’t mind having a bit of it restored by the one person in my organization whose approval I’m finding myself eager to earn.
“I bet she does.” Jeremy’s attention swings back to me. “It’s been a long time, Reese. You look good.”
I want to tell him he looks exhausted from kissing up to the commissioner all night. But I don’t. Because I’m so fucking professional.
The sentence is barely out of Jeremy’s mouth when Emmett’s fingertips curl against my back. “Excuse us, but I need a word with my boss in private for a moment.”
“No problem.” Jeremy keeps his eyes on me. “I hope we can catch up soon.”
Not that I was going to agree, quite the opposite in fact, but before I can say anything, Emmett’s palm presses against my back, ushering me away from my ex.
“Why are you acting like a jealous boyfriend?” I ask over my shoulder, though my words are a bit slurred.
There’s an annoyed rumble in his tone as we continue toward the exit door. “Do not ask me that right now, Reese.”
I do my best, pressing my lips together and holding back my laugh. But I’m tipsy, so one slips out anyway.
We continue through the crowd when Emmett leans down, speaking quietly for no one else to hear us. “Are you okay?”
“Yep.”
“Are you sure?” I don’t miss the concern in his question.
“Super totally sure.”
I am fine, but like Jeremy said, it’s been a long time since we’ve seen one another. And I spent most of the day on edge, knowing I was most likely going to run into him here and just praying I wouldn’t have to hear him say, “I told you so.”
Thankfully, my field manager got me away before he could.
Emmett opens the main door for me, allowing me to exit first before he closes it behind him, blocking out the buzzing noise of everyone partying inside.
I’m still buzzing though, that’s for damn sure. Having no one to talk to all night gave me plenty of time to drink this wine. And I am feeling it.
The lobby’s silence is a stark difference to the noisy ballroom-turned-bar, so Emmett’s voice is perfectly clear when he says, “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“Where are we going?”
“Anywhere other than here. You don’t need to be around these people any longer than you already have been.”
As much as I hate to admit it, Emmett is a calming presence when he wants to be. Sure, he’s excellent at going toe-to-toe with me, but I’m learning he’s equally talented at composure when the moment calls for it.
