I stop in my tracks and eventually Emmett realizes I’ve stopped walking when he stops too, turning back to face me.
“Are you saying you did that for me?”
He shrugs. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. But...”
I cock my head to the side. “Emmett.”
He takes slow steps to meet me on the sidewalk before he lifts a hand and gently pushes a strand of blonde hair behind my ear. He leaves it there, cradling my cheek.
“It’s not going to be pretty, Reese. The press is going to put you through the wringer. The fans too. But if I can take some of the heat off you, I will.”
He’s really got to stop. The professional walls between us are becoming far too fragile.
“Thank you,” I exhale and watch the way his eyes fall to my lips as I do.
“Why have you been avoiding me?”
His soft brown eyes search mine, looking for the answer, and the desperation in his inquiry breaks my heart a bit.
But I’ve been avoiding him for his own good. An excellent reminder I need right about now.
I gently circle his forearm with my hand, pulling his palm away from my face. “I’m almost home. What is it you needed to speak to me about tonight?”
He exhales a sigh, understanding my wish to change the tone of things when the two of us fall into step again.
“Nate called me.”
Oh.
“And I needed to say thank you.”
I quickly nod, wanting this conversation to be over as soon as possible. “Of course.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you had a job lined up for him?”
Maybe because I shouldn’t have cared that much. I didn’t know the guy, yet I felt terrible for having to let him go. I didn’t have it in me to make a cutthroat business decision without giving him a backup option, though a stronger businesswoman probably would’ve been able to stomach it.
My voice is small. “I don’t know.”
“You let me call you heartless, Reese. You hardly batted an eye all while knowing you had him taken care of.”
“It’s fine, Emmett.”
“No, it’s not.” He stops again, grabbing my arm to stop me as well. “I never should have spoken to you that way.”
“You were upset.”
“Yeah, and that’s not an excuse. I’m sorry for what I said. Clearly, I didn’t know you yet. I didn’t understand how you operated. I had no idea you’d make sure he got a job close to family. I had no idea you’d make sure my players’ families were at their important games or that you’d be so invested in our developmental teams. I didn’t know you then and I’m sorry for making the wrong assumption.”
As much as I liked that he didn’t apologize for his interaction with Harrison, this apology feels good. It’s unnecessary because I was making assumptions about him then too. But it’s nice to know he sees me even when that’s not the side of me I’m trying to put on display for the rest of the league to witness.
“Thank you for saying that,” I whisper. “I recently learned I may have made some wrong assumptions about you too, so I guess we’re even.”
“Yeah?” His eyes tick to my lips. “Like what?”
“Like the fact that you covered the salary for Max’s nanny, even before that nanny was your daughter.”
“Oh.” Realization dawns on him. “Please don’t say anything to anyone. I don’t want Kai or Miller to feel—”
