“So, we’re pretty sure Greer was the one who sent the picture, since it went to players and their partners. And it wasn’t anybody new on the team, only people she would have overlapped with.”
“Okay. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Probably good, since we have a good lead on who it is,” he said. “The team is going to get the police involved. I thought we’d get in trouble, but they’re more worried about security and our safety.”
“What can the police do?” I asked. “We don’t have any proof, do we?”
“Even without proof, we can file restraining orders. I thought it was just going to be me, but if she’s been around your house . . . god, I wish I’d known.”
“What could you have done?”
“I don’t know,” Harlan said quietly. “I guess tried to talk her into staying away from you.”
“I don’t think you should talk to her at all. That’s giving her what she wants, and she shouldn’t get it by following us around.”
I heard a scratching sound and could picture his movements: rubbing a hand over his mustache, dragging his fingertips down the side of his face. “I’m sorry, Emma. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“It’s not your fault,” I assured him. “Have you heard anything about the team? Are they mad at us?”
He sighed. “I guess we need to do some paperwork, but it’s more to cover the team’s ass. Coach was annoyed at first, but Cap talked him down.”
“Aw. He does have a soft heart after all,” I laughed.
“Right? Who knew? So,” Harlan puffed out a sigh, “people know we’re together now.”
“Kinda figured that was a consequence.”
His voice was quiet. “Sorry. This isn’t how I wanted it to go. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. And it’s not your fault. Plus, now we don’t have to hide.”
“Bummer,” he said. “That was kinda fun. Being all sneaky.”
“It was, wasn’t it?” Despite the sun on my skin, I got a chill. I liked Harlan. I missed him. I loved all the things we’d shared and felt giddy at the prospect of getting more of that.
At the same time, I was still scared, of being stalked, of people knowing about us, of being loved. But if I’d learned anything from the last several months, it was that the scary stuff often brought forth the good stuff. If I hadn’t faced the bus, Harlan wouldn’t be in my life like he was. And even though sometimes bad stuff came with the Royce package, he’d been such a positive force in my life, and in Liam’s life.
I took a deep breath. “Hey, Harlan?”
“Yeah?”
I closed my eyes and wrinkled my nose, needing to just spit it out. “I love you?”
Liam nudged my side and shot me a big smile with a thumbs up.
Harlan chuckled, and I relished in the sound of his laugh. “Is that a question?”
“Maybe? I don’t know? It’s weird saying it over the phone?”
“I’ll just have to look forward to hearing it in person. Without a question mark at the end.”
I was beaming with a lobster-colored face that had nothing to do with the spring sun. “I’m trying,” I squeaked.
His smile was in his tone, and it sent my stomach into further knots. “I know you are. I love you the way you are, princess.”
“Is that how it is?” I struggled not to giggle, flashing back to when I accidentally let that slip at Liam’s senior night dinner.
“It’s exactly like that,” Harlan said. The line clicked and he interrupted what I was about to say. “Actually, my agent’s calling me. I should probably go.”
