Page 100 of All Tied Down

Emerson spent long days at the office, even opting to stay at her apartment one night to catch up. I didn’t join her and ended up tossing and turning all night. Theo told me I looked like shit the next day, and I couldn’t disagree.

Somehow, in less than six months, I’ve become dependent on Emerson in a way I’ve never come close to with another person. It’s terrifying, especially now as she stands across the private box, typing away on her phone.

“You all right?” Roan asks as he sidles up next to me.

“Yeah, I’m glad we were all able to be here.” I motion toward Tom, Kat, Samson and his girls, Jace, and Ozzy, with Grimm standing guard outside the door.

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Do we have to do this here?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer and looking out at the field. I’ve been to hundreds of games between college and the major leagues and it never gets old, seeing my friend doing what he loves.

We tease Colt for being the all-American boy, but I’m so damn proud of him—proud that despite the direction life has taken each of us, we’re still the same three guys from that college dorm.

“This is the first time I’ve actually seen you in weeks,” Roan says, following my gaze to the field. “And your contract is up soon and I need to know what we’re doing.”

“We have time⁠—”

“We don’t,” he says gently. “If you go through with the divorce, there will be questions, and statements will have to be released asking for privacy and that’s all before we even get to court.”

Dread settles in my stomach, the thought of actually divorcing Emerson making me sick. There’s no way she wants that, does she?

“I’ll talk to her,” I murmur, watching as she slips her phone into the pocket of her wide-leg trousers. We’re at a baseball game and she looks effortlessly elegant, her hair swept up in a messy but intentional bun at the nape of her neck.

“Okay, just…” Roan’s voice trails off as Emerson joins us, her hand sliding into my free one as she leans into me.

“Hey, sorry, I’m trying to get things under control with the acquisition, but I keep hitting all this red tape,” she says, looking at me before gazing out the window at the field. It’s the top of the third already, and the Illinois Blues have a three to one lead.

“Is it something major?”

“I hope not,” she says distractedly. “Has Colt been up to bat?”

“Once,” Roan offers and she nods.

“I’m going to go say hi to Nico’s girls. I’ll be right back.”

With a quick kiss to my lips, Emerson pulls her hand from mine and I miss her immediately.

And not for the first time, I think I might be well and truly fucked for falling in love with Emerson Andrews.

EMERSON

My mind is whirling at a thousand miles an hour as I stand in front of the windows overlooking the stadium. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a game and even longer since I came to one for something other than business.

But isn’t my relationship with Garrett business?

There’s only a couple more weeks before we need to file the divorce papers, the weight of that heavy on my heart. It’s the right thing to do because no matter how much I’ve enjoyed being with Garrett, I’m not willing to give up everything I’ve worked for because things are great right now.

It’s not real.

And it never was.

Plus, there’s too much at stake with the acquisition. Des’s phone call on my way over here had me mentally rearranging my trip in hopes that I can head off any additional issues before they start.

But that will mean less time with Garrett.

Maybe that’s better.

I want to ignore the little whisper in the back of my mind but I can’t. Now that the media is gushing over our marriage, will they believe us when we say we’re better off as friends?