26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Adam

Josh and I spent the last few hours trying to figure out when this picture could’ve been taken, but we aren’t much closer to definite details.

We know it happened in the airport, possibly while we stopped to get our luggage. He was with me the entire time and did not stop to kiss anyone.

None of this makes sense.

Some of the guys said they noticed a woman who seemed to be posing but couldn’t be sure.

Fans doing bizarre things to get photos isn’t uncommon, and most of us don’t pay attention. The fact that no one saw anything—except Josh not kissing anyone—isn’t a surprise.

“I know someone who works in airport security,” Johnson says quietly, aware we aren’t alone. The soft muffle of conversation surrounds us. We’re still sitting at the table in the hotel restaurant after dinner. “I can reach out to them and see if they can get a look at the security footage. There may be an angle that covers the other side.”

“If you could, that would be great, man.” Josh claps Johnson on the shoulder. “Thank you. I promise never to make fun of kickers again.”

My brows furrow as I’m looking at Johnson. Who is this dude? He can’t just be a kicker. I’ve never met anyone who has connections like he does.

After Susie asked if I had any more information on who could have leaked Josh and Brie’s video to Tea Time again, I contacted Darius.

“Well, there are a few people that I consider possibilities, but the person at the top of my list is Johnson.” My eyebrows shot up, and he nodded. “I know! He doesn’t look like it, but that boy has connections everywhere. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were the source.”

I look around to find Darius, only to see that he’s looking at me, nodding with one finger touching the tip of his nose, which also confirms my suspicions.

A grin crosses my face.

That sneaky little devil.

With nothing left to do and it getting late, we all head back to our rooms.

“Try to get some sleep, man,” I say to Josh. “There’s nothing more you can do about this.”

“She won’t even take my calls.” Josh scrubs his face with his hand, but it doesn’t wipe the pained expression from his face. “I’m never going to fall asleep worrying about her.”

“I know this is tough,” I nudge him on the shoulder just as we stop at his room. “But everyone is looking into what happened. You know that Finn won’t drop this until the truth comes out. It will be okay. Do your best to get some sleep.”

Josh’s shoulders slump, and his hotel room door beeps as it unlocks.

“It’s your first day back tomorrow. Make sure to put your best self on the field.” Josh opens the door and starts to move forward. “Josh?”

He stops and tilts his head in my direction.

“You know how to compartmentalize,” I say sternly, knowing that he needs this push. It was what my brother said to me when I was traded. I hated hearing it, but it was true then, and it’s true now. “You’ve trained how to do it during games after a bad play. This is your bad play. You can do this.”

He gives me a slight nod, acknowledging he heard me, before closing the door behind him.

I slowly blow out a big breath and run my hand through my hair as I walk down the hall to my room.

Sitting on my bed, I stare at my phone.

Without thinking, I pull up Susie’s contact and hit the call button.

“Hello.” She picks up on the second ring, her voice adorably sleep-ridden.

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling a tug at the corner of my mouth at the sound of her voice, feeling no remorse at all. “Did I wake you?”

“Nah. I always sound like I’ve swallowed a frog.” Her giggle sends tingles through my body, causing a lopsided grin to crawl on my face. “Everything okay?”

The concern in her voice pulls at my heart and eases some of the tension clinging to my body. “I’m okay. Just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Missing me already, Mr. Daniels?” My grin spreads at her teasing tone.

“Nope.” I hear her gasp on the other end, and it takes everything to keep from laughing. “I missed you the moment I walked down the steps to my car.”

Dead silence greets me from the other end of the phone, and I look to see if the call has dropped.

“Susie?” I hear a sniffle, and my heart starts to race. “Love, what’s wrong?”

The sniffling gets louder, and my heart is replaced by a jackhammer pounding throughout my body.

“I told my family we’re married.” I blow out the breath I was holding, my heart still an erratic mess, waiting to hear why she’s crying.

“They didn’t take it well?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything. The urge to wrap her up in my arms and hold her tight is overpowering. I hate that she’s not here with me.

“Actually, they did.” My forehead pulls, and my stomach drops. Confusion fills me. Have I been misreading Susie’s feelings for me?

“Is that a bad thing?” I push through a tight throat.

“No, it’s good,” she says with a sniff.

“I’m confused. Your family knows—”

“Everyone except my dad,” she interjects.

“And your brother,” I add.

“Yeah, I forgot about Josh,” she chuckles. “Which is crazy since he’s the reason I was with Brie, my mom, and her Aunt Marie tonight. I’ll let you handle him tomorrow on your flight home.”

“Oh, you will, huh?” My heart rate slows. “You’re not worried about him hitting me in front of the rest of my teammates?”

“He already knows something’s going on, so I think you’ll be fine.” I shake my head, thoroughly confused at her range of emotions throughout this conversation.

Is she happy everyone took the news well, or is she sad? Why else would she be crying?

Chills run down my spine at the thought she’s regretting our wedding. But at the same time, that doesn’t make sense at all.

“He knows something. He told me not to do anything ‘untoward’ where you’re concerned.”

Her laugh tinkles through the phone, sending a different type of chill down my spine.

“Untoward? Josh said that?” She scoffs. “Brie is starting to rub off on him.”

“That’s exactly what I said!” A smile stretches across my face. “Great minds.”

“Great minds, indeed,” she agrees. “Speaking of Josh and Brie. He told me he didn’t know how this happened or who this person was. Is that true?”

“He was with me the entire time, and I can guarantee there wasn’t any kissing happening. Johnson knows someone on the airport security team and will see if they can find anything.”

“Oh good.” Relief drips from her voice. “It’s good to know he wouldn’t be dumb enough to mess things up with Brie.”

“No. He’s crazy about her.” I hear her yawn. “You’re tired. I’ll let you go back to sleep.”

“Adam?” The question in her voice puts me on edge.

I’m second-guessing everything because of her crying. Why don’t I just ask her what she was crying for? Or even if she was crying?

Because I’m afraid.

No, not afraid, terrified. Terrified that she’s not as desperately in love with me as I am with her.

“Yes?” I ask hesitantly. My shoulders tense.

“I miss you too.” All the tension seeps from my body with those simple words. “The house feels empty without you.”

“Why were you crying?” I ask in a rush. Knowing that if I don’t ask her what is going on, it will drive me insane. I hear her sniffle again. “Susie, please talk to me.”

“I feel ridiculous.” She laughs. “Apparently, happy tears are not just for romance novels.”

“You’re crying because you're happy?” I can’t stop myself from snickering. Relief runs through my body. She doesn’t regret marrying me. I blow out a massive breath. “Thank goodness.”

“Thank goodness?” She giggles. “Me and happy tears are a relief to you?”

“If you had any idea the thoughts that were swimming through my head when I heard you crying, you wouldn’t be asking me that.”

“Aww, you do like me,” Susie’s voice is soft and filled with wonder.

My heart clenches, and my mouth goes dry. No. I’m pretty certain I love you.

But what I say out loud is. “You’re quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite people.”

“All-time favorite people?” She questions. “I’m not sure I’ve ever been someone’s all-time anything.”

“How is this even up for debate?” I tease. “How many other women do you know who will hide under tables to keep a secret?”

“I panicked!” Her laughter rings through the phone, and I realize I want to hear that laugh for the rest of my life.

“Which made you all the more likable.” I take a breath. “Speaking of you being my favorite person—”

“Don’t you mean ‘all-time favorite?’ She interrupts.

“Yes. Speaking of you being my all-time favorite person, I wanted to ask you something.” My heart pounds so hard I can feel it pulsing through my body. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this vulnerable in my life. “Would you consider marrying me for real, in front of our families?”

“I think it’s something I could strongly consider.” Humor laces her tone. “If it’s something you want.”

Warmth spreads throughout my chest and settles in my stomach. A huge grin sits on my face.

“It is.” The words ‘I love you’ are on my tongue, and I wish she were here with me right now. I’d tell her how in love with her I am and that I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life without her by my side. Then I’d kiss her senseless.

“I think when I get home, we should talk more about this, but first, I want to kiss you like I haven’t seen you in years. What do you say?”

“I think that’s something I can get behind.” I can hear her smile through the phone.

“Good night, Mrs. Daniels,” I whisper.

“Good night, Mr. Daniels,” she says softly. “Oh, Adam?”

“Yes.” My cheeks hurt from all this smiling.

“Make sure that you kick some butt tomorrow. I’ll be watching.”

My entire body shakes as the laugh floats out of my mouth, and my gut clenches at the same time.

“Will do! Sleep well, beautiful.”

I hang up and put the phone on my nightstand. Wondering how exactly I’m going to fall asleep tonight.

I’m not sure I have ever felt this excited about anything in my entire life.

The beautiful, enigmatic Susie Owens, now Daniels, and the magnificent Amelia Adams want to be my wife…for real.

I am one lucky man.