Love To Love You (Love/Hate #3)

by Isabelle Richards

  He picks up his near-empty glass and shakes it, making the ice clink around. “I’ve tried to hate him. I can’t tell you how badly I want to hate him. But I can’t. He’s a bloody good guy.” He laughs. “We’re chommies now, you know. We text all the time. Play fantasy golf. I’m kicking his ass, by the way.”

  I smile. “He’s been a little busy, and I cut off his access to the internet. It’s the prime time to take advantage.”

  He presses his lips together. “Yeah, I saw all that noise. Such bullshit. Fucking press. You know there’ll probably be pictures of us all over the internet by the time we leave.”

  I point at the table across the bar. “They’ve been taking pictures. They think they’re being sly about it.”

  “Fantastic. Is Chase going to hunt me down now?”

  I let out a small laugh. “Nah, you’re safe. He’s been saying you and I need to have a sit-down for a while now. He’ll be happy to hear we did.”

  Henrik cringes. “He’s such a good guy, it’s sickening.” He guzzles the rest of his drink. “I know he’ll treat you right. I know he’ll give you a good life. So if you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

  “I’m happy,” I reply, my voice cracking. “He makes me happy.”

  He brings my hand to his lips. “You deserve it.”

  The waitress comes by with more water, and Henrik and I settle into silence. I think we’re both so emotionally tapped out, there’s nothing left to say. Well, maybe there’re still a million things to say, but we’re both too drained to say them. Nothing good will come from continuing to hash it out.

  Charlie and Ariko enter the bar a few minutes later, arm in arm as though they’re old pals. I wave to her, and they make their way through the bar to our table.

  She leans against the table. “Ariko just showed me a little bit of the original documentary. Oh my God, Ari, I can’t believe what you did for that village. It’s amazing.” She nudges me with her shoulder. “I saw you putting up roof tiles and stuff. You’re such a badass.”

  I smile at Ariko. “How did you get the original?”

  Ariko sits next to Henrik. “Before we started re-editing, they gave it to me to find scenes I thought we needed to keep. I can make you a copy if you want.”

  “That would be great.” And gut-wrenchingly painful. I put on a big smile and change the subject. “So do you have another village scouted out? I’m so ready to go back.”

  “Really?” Ariko asks.

  “Of course! If we work together, we can do twice as much.”

  Charlie snags one of the water glasses. “Riki, you don’t mind, do you?”

  Henrik gestures for her to go for it. “I’ll swap DNA with you anytime.”

  It’s good to see him joking.

  Ariko and I talk about potential locations until he gets the call that he’s needed at the theater. Charlie and I give him a hug good-bye.

  As he leaves, Henrik stands. “I should go too.”

  Charlie gives him a hug. “Riki, it’s always a pleasure.”

  Hi kisses her cheek. “You too.” Charlie steps away, and Henrik looks at me with glassy eyes that threaten to spill over. “I’m really happy I saw you today.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it tenderly. “Good-bye, Lamm.” He lets go of my hand, then walks away.

  Henrik may not be the love of my life, but I do love him. It pains me to see him hurting, but I need to let him go. I’ve stayed away from him all this time because I didn’t want to open old wounds, and completely inadvertently, I’ve torn open his heart yet again. But maybe this time, because we’ve both said good-bye, the wound will heal and he’ll be able to move on.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Arianna

  Thank goodness I got over my Super Bowl jitters last year because with the way I’m booked up now, I have no time for anxiety. Not only does Shelly have me loaded with appearances and interviews, but Jeb wants me to go with him to all sorts of NFL meetings. I’m still not entirely sure what my role is. When I ask Jeb, he always says something generic like, “We need some young blood in the room to balance out all the old farts,” or “I’ve become a crotchety old man and I need your charming personality to even the score.” Whatever his reasoning, I don’t mind going with him. I enjoy being a part of the discussions that shape the direction the league is moving in.

  Eckert and I exchange pleasantries when we cross paths, but that’s the extent of our interactions. He definitely seems uncomfortable with my presence here. I’m not sure if he’s afraid I’m going to provoke a showdown, or perhaps it’s that I seem to have a better relationship with the other owners than he does. Even though most of these men have known me my entire life, I’m pleasantly surprised by the fact that they don’t look at me as a child or as Aiden’s little girl. When I offer my opinion, they listen and appear to value and respect my contribution. I think that irks Eckert to no end, but it makes me very happy.

  Most of the players’ families fly out on Wednesday, but in order to join Jeb at these NFL functions, I fly with the team to Houston on Sunday. Sadly, I can’t stay with Chase when we arrive. I’m not even allowed to stay in the same hotel.

  While Chase and the team go off to practice, I go with Jeb and Oscar to meeting after meeting, meet and greet after cocktail party. I assume Jeb brings me to parties because he doesn’t have anyone else to take, so I try to be the best companion I can be. It helps that I know all of the other owners and most of the GMs. His wife, Marcy flies in on Thursday and insists that she and I go on a spa trip. After my mother died, Marcy used to take me to lunch or to the ballet, but we haven’t done anything just the two of us in a very long time.

  We’re sitting in a mud bath, drinking some sort of wheat grass detox smoothie, when Marcy says, “Thank you for all the time you’ve given Jeb this year. I know you’ve been under so much pressure, but you’ve always made him a priority, and that has meant the world to him.”

  I take a sip of my drink, then hold the cool glass against my forehead. “Of course. You know I adore him. You two are the closest things to grandparents I’ve ever had. It’s nice to spend time with him.”

  “Well, he did love your father like he was one of our own, that’s for sure. It almost killed him when Aiden died.” She winces. “I know it wasn’t a walk in the park for you either, honey, but my point is, spending all this time with you has made that pain sting a little less. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

  The masseuse interrupts before I can respond, and we’re shuffled off to our respective treatments. As I rinse off the mud, I replay the conversation in my mind. I feel as though there’s a point to all of this, but I’m just not seeing it. Or maybe she’s just happy I’m being nice to Jeb so he stays out of her hair. Either way, I’m going to enjoy the rest of the spa day and try to soak up the good chi while I can. The rest of the week is going to be a bear.

  The Brennan clan arrives today, and not just Katie, Pat, Spencer, Charlie, and Calder. Katie used the last two weeks to beg, borrow, and steal anything she had to to get her hands on more tickets so that more members of Chase’s extended family in Texas could come to the game. Only his grandparents will be able to sit with us in Jeb’s box, but at least the rest of them will be able to see the game. Both sets of his grandparents, six pairs of uncles and aunts, and a handful of cousins all arrive today.

  Sadly, I’m so busy with all the things Shelly has lined up for me, I hardly get to see them. Instead of doing all the fun Super Bowl week activities, I’m shuttled from interview to interview. All anyone wants to know is if I think Chase can three-peat. Can he break the record? Only one team in history has gone undefeated and won the Super Bowl—the ’72 Dolphins. It’s football’s most honored record, one that old-time fans get nutty about if anyone comes close to breaking. All week they’ve been spouting off to anyone who will listen about how the Niners don’t stand a chance and what a horrible quarterback Chase is.

  Adding fuel to the fire, the Niners are playing Miami in the S
uper Bowl. Miami’s team is abysmal this year. They landed the Wild Card slot by the skin of their teeth and only won the AFC because the other teams were injury-laden. When asked, I give the diplomatic response that the Super Bowl is anyone’s game, but deep down, everyone knows this game is in the bag.

  Almost every reporter wants me to compare Chase and my father. I loathe those questions. Not only because I know how much it sucks to live in the shadow of a legend, but because it’s a pointless question. They’re two different players who played in two completely different eras. The game is so vastly different now, they’re not comparable. But this is what sports reporters do, so I point out the pros and cons of Daddy’s career, the pros and cons of Chase’s game, then sum it up without ever really answering the question.

  The first time I get to have a conversation with anyone I actually want to talk to is on Sunday when I get into Jeb’s box. I beeline straight to Chase’s grandmothers, Maggie and Sunny, whom I adore and have been dying to see. Charlie looks bummed I’m monopolizing them, but she’s had them since they got here. I feel no guilt stealing them for a few minutes.

  We catch up during the pre-game festivities, and they tell me all sorts of stories about Daddy, Pat and Katie growing up in Dillon. I’ve heard these stories a million times, but I can never get enough. These ladies sure loved my father. Sounds as if he had them, and the whole town, wrapped around his finger.

  Growing up, I was always jealous that Chase and Charlie got to go to Dillon for a month in the summer. I was always traveling with my parents, then once I started playing tennis, that was always my first priority. My summers were filled with tennis camps and clinics. Not only did Chase and Charlie have living grandparents, but they got to do all the fun stuff like jumping off the tire swing into the watering hole, going to square dances in a converted barn, and ordering root beer floats at the town pharmacy. One day, Chase and I will have to go to Dillon for something other than a funeral.

  Whitey, Pat’s father, calls Sunny over to take some pictures with Calder.

  Once she steps away, Maggie says, “So tell me all about the weddin’. I’m not going to be able to go, so I want to hear everythin’.”

  “What?” I shout louder than I intended. Chase will be devastated! He may not get back to Texas very often, but he’s sure to call his grandmothers once a week, if only for a quick check-in.

  She looks over her shoulder to see if anyone’s looking. “Keep your voice down. I haven’t said nothin’ to no one yet.” She looks around again, then lowers her voice. “I keep getting the blood clots. My doctor doesn’t want me travelin’ long distances. He wasn’t happy about me comin’ here, but I told him there was nothin’ on God’s green earth that was going to keep me from comin’ to see my grandbaby playin’ in the Super Bowl.”

  “Oh, Maggie, I’m so sorry.”

  “Just part of getting older, honey. Ain’t nothin’ no one can do about that.”

  I give her as many details about the wedding as I can remember.

  “It sure sounds fancy. You know in my day, a weddin’ was at the church, then a barbeque at the farm with ribs and potato salad,” she says when I finish. I can see where Katie gets her attitude. “I’m sorry I’m going to miss it though. Seein’ the Golden Gate Bridge made out of roses sure would have been somethin’.”

  I squeeze her hand. “Is there anything we can do? What if I hire you and Earl a driver and you can take the drive really slowly? Take Route 66, stop in all the small towns. Sleep in retro motels.”

  She waggles her eyebrows. “Will you make sure he’s easy on the eyes and has arms like cannons?”

  My eyes go wide.

  Laughing, she shakes her head. “Honey, I’m just joshin’ you. I live in one of those small towns, and once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Don’t you worry. Earl will come and take pictures. If Spencer can ever teach him how to use that dag-nabbit phone they bought for him, maybe he can take a video.”

  “He can FaceTime with you during the ceremony too,” I said. “It’ll be just like you’re there.”

  “I have no idea what that is, but it sure sounds nice.”

  Pat stands in the middle of the room with Jeb, and wolf whistles. “The old man would like to say something.”

  Jeb holds a glass of champagne. “I bought this team fifty years ago. My wife thought it was a safer hobby than tinkering in the garage rebuilding cars. Poorly, I might add. Every one of them either caught fire or wouldn’t run. Now here we are, all these years later, and my star quarterback is a boy I used to bounce on my knee. It should make me feel old, but it doesn’t. I feel really lucky.” He holds up his glass. “Here’s to making history and winning more rings!”

  Considering the historical implications of this game, people are hoping for an exciting game. But one of the biggest complaints about the Super Bowl every year is that the commercials are the most exciting part of the game. After a long season of exciting football, the climax of the season tends to be a boring game.

  Today’s game is no different. Miami can’t do anything to stop Chase’s offense. He drives down the field with ease. Miami’s quarterback fumbles three times in the first half.

  It’s a fantastic game for Chase’s family to attend though. Pat and Katie are adorable, watching the game and beaming with pride. Even if the rest of the world is bored by hearing, “Brennan finds the end zone again,” his grandmothers cheer like crazy with each Niner touchdown. They’re both wearing Brennan Babe Brigade T-shirts, and they even brought pom-poms.

  When Chase scores at the end of the third quarter, Charlie and Katie join Sunny and Maggie for some cheer they put together. The love and bond they share is so strong, it’s practically visible. Their devotion to each other is fierce and eternal.

  Maggie pulls me up with them, and I try to keep up. I jump and cheer, fully aware that the camera is probably focused on me making an ass out of myself. I’m filled with joy and gratitude that I’m a part of this family, that my children will grow up knowing this love.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chase

  Fireworks explode as confetti rains down over us. My teammates come over and hug me, but my brain needs a few seconds to catch up. Did that really just happen? Someone slaps a Super Bowl Champs hat on my head.

  Hell yeah, that just happened! We did it! Undefeated and three-peat—we’re in the record books. Never again will anyone question if I have what it takes. If I’ll ever be as good as Aiden. And never again will anyone ever fucking say I need to cheat to win.

  The whole night, I feel as if I’m floating on a cloud. During dinner with my family, and then straight to a bunch of after parties, I’m soaring so high, it almost doesn’t feel real. I keep waiting to wake up, but I never do.

  There are tons of celebrities everywhere, tons of really cool people who on any other day I’d be jazzed to meet, but I want to spend most of the night with my teammates and Ari. We fought long and hard together, and they’re the ones I want to celebrate with. After the last party, Ari and I decide to go for a walk, and we end up along the Buffalo Bayou as the sun creeps up over the horizon. She hooks her arm through mine, then leans her head on my shoulder.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she says.

  She says it all the time, but I never get sick of hearing it. It’s not easy to earn Arianna’s respect, and knowing that I’ve earned it means more to me than breaking any record or winning any game.

  “You did the impossible this year, in more ways than one. No one would have blamed you for giving up, but you never did. You’re a good man, honorable and strong. If Daddy were here, he would be in awe of the man you’ve become.”

  That tugs at my heart. Aiden has been a driving force during my entire career, and his opinion has always weighed more heavily on me than it probably should have, but that’s just how things were with Aiden. I smirk. “Nah, he’d be too jealous to be proud.”

  She laughs. “If he were going to be bested, there’s no one else he’d r
ather be bested by.”

  Ari shivers a little. Even with the sun coming up, the night air is chilly, and we’ve been walking for a while.

  “Let’s head back,” I say as I slip off my coat and put it around her shoulders.

  “Probably a good idea. You have interviews in three hours.”

  I groan. “Jesus, will it ever end?”

  She chuckles. “Only when you retire. Then you’ll miss it.”

  “I seriously doubt that. I will never miss a microphone in my face.”

  “Trust me,” she replies. “It’s such a weird feeling to see the world you used to dominate move on without you, as though you were never there.”

  I put my arm around her and kiss her temple. “You are Arianna Aldrich. Take it from someone who tried and failed—there is no moving on from you. It’s just not possible.”

  She turns her head and kisses me. “Better not be.”

  I turn toward her and brush a lock of hair back from her face. “I love you.”

  “I love you back,” she says with a smile.

  “You know, I never could have done any of this without you. Not just this year, but our entire relationship. Hell, our entire lives. You’ve always pushed me to be better, never let me get caught up in my ego, never let me settle. Watching you, I learned what strength of character really is—what commitment is. Since we’ve been together, I’ve learned so much from you. And while for most of our lives, I wanted to be better so I could beat you, now I want to be better so I can be worthy of you. You helped me find strength when I was at my weakest point. You gave me direction when I was lost. You inspired courage when I was scared. I could not get through this life without you.”

  A tear runs down her cheek. “It’s a good thing you’ll never have to.”

  “Marry me.”

  “A million times yes.”

  As I lean forward to kiss her, raindrops sprinkle upon us.

  Giggling, she pulls away and looks at the sky. “Those clouds came out of nowhere! I hope we can find a cab at this hour. Our hotel’s across town.”