by Holly Jaymes
“And Tucker. He has a right to weigh in on this.”
“Of course. I’d have to go through you. He’s blocked me.”
“I’ll be your go-between. What are your plans now?”
I took a breath as I prepared to tell her what I was going to do, even though saying it out loud made my heart break. “I’m going to put my house up for sale—”
“Can’t you wait until this is all resolved?”
“I can’t afford to keep it without living and working there, and I can’t live in Eden Lake until this is resolved, you know that. Who knows how long it will take to find out what happened?”
“Emma…I’m sorry.”
“Me too. Maybe I’ll go to Europe. My grandmother always talked about cool artist towns in Italy. Maybe I’ll go there.”
“I hate that you and Tucker won’t be together.”
That didn’t make any sense. “Except you think I hurt him.”
“I’m torn. I just know that I’ve never seen Tucker as happy as he was this summer, and I think that’s because of you. And if you didn’t do this, you’re a victim too. This person not only risked both your careers, but also ruined your relationship. I know what that’s like. I nearly lost Mason because of misunderstandings and hard feelings.”
I hadn’t known the details of their story, except that they’d struggled because of their two families’ feud.
Knowing I couldn’t get through a conversation about what I’d lost with Tucker, I said, “You’ll let me know if a statement from me would help?”
“Yes. I’ll talk with Tucker and see what he and his agent think.”
“Thank you, Willa. For everything.”
“Of course. Will you be back in town?”
“I have to return to pack up and put the house on the market. I’m thinking I’ll come in late at night in the next day or so.”
“Let me know. I’ll have Wyatt meet you in town and drive out with you. He’ll make sure no one hassles you.”
God, had it come to that? Were people in Eden Lake that upset that they’d harass me? All the more reason to pack up and put the house up for sale. When I hung up, I pulled out my sketch pad, using it as a list of all the things I needed to do to leave Eden Lake for good.
22
The Choice
Tucker
I wasn’t in the mood to entertain my brother and sister-in-law, but Mason insisted on driving to L.A. to see me. He said it was to support me since I’d be at training camp in a few days, but I suspected it was more to gauge how I was doing. My job was still on the line, even if the issue of the photographs was blowing over. There were some news outlets wondering how the story could be true that I’d been in love since I was such a Lothario and no one had been able to confirm the relationship. But most fans seemed to accept the story. Or didn’t care.
Me? I was trying to move on, which was fucking hard. As much as I wanted to forget Emma, I couldn’t. I wondered what the fallout had been for her. I knew her online accounts were down because in a moment of weakness to be close to her, I’d checked them. I also knew that comments on the articles about the situation showed more hateful things about her than about me. And while Eden Lake was a wonderful town, I couldn’t imagine they were friendly to her since I was a native of the area. They’d be loyal to me.
One night, I woke to her haunting my dreams and reached for my phone to call her. I stopped myself. As much as I wanted to make sure she was okay, I couldn’t take more risk. Not risk to my job, but risk to my heart. I missed her so fucking bad, it was difficult to breathe sometimes. My goal now was to get over her and never be in a situation where a woman could break me again.
Perhaps entertaining Mason and Willa would distract me. Once I got to training camp, I’d be working hard or too tired to think of Emma.
They arrived in the late afternoon.
“You look good, little bro,” Mason said as he gave me a hug. “Ready to kick ass.”
“I’m ready,” I agreed. “Hi Willa,” I said kissing her on the cheek.
“Mason’s right, you look okay.”
“Okay?” I arched a brow.
She shrugged. “I see sadness, but we won’t go there.” She walked to the window that took up the entire room. “Do you ever worry about an earthquake breaking all this and shaking you out to drop splat on the street below?”
“This is California. Everything is built to withstand an earthquake, including the windows.”
“Right,” she said.
“Did you want to go out?” I asked regarding dinner.
“Nah, let’s order in,” Mason said.
An hour later, we had Thai food on the table.
“So, are you going to tell me why you’re really here?” I asked, serving myself Pad Thai.
“What do you mean? Can’t we come visit without a reason?” Mason asked, pouring wine for him and Willa.
“You never have before,” I said.
Mason looked at Willa, who put her napkin in her lap. “I made him bring me.”
“Oh?” I looked at Mason who shrugged.
“She made some valid points, although I don’t think this is the time,” he said with a look to her.
“For what?”
“It’s about Emma,” Willa said, sipping her wine.
My heart clenched in my chest. “What about her? Did something happen?” God, if she got hurt because of some crazed fan, I didn’t think I’d survive it.
Willa tilted her head as she studied me. “Do you still love her?”
I looked at Mason and then her. “That’s irrelevant. Whether I do or I don’t, it’s over.”
“Why?” Willa pressed.
“Ah…because she had picture of me that she sold—”
“What if she didn’t sell them? What if someone stole them and sold them?”
My eyes narrowed. “Is that what happened?” All of a sudden, I wasn’t hungry, so I pushed my plate away.
“That’s what she says happened,” Mason said.
“And you believe her?” I asked, wishing for something 100 proof stronger than the water I had.
“You don’t?” Willa asked. “If you loved her, wouldn’t you trust her.”
“I did, until my ass ended up on TMZ.” I didn’t like feeling defensive. This wasn’t my fault. At the same time, I remember telling Emma the same thing when she accused me of cheating on her. She should have trusted me.
But how could I think anything but that she sold the pictures since she was the only one to have them? Then again, I was pretty sure she denied my accusation when I’d gone to her house.
Shit. I didn’t know what to believe.
“You know she’s lost more than you have,” Willa said, swirling the wine in her glass.
“That’s not my fault.” Even so, my gut burned with worry for her.
“No? What if you’d had a squeaky clean reputation? You wouldn’t have been forced to have your no booze, no women, no bad press rule.”
“You’re not blaming the victim here, are you?” Mason asked her.
“I’m just pointing out that if these pictures got out with anyone that had a better reputation, they wouldn’t be worried about being cut from the team.”
I shifted in my seat, knowing that was partly true.
“So, while it’s not your fault those pictures got out, the reason it’s a problem is your past behavior.”
“It doesn’t change anything.” I said.
Willa arched a brow as she gave me a pointed look. “So you’re okay with someone stealing her pictures, ruining the one love you’ve ever had, risking your career, and completely destroying her life?”
“What do you mean completely destroying her life?” I leaned forward, as worry flooded me again.
“She was run out of town, Tucker. You have to know that she wouldn’t be welcome there anymore,” Willa said.
I looked to Mason.
He shrugged. “She wasn’t run out exactly—”
“We
helped her get out before the pitch forks could reach her,” Willa said. “Her online business is closed. Her career there is dead, Tucker. She’s about to put the house up for sale and move to Italy or something.”
My heart rolled in my chest as longing to stop her from leaving filled it.
“There’s nothing I can do,” I said, but the words were like ash in my mouth because I felt like I should do something.
“Isn’t there?” Willa challenge me. “Do you know the first thing she always asks me when I talk to her? Does Tucker still have his job?” Willa leaned forward, her eyes piercing mine. “Even as I told her she had to leave town, her first question was about you and your job.” She leaned back. “The fact that she’s an after-thought to you makes me wonder if you really loved her.”
“Willa,” Mason’s tone held censure.
Willa didn’t heed it. “She called me the other day to offer to make a statement to confirm the relationship because she was afraid that the public wouldn’t believe it, and your job would be at risk. She’s hiding from crazed fans after being forced to leave her home, and she’s still thinking of you first.”
This time, Mason didn’t say anything. He looked at me like I needed to man up. But I didn’t know what to do. I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go to her and hold her until the world righted again.
“What about the photos?” I asked, knowing it was an asshole thing to do.
“She’s hiring someone to figure who took them and how. I think she has an idea of who it was but doesn’t want to say. She doesn’t want to make a false accusation.” Willa arched a brow at me. “She said she’s living proof of what happens when people are falsely accused.”
God, I didn’t think I could take much more emotional turmoil and guilt. “What do you expect me to do?”
“Gee, I don’t know. How about asking me where she is? Or make a statement saying you don’t think she sold the pictures—”
“He can’t do that,” Mason said. “Not now. Not before he’s secured his spot on the team.”
Willa looked at him. “Football is more important than protecting a woman?” She turned to me. “A woman you say you loved?” She shook her head in disgust at both of us. “Love trumps all. Or it should.”
“Says the woman who was ready to toss me aside because of a family feud,” Mason argued.
“But I didn’t, did I? I chose you over my family. Over the feud.”
“That’s because you knew I loved you.”
She shook her head. “You hadn’t said it to me. I risked it because I loved you.”
I wondered if I should leave as they hashed this out.
“Be honest, Willa. Wyatt told you I loved you, so you knew I did. The only risk was if I’d be able to let go of the hurt of your leaving. There was no question of love.”
“Emma never told me she loved me,” I said.
“But she does. She told me so. More than once. And even if she didn’t, the fact that despite losing everything, she’s still more worried about you, shows she loves you. But you, you say you love her but are too chicken or selfish—”
“Willa,” Mason again chastised her.
“No, Mason. Tell me you didn’t see a happier Tucker this summer. That was because of her. I get that you want to play football, Tucker. I really do. But football is maybe another eight to ten years, and clearly, they’re not loyal to you. Love is forever. Emma has proven her loyalty.”
She took a long gulp of her wine. “That’s what I came to say. The rest is up to you. Now, I’ll clean this up, and you can take me home, Mason. You’ll have just over an hour to lecture me in the car, but when we get home, I plan to get in the hot tub…I won’t have a suit on.”
Mason’s eyes flared with fire and I knew that was some sort of secret sex code. It also confirmed my suspicion that they did the deed in their hot tub.
“You two are going to drive me to drink,” I said, standing from the table.
Willa rose too and gathered our plates and utensils.
Mason walked with me to the window, where the city lights sparkled. “What are you thinking, Tuck?”
“I don’t know.” I turned to him. “I’m feeling like I want to go to her. Jesus, Mason, what will she do without her art?”
“Listen, I get it. I really do. But you’re days away from camp. Surely it can wait two weeks.”
“But then we go into preseason play. Then the season. By then, she’ll be gone. Even if she finds out who did it, the damage is done. I have the clout to fix it for her.”
“Not by risking your own neck,” Mason argued.
I turned to look out the window, wishing there was an earthquake that would break the window and send me falling so I wouldn’t have to pick which dream to pursue.
23
Sneaking Home
Emma
Friday evening, I headed back to Eden Lake. The only people who knew I was coming were Willa and Wyatt. Although I was told the town seemed to only have tourists and no media looking for the woman who betrayed Tucker McLean, Wyatt agreed to meet me at the outskirts of the city to offer an escort into town, and a quick check of my house to make sure all was well. In some ways it seemed like overkill, and yet, on the other hand, I had gotten a couple of disturbing messages from Tucker’s fans. I decided it was better to be safe than sorry.
Tonight, I’d go through the house to decide what to pack. Much of the furniture was my grandmother’s. Perhaps I could sell the place furnished. That meant I just needed to pack up my art supplies and clothes. If I went to Italy, that’s all I’d be able to carry anyway. And my mother didn’t have any emotional attachment to my grandmother’s stuff, so she didn’t want it.
Me? The only items of my grandmother’s I’d want were artwork. I could arrange to get that to Maggie or Daria. I trusted them to keep it safe for me.
Tomorrow, once I had everything organized, I’d call a realtor to come out and list the home. I didn’t want to call too soon though, in case the word got out that I was here before I could make my plans.
I arrived in Eden Lake after dark, pulling behind Wyatt’s Sheriff’s deputy SUV parked at the city’s welcome sign.
He got out of his vehicle and walked up to my car. “You ready?” he asked.
“Yes. Thank you for this, Wyatt.”
“Just want to keep the peace.” His manner was professional instead of friendly, which suggested to me that he wasn’t too pleased about all that had transpired. But then the features on his face softened. “Are you okay?”
“I’ve been better, but I’m coping.”
He nodded. “You can follow me out to Pine Rest.”
“What about the Minors?”
He winced. “They’re not happy. Tucker was like a grandson to them. Might be best to avoid them for now.”
I nodded. “I understand. I just hoped that this didn’t create too much of a problem for them.”
“Actually, half the cabins are booked, I think in an effort to get a glimpse of you or Tucker. I’m not sure.”
“Silver lining, I guess.”
I followed him through town wondering if this was going to be the last time that I saw everything. The park. Paradise Java. The lake. I worked to hold back the tears. When I was done with this mission, then I could cry. For now, I needed to stay focused.
We got to my home. All was dark and quiet around it. Wyatt waited for me and then walked with me to the door.
“I’ll look around inside, just to be sure,” he said.
“Thank you, Wyatt. I appreciate it.”
I waited in the living area as he walked through the place. He finally came to me. “All clear. I actually think you’re probably okay, at this point. After Tucker’s press conference this afternoon, I think people will leave you alone.”
“Press conference?” I asked.
Wyatt studied me. “You didn’t see the news?”
“I’ve been avoiding all forms of media.”
“Yes, I guess you would.
” He pulled out his phone and tapped a few times then handed it to me. Seeing Tucker made my heart ache, especially since he looked so serious. Mason had been right, in many ways Tucker was like a puppy, so happy and exuberant. It was hard to see him so serious. He was at a podium with his agent, who didn’t look happy. I held my breath as I worried that he was about to announce that he’d been cut or was quitting.
The media was yelling out questions, but he didn’t answer them.
Instead he said, “I’m going to make a statement and that’s it. No questions.” He looked over at his agent, who shook her head.
He ignored her and turned to the reporters. “I’ll be honest, I don’t know why my love life is of such interest, but I’m going to say this one time, and then I’m going to ask you, the press, and even the fans, to respect my privacy as well as that of Ms. Lansing.”
Oh God, he was going to talk about me.
“The information the Sea Lions released about me is all true, except one piece, and that is about Ms. Lansing’s roll in the release of the photos.”
My breath stalled in my chest.
“It is unclear as to who sold the photos, but I’m sure it wasn’t her.”
The press started yelling out questions like “how can you be sure?” and “are you still in love with Ms. Lansing?”
He ignored the questions. “There will be an investigation into who stole the photos and sold them. My lawyer seems to think that the media who published the photos should cooperate with the investigation, as they could be liable for buying and posting stolen intellectual property.”
Huh? I never thought of that.
“What will you do when you find who stole it?” one reporter asked.
“What if it turns to have been Ms. Lansing after all?” another asked.
Tucker looked at that woman. “It wasn’t.”
My heart skipped a beat. He knew it wasn’t me. That alone brought light into my very dark soul.
“As far as the photos themselves, they were taken for artistic purposes. Ms. Lansing is an incredibly talented artist and I trusted her to use them for her artistic endeavors. Which means, again, someone stole them and should be prepared to accept the consequences of that.”