Page 85 of Bright Lights and Summer Nights

I run my hand over my mouth, thinking of how intense it was in the room when I told everyone I was retiring. It was solemn. A part of me felt like I was letting them down, even though I know none of them would ever actually say that. It’s part of the job, having guys leave, get traded, or even retire. But I still know it hit some of them harder than others.

“There were a lot of emotions, but the guys have been nothing but supportive of my decision.”

She smiles as a thank-you before sitting back in her seat.

My eyes scan over the room, but before I can pick someone next, a man stands up in the front row, his handheld recorder aimed in my direction. “Preston, you’ve been seen a lot lately with an influencer named Emma Turner. Is your decision to retire because of her?”

I stare at him for a minute, my blood pumping. The room seems to go quiet with the question, and I hate that he even asked it. I swallow, my grip tightening on the podium in anger. Leaning closer, I make sure to line my mouth up perfectly with the microphone so no one can misconstrue my words. “My mind’s been made up for a long time. My life outside of football is not up for discussion.” I grab the piece of paper from the podium and tuck it back into the pocket of my suit. “I’m done with questions for the day. Have a good rest of your day, everyone.”

The room breaks out into a chaos of questions, but I ignore all of it. I don’t pay attention to anyone. All I want to do is find Emma. Ryan tries to stop me, but I walk right by him, finding Emma hidden behind a stack of boxes.

“Well, that was something,” she notes.

I pull her body into mine, needing to feel the connection. That last question rubbed me the wrong way, and I just need to know it didn’t go to her head. I’m trying not to let it get to mine. We both know my mind was made up way before I ever met her, but I hate that the question is now out there. Countless people got it on video, and now I’m fairly confident the media will get a hold of it and spin Emma as the reason I’m retiring.

“It’s over with,” I say against her ear, keeping her close. They’ve closed the door to the media room, allowing us some privacy from the press.

“How do you feel?” she asks me.

I pull away, cupping her cheeks in my hands. “I’m more worried about how you feel.”

She frowns a little. “I’m not the one who just announced my retirement. I don’t even have a job to retire from.”

The sarcastic tone of the second part of her sentence sends a twinge to my heart. I don’t like how negatively she talks about not having a job because she does have one now. Social media has become her job, with a manager and everything, but she still won’t admit to herself that maybe she has found her passion.

“I’m sorry about that last reporter,” I begin, wanting to address the elephant in the room before it can get worse. “He has no idea what he’s talking about, and anyone with even the smallest amount of logic will know my decision wasn’t made because of you.”

“It’s fine, Rhodes. Promise.”

I’ve memorized her smiles for some time now. I know the one she’s giving me right now is fake, and it isn’t fine, but I don’t know what else to say. I can’t change the opinions of others or how they perceive my retirement.

I make the mental note to have my publicist do some damage control after that last question, but there’s not much I can actually do to change people’s minds. All I can do is make sure the public opinion on Emma’s and my relationship doesn’t get between us.

As I lead a quiet Emma through the stadium on the way to my car, I can’t help but feel a pit of dread in my stomach over what’s to come.

CHAPTER 44

EMMA

“She’s the most beautiful baby ever,” I mutter, cradling Margo’s newborn baby to my chest. A giant pink bow sits on top of her head as she sleeps peacefully in my arms.

Winnie leans close to me, her finger wrapped in baby Celeste’s tiny hand as we both marvel over our newest best friend. “I just love her so much already,” Winnie coos, a wide smile on her face.

Margo sits on the other side of us, a to-go box of sushi resting in her lap as she shoves one raw roll after another into her mouth. “She’s pretty cute, even if she took thirty hours to exit my vagina,” she mutters through a mouth full of food.

I laugh, looking down at Celeste. She’s got a head full of blonde hair and the cutest button nose. I haven’t been around a lot of babies in my life, but she’s got to be the most precious newborn to ever exist. “She’s a perfect angel. Perfection takes time, Mar.”

Margo rolls her eyes at me, too focused on devouring the sushi to even respond.

“Em, you’re hogging all the baby snuggles. I want some,” Winnie whines from my side.

I pull Celeste a little closer to my chest, not wanting to give her up. It feels like Margo just handed her to me, and I want to continue to bask in her sweet newborn scent for the rest of the day.

Winnie lets out a low groan, clearly not amused by me not handing Celeste over.

I let out a dramatic sigh, being careful to sit up as I hand the baby to Winnie. “You get five minutes, then it’s my turn again.”

Winnie rolls her eyes at me, something she doesn’t do often. She sits back on the couch and snuggles Celeste into the crook of her elbow. “I’m getting at least ten with her. You had so long.”

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