Page 35 of Her Football Star Ex

Me:Looks like we’re on about the same time frame as the other.

Exactly the same time frame.

Emerson:Sounds like it.

The conversation continued for the next hour but moved to much more lighthearted topics. We talked about what we liked to do in our free time, our favorite movies, and our most embarrassing moments. And even though I thought I knew Emerson after being married to her for four years and knowing her for six, I realized through our conversation that there were a lot of things I hadn’t ever asked or taken notice of.

She still sounded like the same woman; she was just more open and didn’t have the walls up.

Maybe it was because of the low-risk nature of just chatting with some random guy on an online dating app that put her at ease, but I found myself letting my walls down as well and not worrying so much about saying things the right or wrong way and feeling like I was walking on eggshells like I had so often this past year.

When Cole knocked on my door to ask for his phone back, I quickly messaged Emerson one more question.

Me:I have a big day tomorrow and need to call it a night, but it’s been great chatting with you tonight. Is it okay if I message you again soon?

And after it had gone through, I held my breath. The phone vibrated in my hand a second later.

Emerson:I’d love to chat with you again soon. Have a good night, Tyler.

I smiled.

Me:You too, Emerson.

And when I handed Cole's phone back to him, I felt lighter than I had in a very long time.

Cole glanced at his phone before slipping it into the pocket of his sweatpants.

“I’m guessing your conversation went well?” He raised a dark eyebrow and seemed to study me.

I nodded, knowing I probably had one of those goofy smiles you normally saw on a teenager’s face instead of that of a supposedly tough NFL quarterback. “It did.”

“And I’m also guessing she has no idea she’s messaging you?”

A twinge of guilt worked its way into my heart. I sighed and said, “No.”

“So what are your plans for this?” He leaned against the metal door frame and folded his arms across his broad chest. “I don’t want to burst your bubble or anything, but what will you do if she decides she wants to meet for a date? Because this conversationishappening because of a dating app. What will you tell her?”

I ran a hand through my hair and shrugged. “I haven’t really thought that far.” I had just been living in the moment and reveling in the fact that I was even talking to her. “I guess I’ll just see how it goes.”

“Well,” he said, reaching out and patting me on the shoulder. “Just be careful. I don’t want you to get your hopes up too much. It might be fun to pretend like you two are just two strangers chatting for the first time and don’t have any baggage. But if you want anything to work in the real world, you’re probably going to need to also work it out in the real world.”

I sighed again. Even though I didn’t like hearing it, I knew what Cole was saying was true. Because if Emerson had known it was me that she was talking to tonight, she probably wouldn’t have said half of that stuff.

I pursed my lips together and thought about what I could do. But like what happened ever since I’d confessed my biggest regret, I still had no idea how I could fix things.

I leaned back against the wallpapered wall. “I guess I have some things to figure out, don’t I?”

“Just try not to worry too much about it tonight, okay?” Cole nodded and stood to his full height. “We still have a big game to win tomorrow.”

“I guess I better hit the sack then,” I said, knowing I would have to figure this out after tomorrow’s game.

He moved to leave, but before he could walk into his room across the hall, I said, “You’re not going to go back in there and read through everything Emerson and I just chatted about, are you?”

“Nah, man.” He scrunched up his nose and waved a hand at me. “I have my own lady issues to worry about. I don’t need to get any more involved in yours.”

And with that, I shut the door to my hotel room and tried to do my best to clear my mind of any worries or hopes I had for the future.

I had a game to win tomorrow and I needed to focus on that if we were going to do well.

---