Page 38 of Her Football Star Ex

“Are the police going to do anything about this?” Arianna asked.

“They’ll do some more investigating, see if anything else was reported in the area. And then they said they’d keep an eye on my house for the next few days to make sure no one else comes poking around.”

“That’s good,” she said, seeming to be somewhat comforted. “But you’re not planning on staying here, are you? Because it’s not safe for you to be here alone.”

“I’ll probably be fine. I mean, it was just a doll and a note. It’s not like they tried breaking in or have damaged anything.”

“Yet,” Arianna said, her face showing she was unconvinced that I was safe.

And even though I was trying to appear like things would be just fine on the outside, on the inside I was agreeing with her.

I didn’t want to be here alone. Not for even a minute.

I mean, right before they had shown up I had considered packing up a suitcase with enough clothes for the week and then heading to my mom’s house. Until I realized my mom had gone to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Nebraska for the week.

Janet shook her head and made a tsking sound. “Sorry, but even though you and Vincent aren’t together anymore, you’re always going to be like a daughter to me and I just can’t allow you to stay here by yourself. Not until we know more.”

“I agree,” Arianna said. “So I’m pretty sure you’re coming with us.”

“To the game?” My voice raised an octave with my surprise. “But I already told Vincent I didn’t belong there.”

I’d just had some wacko threaten my life, I didn’t need to add possibly running into the Dragon Ladies to my to-do list for the day.

“But you do belong there. You belong there just as much as any one of us,” Janet said. “Plus, I already know that your mom is out of town and the rest of your friends are going to already be at the game. So, sorry honey, but you’re going to be coming with us whether you like it or not.”

“But I don’t…” I looked down at my feet, trying to think of a good excuse to go anywhere besides the game. I still had my slippers, pajamas, and robe on. Vincent had already said his mom was worried about beating traffic and getting to the game in time. She wouldn’t want to wait for me to shower and get ready. So I said, “I still have to get Jaxon dressed to go with you. And there’s no way I’m going looking like this.”

“I’ll get Jaxon ready,” Arianna said. “You go take a shower. You can put your makeup on in the car.”

“But…” I was about to protest, to tell them that I really was fine on my own. But then I remembered the guy in the gorilla mask and decided that I really didn’t want to spend the next several hours here all by myself. Everyone I knew was going to the game. I needed to be around people right now.

Even if some of those people were the Dragon Ladies.

I let out a long sigh and said, “Fine.”

* * *

We arrivedat the Dragons stadium an hour before kickoff, so once we were past the crowds and safely inside the luxury suite Vincent had reserved for the season, I tried to relax and make myself at home after the crazy morning. I really needed a break from the real world after the intense past few hours.

The suite was like a mini hotel room, with a huge window on one end with seats that overlooked the stadium. Couches and chairs sat in a small lounging area with a TV for special video footage of the game. And in the corner, there was a little toy area for Jaxon to play in when he got bored with the game.

I set my purse on the granite counter and took in my surroundings. The food for the game was already out—hot food sitting in their warmers, chilled food sitting on ice.

Vincent and I had opted not to have a full staff at our house—just a cleaning crew that came in once a week to keep things tidy—so I’d always loved coming here and feeling pampered with the food already laid out when we arrived.

And until I stepped back in here and remembered the luxury of it all, I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed this. I still made a good income as a lawyer and had been able to maintain a housekeeper so I could focus on Jaxon and work when I needed, but being married to a high performing NFL quarterback had definitely had its perks. I certainly wasn’t eating at fancy restaurants and traveling as much as I used to.

“I’m sure you remember your way around.” Janet set her black-and-white checkered purse on one of the chairs and started removing her thick coat. “Go ahead and make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” I said, feeling somewhat awkward. The last time I’d been in this box, I had been the hostess instead of her, so it was a strange feeling to be back here but as an outsider instead of the wife of the football star.

But I tried to push the awkwardness away and went to see what kind of beverages they kept stocked in the fridge these days.

When I opened the fridge, I saw they had the usual diet Coke, diet Cherry Dr. Pepper, and Root-beer that Janet, Arianna, and Jaxon loved, respectively. But also, along one side was a row of my personal favorite flavors of La Croix.

I pulled out a can—Passionfruit essence—and studied it with narrowed eyes. “Is one of you finally trying to kick your diet soda habit?” I asked, glancing at my ex-mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

“As if.” Arianna wrinkled her nose. “That stuff is still super gross.” And as if to prove her point, she joined me at the fridge and pulled out her diet Cherry Dr. Pepper.

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