Page 63 of Her Football Star Ex

“Maybe that’s it.” I sighed, feeling even worse about my dating radar. “He did seem too good to be true.”

Plus, what single guy went to bed at nine o’clock on a Saturday night? Sure, Vincent always went to bed early during football season, but that was because he needed the extra sleep to be at his peak performance on the field. Regular people didn’t do that. Weekends were for staying up late.

“I kind of feel like I turned this conversation into a big doom-and-gloom session,” Ivy said. “Sorry about that.”

I laughed. “It’s okay. My love life is what it is.”

“Well, I have a feeling things will turn up for you soon.” She gave me a warm smile. “Now that you don’t have the pressure of finding a date for Kira’s wedding breathing down your neck, you can take time to figure out what you really want. I think the universe is just taking its time in putting the right person for you in your path.”

“I hope so.” I picked up my iPad to hold it closer to my face again.

“Hey, if it can happen for me,” she said. “It can happen for anyone.”

“It’d better.” I glanced at the clock on the wall. I needed to hurry and put on my dress and heels if I was going to get to the chapel in Denver on time. “I should get going,” I said. “Thanks for the chat.”

“Make sure to let me know how things go,” she said. “And remember, if the Dragon Ladies are rude to you when you see them, just remember you have a friend with a retired gossip blog that would be more than happy to revive it if you need me to exact some revenge.”

“That’s why we’re friends.” I laughed. “I’ll talk to you later, Ivy.”

“You’d better.”

We waved goodbye to each other and ended the call.

And when I gave myself one last look in the mirror, inspecting my hair and makeup, I hoped this weekend would go well. Because seeing the Dragons’ family without a date to use as armor was going to be interesting.

24

Emerson

I arrivedat the church just as everyone was lining up to rehearse the ceremony.

“Sorry I’m late,” I told Kira when I found her standing in the back of the line-up with her parents. “The roads were bad on I-70, so it took me longer than I expected to get here.”

“That’s okay.” She smiled, looking stunning in her red pantsuit, her dark skin giving off the bride-to-be glow. “Vincent told us they were bad, so we figured that’s what happened.”

“Oh,” I said, looking around for Vincent. But he was nowhere around.

Kira must have seen me looking for him because she pointed to the doors that led to the chapel and said, “He’s already standing in the front with Derek.”

“Of course.” I nodded. I somehow forgot about that tradition for a minute.

“Anyway,” she said. “You’ll be walking down the aisle with Derek’s high school buddy Landon.” She looked around at the group of her and Derek’s closest friends and family before pointing to a tall guy with auburn hair. “That’s him,” she said. “In the light blue button-up.”

I looked at the guy she’d indicated whose back was to me, a little ball of nerves forming in my stomach at the prospect of walking down the aisle with a complete stranger. But I smiled the nerves away and said, “I guess I’ll go introduce myself real quick.”

Landon was even taller when I got up close—probably at least six-foot-three—which was always nice. It meant I would still be several inches shorter than him in my heels tomorrow. And from the set of his shoulders, I could tell that he was either an athlete or was just very good with his workout regimen.

He turned around when I approached, and I was met with a beautiful pair of dark brown eyes and averynice-looking face.

Dang.

This Landon guy was hot.

“Are you Emerson?” he asked, seeming to take in my appearance as well.

“Yeah.” I tucked some hair behind my ear, suddenly feeling shy for some reason. “That’s me.”

“I’m Landon.” He held out his hand for me to shake. “Apparently, you’re stuck with me for the next two days.”

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