Page 83 of Her Football Star Ex

I was almost there when Chelsea Stockton stepped in front of me. Her golden blonde hair was done in a tight updo. Her angular frame was looking more gaunt than usual in her black strapless dress. And her blue eyes still held the usual spite they always had when focused on me.

“Hey, Chelsea,” I said, stumbling slightly with the surprise.

“Hey, Emerson,” Chelsea said in her fake happy tone. “Long time no see.”

“Yeah.” I adjusted the strap on my dress. “It’s been a while.”

Why had she stopped me? What could she possibly have to say with that vindictive expression after a year of not seeing each other?

“It has been a while. I’ve been wondering what you’ve been up to.” Her gaze dipped down, like she was checking out my hand for a second before looking back at my face. “I see you haven’t gotten remarried yet.”

“Um, nope,” I said, wondering why she’d even be surprised about it. Did she know lots of women who jumped right into a new marriage after ending one?

“Are you here with anyone?” She glanced behind me, as if looking for someone. “You may not be married yet, but I bet you’ve at least been playing the field a little.”

And here it was. She was trying to make me feel bad for being at the wedding alone.

Just like I had assumed she would when I’d gone on my hunt to find a date for tonight.

I swallowed. “I’m not dating anyone at the moment, so no, I didn’t bring anyone with me.”

“That’s too bad.” She pouted her lips and tutted. “It must be lonely in that big house of yours on the nights Vincent has Jaxon.”

Yep, she was definitely trying to make me feel bad about my single status.

I was tempted to say I hadn’t been too lonely last night with Vincent sleeping next to me, but then I thought better of it. I didn’t need to stoop to Chelsea’s level.

So I plastered as patient of a smile on my lips as I could and said, “As nice as it is to see you again, Chelsea, I’m going to go find my seat.”

I was just stepping past her when she grabbed my arm. “Hold on.”

I turned back to her, my eyebrows knitting together. “What?”

She sighed, and for a second, her overly confident demeanor faltered.

“I know you say you aren’t dating anyone, but—” She leaned closer and whispered, “Are you the reason why Vincent called my sister this morning to cancel their date?”

My eyes widened and my mind raced for a moment as I took in what Chelsea had just said.

Chelsea’s sister was the woman Vincent was supposed to be here with today?

And he’d cancelled?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered back. “But if Vincent cancelled his date, it was becausehedidn’t want to keep it.”

“Whatever,” Chelsea snapped, letting go of my arm like it had burned her. “You need to stop dragging him along. Just get over yourself and let the man move on.”

I bristled and took a step back.

I hadn’t been dragging him along.

Not purposely, anyway.

But instead of acknowledging any of that, I surprised myself by saying, “What if I don’t want him to move on?”

She narrowed her icy blue eyes at me. Then, without a word, she huffed and walked away, back to the table where her minions, Sasha Perry and Kacie Roberts, were watching our interaction.

I just shook my head and frowned as she retreated.

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