Page 60 of Beautiful Storm

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Luke

Amelia sends me a thank you text and I drop the phone like it’s burning my fingers. If I don’t keep things light and humorous, I’m going to fall apart at any second.

When I think back to our conversation yesterday, it mirrors an out-of-body experience.Who was that guy?I mean, sure, he was sensible and confident, and knew exactly what he wanted. But now, it’s a new day and I don’t know where the hell he went.

“Leave the arrangements to me?”What was I thinking? I don’t know the first thing about organizing a wedding. My sister is halfway through planning one right now, and she’s talked my ear off about it, yet I couldn’t tell you a single thing she’s arranged.

Where do I start? Apart from the divorce.ThatI can help with. You need me toenda marriage? Easy. I’m sure I can pay someone to do that. But entering into one? I’m at a loss.

Unless…I wonder if you can do it online these days?

Before the thought has fully formed, I type “fastest way to get married in California”and hit search… Bingo! Too easy. We justneed Amelia’s divorce to be finalized and we can be married in twenty-four to seventy-two hours. Gotta love technology.

I laugh to myself until reality sets in. I meant what I said—I will protect them both, no matter what it takes. But I have no idea what that’s going to entail, and I’ve got to admit, I’m terrified.

Since I’m up early and don’t have to be at the stadium for a couple of hours, I sneak in a workout to clear my head. But it doesn’t help.

I try watching TV and listening to music, but that doesn’t help either. I’m just about to call Lainey to confess everything when I remember Amelia’s car issues. When we arrived at the stadium yesterday, her car was in the parking lot, so it must have broken down there. I can’t have her catching the bus all the time with the ridiculous hours she works. It’s my duty to help out.

Even though I know she’ll be pissed off about it.

It takes me all of ten minutes to arrange for a mechanic, and when it’s done, I’m still no more settled. Though I will admit I do feel better knowing that Amelia will have her car fixed within the next couple of days. And I’m fully prepared for her wrath.

After cleaning the house, something I never do to distract myself, I leave early for practice and drive around for a while.

Luckily, when it comes to the game, I have a process, so once I’m in the parking lot, all it takes is a little pep talk in the form of telling myself it’sgo timeand all of a sudden, I’m in the zone. Like magic.

Okay, not like magic at all… My pep talk included a lot more expletives and a slap in the face. But I got there in the end.

Pre-season is almost over. The final roster is set. It’s our year.

Last year we were close. This year, we’re a better team. There’s no doubt in my mind that we are making it to the Super Bowl, and I am a huge part of that. Most tight ends peak before thirty years of age. But I’m not most tight ends. I’ve been playing thelong game, improving every year and I’ve never been better. I know it. The coaches know it. Even the executives give me knowing smiles as they pass by. Nothing is going to stop me from having the year of my career.

Not a wife and baby… Or a TV show. If anything, they could be motivators. I’m yet to decide. But I’m about to find out.

I’m smiling when I arrive at the stadium, and that smile widens when I see Amelia’s car.

I expect an onslaught of yelling when Amelia sees me since I gave the mechanic her number, but as I step inside there’s a weird tension in the air, and it’s got nothing to do with me. I only have to step foot through the entry to understand why.

From the moment the door clicks shut, a camera follows me as I walk down the hall—but that alone doesn’t mean anything. We’re used to people shoving cameras and microphones into our faces. It’s the “Cut! Can we try that again?” that’s throwing everyone off.

Everyone except Rookie, it seems.

Zane smiles as he nods, before turning around and rushing back to greet me near the door. “They want more swagger,” he confirms when I raise an eyebrow. “Apparently my usual star power is lacking. But what can I say… I’m tired after celebrating my inclusion in the final roster. Not that I expected otherwise.”And they say I’m the cocky one.

“If it’s swagger they want, we all know you got this.” I smile and of course he bounces his eyebrows. He can be an asshole sometimes, but I have no reason to piss him off. Easton, on the other hand, is already growly.But when is he not?

Keeley, Amelia, and the producersallwarned us that it would be like this, but now that it’s happening, it’s bizarre. Yes, I joked about being the star of this show, but I’m a football player, not an actor. I don’t think ahead when it comes to my moves. I memorized our playbook within a week of first seeing it, andnow it all comes naturally to me. Funnily enough, even my own swagger comes naturally. I can’t imagine trying to fake anything. Although, I suppose I need to get used to playing pretend.

I’m about to do six months of it.

For the sake of my baby. Forourbaby. For… God, the baby needs a name. Uhh…Jelly Bean. I’m going to call the baby Jelly Bean. That’s much better than constantly referring to “it” in my mind.

Shaking off my thoughts, I smile to myself as I walk into the locker room, and when no one yells cut, a feeling a pride takes over me. Maybe acting comes naturally to me too.

The room is full of people I don’t recognize, and the one person I expected to be here is strangely missing. I ignore my concern to get ready, and it’s not until I’m half naked—my shorts around my ankles as I step out of them—that Amelia finally walks in like she owns the place, her presence drawing my attention as I pause to watch her.

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