Page 140 of Imperfect Player

“Not knowing. Not knowing what you need or how you need me to be.”

“I just need you to be you. Nothing more. Nothing less. I shouldn’t have bombarded you like this. Not tonight. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. And you’re not bombarding me. I want to be here with you. I just . . . There’s so much to say.”

“You have no idea.”

“Maybe you’re right though.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

She lets out a small laugh. “Maybe we do need to just . . . be.”

“No one else I would rather have by my side—ever.”

“Can I hug you?”

It’s my turn to laugh.

“Sunshine, you can do whatever you want to me.”

No sooner do the words leave my mouth than she’s across the limo, arms wrapped around me. I can feel the tears trickling down her face and landing on my shirt. I hold her tightly, my forehead resting on her shoulder as I inhale the sweet scent of her.

God, I missed this. Her. The comfort and ease of just being with her.

She pulls back and looks me dead in the eye. “Nobody leaves. Ever. Understood?”

“Understood.”

We ride the rest of the way to the Bright Star Gala just like this. Wrapped in each other’s arms, tear-stained faces, her body pressed against mine.

No place else I would rather be.

When the limo comes to a stop, Everly takes a moment to touch up her makeup and compose herself.

Good thing too, because the moment the door opens, the flashes of lights from the cameras are blinding.

I do my best to shield her from them, but there’s no hope. It is what it is, and she doesn’t seem to mind.

The moment her arm loops through mine, the barrage of questions begins.

Who is she? What are we? Where have I been?

I hold up my hand to silence the group. “I promise you’ll all get your story, just not tonight. Tonight is about the kids, not me. So please, let’s focus on what we’re here for, not who is here.”

Then just to give them a little something—okay, it’s for me too—I press my lips to Everly’s cheek before leading her into the event space.

“You certainly know how to make an entrance,” she says.

“Didn’t have anything to do with me. It’s all the beautiful woman on my arm.”

She smiles. “We’re going to be okay.”

“I hope so, because two months without you was too damn long.”

“Ethan, Everly,” Tripp’s voice fills the lobby as he makes his way over to us, his wife at his side. “You two are making headlines already.”

Linnie rolls her eyes. “How about you just say hi and wish them well and quit looking at them as a promo?”

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