Page 40 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin

I t took two days to schedule an appointment with the Department of Home Affairs to resolve the issues with my visa.

As I waited to be called back, I tried to text Carson, but he wasn’t responding.

He lived for our messages, just like I did.

Even though I’d only been here for less than a week, it already felt like months.

When the lady called me back for yet another interview, I smiled and pocketed my phone to follow her back.

“You can have a seat here, please.”

I did as she asked and had a seat. “Thank you.”

“My name is Leslie Newcastle. How can I help you, Mr. Kearney?”

Smiling, I explained my concerns about my visa being denied and wanted to know how to clear up any misinformation.

Leslie typed into her computer as I waited, what seemed like a week, for her to find what she was looking for. I wasn’t known to have stellar patience, but for Carson, I’d do anything.

“Here we go. There seems to be some concern regarding your desire not to return to our country.”

My brow furrowed. “I don’t think I understand.”

“It says here, a tip came in that you did not wish to return to Australia. Were you seeking asylum in the United States?”

I shook my head. “No ma’am. I was there to work. And I’d like to return to work again for the same team.”

She typed away again on her computer until she asked another question. “Is there a reason you have closed all your banking accounts here in Sydney?”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. My agent was skimming money from my accounts. It was over half a million dollars. I had to close them to keep him from taking what was left.”

“Why not open another one at another bank here in Australia?”

“I was in the United States and plan to go back to work there as a professional athlete. I needed my money where I was.”

She looked at me over her glasses. “Do you see how that might look as if you were planning not to return?”

I was getting irritated. “Am I not allowed to leave and not come back?”

“Not without the proper paperwork. There are laws in place to document who comes and goes within the country.”

She was going to give me a civics lesson.

More typing, but this time she didn’t stop. “Do you have proof of that claim about your agent?”

I sighed and rubbed my temples. “Not with me, but I can get it.”

She nodded and kept typing. I waited as she clicked away on the keys, then backspaced a hundred times before typing again.

“Mr. Kearney, were you formally charged with stalking Mr. Leland Phillips in November of last year?”

“No, ma’am. I’ve been in the United States since July of last year. And that is my agent.”

Her brows lifted as she typed. Was she writing a book over there?

“We will need that documentation of all of that. When you bring it back, we can revisit your status with the United States government.”

“Can I ask how long that might take?”

“Well, when you return, not too long. Maybe a month or so.”

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Okay. Thank you for your help. I’ll get the documentation you require from the Detective and bring it back.”

She nodded. “Thank you for coming in.”

I smiled and held out my hand. “Thank you for your help.”

When I got outside, I pulled out my phone and called Carson. There was no answer, so I resorted to Owen. When he picked up the phone, I went straight to it.

“Can you meet me at CK for a beer? I need one.”

He chuckled into the line. “I’m on the way.”

When I walked into the pub, I found my friend sitting at the bar in our usual spot. He must have been close by to beat me here.

“I was startin’ to think ya weren’t ever coming out again,” Owen teased as I took my spot next to him.

“Yeah, well,” I sighed, “I needed to catch up on some sleep. We went from the playoffs to carting me off to the airport in less than twenty-four hours.”

I smiled as Mickie came over to take my order.

“Hello, mate. Good to see you back. What can I get ya? Your usual?”

“Heya Mickie. I’ll take an IPA if ya got one.”

His eyes widened. “Ya giving up the stout?”

I laughed. “I guess. It’s a little heavy these days.”

“Anything to eat?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not for me, thanks.”

Mickie nodded. “Okay, I’ll be back with your beer.”

Owen turned on his stool to look at me. “Ya feeling okay? No burger?”

I shook my head. “Nah. Not too hungry. Still worked up about the damn mess with the visa.”

“What happened?”

I raised my brows and rubbed my temples. “You’re not gonna believe this when I tell you.”

When Mickie delivered my mug, I took a big swallow, then recounted the whole story to him. Even the part about Leland.

“Half a fucking million? Have they thrown his arse in jail yet?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m sure they’ll let me know when I need to appear in court. I just hope it doesn’t fuck too much with my return to America.”

I took a big swallow of my beer. “I can’t even tell you how at home I felt there. The team, the coaches, and the friends I made. It never felt like I was in the wrong spot.”

Owen put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I hope this mess doesn’t take long to sort.”

“Me too,” I said. “How’s Carrie?”

Owen grinned and started telling me about their plans. “We just found out she’s pregnant. So we’re gonna move up our plans to get married.”

My smile was so big. “That’s great, O. I’m so happy for you.”

As he told me all about his plans, my phone rang. I turned it over to see that it was Carson video calling.

“Oh shit. I gotta take this.”

Owen chuckled as I swiped to answer. “Hello, love. I’ve been trying to call you. I’ve got so much to tell ya. Where ya been?”

Carson’s big smile and love-sick expression greeted me. “Hey, babe. I’ve been taking care of some things. Where are you?”

“At the pub with Owen. Where are you?”

He looked around, then back at me. “On the beach. You won’t believe this view.”

I smiled as he flipped the camera and panned around. My heart started to pound in my chest as my eyes filled with tears.

“Carson?”

He panned the phone until he stopped on the outside of my building. “Yeah, babe? We were hoping you might want some company.”

I jumped up off the stool. “We? Who is we ?”

He turned the phone down to Allister and Bella. “Me and these two.”

Frantically, I looked up at Owen. “I gotta go. He’s here. Carson’s here.”

Owen clapped me on the back. “Go, I got this.”

Heading for the door, I pushed it open and took off down the street. “I’m on the way. Don’t you move a muscle.”

Carson laughed and smiled into the phone. “I’ll be waiting right here.”

When he disconnected the call, I wanted to call him right back, but this made running easier. The five blocks to my apartment building felt like a mile even though I ran as if my arse were on fire.

My face split into a grin, and my eyes began to well up.

He was here. He’d crossed our ocean with our fur babies. Carson had come to Australia for me.

When my building came into view, I ran down to the shore where he stood waiting for me. Bella barked, alerting him. I watched as he turned and locked onto my eyes.

I didn’t stop running until I crashed into him. Carson’s arms tightened around me as our mouths met, as I poured my love and soul into the kiss, telling him I never wanted to be without him.

When he pulled back, he laughed and kissed my forehead and eyelids. I refused to let go.

“I’m so glad you’re here. How long do we have?”

Carson cupped my face and looked into my eyes with a possessive look that melted me from the inside out. “As long as we need. Turns out I have dual citizenship in the UK, and I couldn’t stand it another day without you.”

I had so many questions, but for now, they would wait. I just needed to kiss and hold him. Feel him in my arms and wallow in his scent.

Bella barked, wanting attention too, so I tore myself away and squatted down to love on her. “Welcome to Australia, sweet girl. I’m so happy you’re here.”

When I stood, I picked up my boy in his carrier. I looked up at Carson. “You brought my boy home to me.” A knot formed in my stomach. “You were only supposed to bring him if…”

Carson wrapped me in his arms before I could get the wrong idea. “No, baby. I brought them both because I plan to stay until the four of us are ready to go home. If it takes months, it takes months. But I have a plan, and all you have to do is agree to it.”

I nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. I agree. 100%. Perfect plan.”

Laughter bubbled up from deep inside him. “You haven’t even heard the plan.”

“I don’t need to. If it means we’re going to be together, then that’s all I need.”

Carson smiled at me. “You missed me enough to blindly agree to whatever I have worked out?”

He seriously had no idea. “No. I love you enough to agree with anything that keeps us together. I’ve been here less than a week, and I thought I was going to die without you.

Leaving was the worst thing I’ve ever been through.

No one has ever loved me the way you do.

And if you think I’m giving that up without a fight, you’re wrong. ”

He ran his hands around my neck and pulled my mouth to his.

He claimed me as I groaned right back. I’d missed everything about him.

His smile, his laughter, the way he called me out on my shit, the way he held me like I was the most precious thing he owned.

The way he made me feel loved for the first time in my life.

I broke the kiss and hugged him to me. “Let’s go upstairs.”

“Don’t you want to hear the plan?”

I shook my head. “No. I trust you. But right now, I need you. Like, really need you.”

His smile took my breath away. “Then lead the way, babe.”