Page 29

Cha pter 29

Chloe

“Pam!” Mrs.

Coftman comes around the corner.

“What did you do to her?” she snaps at Gunner.

I step out of the way.

What is even happening right now?

“Is Jenny here?” Gunner asks.

Pam looks at him.

“You’re mad.” The words are almost a whisper.

I take in the look on his face as well as his arms crossed over his chest.

Yeah, he’s mad.

Who am I kidding?

I’m mad too; we’re talking about the woman who is trying to ruin Gunner’s career.

Mrs.

Coftman puts her arm around Mrs.

Prenderson.

“Come this way, Pam.” She levels a look at Gunner.

“Gunner, I raised you better than this.” He doesn’t say a word, and I frown.

Mrs.

Coftman sits next to Pam on the couch and pats her leg.

“It’s okay, Pam.” She gives Gunner another look.

“It’s okay,” Pam says.

“He’s upset with Jenny.”

Gunner’s mom nearly hits the roof.

“Sweet Jenny? Gunner, what is wrong with you? You better not be getting too big for yourself, Son.”

I can’t stay quiet another moment.

“Excuse me.” My voice is crisp, cutting into the emotional state everyone is in.

This isn’t my first foray into drama, and it certainly won’t be my last.

“Gunner has done absolutely nothing wrong in this situation.” My first comment is directed to Gunner’s mom; my second is directed at Pam.

“But your daughter has done a lot of wrong.” I look between the two of them and continue on, not letting either of them say a word.

“You may not know what all has been done, so let me tell you.”

I feel a hand on my back.

“It’s okay,” Gunner says quietly.

“It is absolutely not okay.” I meet his eyes briefly before turning my attention back to the women.

“Jenny has spent the last several weeks claiming that she is pregnant with Gunner’s baby, which is absolutely not true. And yet, every sportscaster in the country seems to believe it. Gunner has lost endorsements over this, and people have turned on him. Those who were once his fans are calling him out, asking him to step up and do the right thing. The whole thing is ludicrous, and yet it keeps surfacing. I have told Jenny personally to stop and what will happen if she does not. I can and will press charges against her if she does not back down, and believe me, I have what I need to be able to make those charges stick. So, no, Gunner is not going to step back and be okay with sweet Jenny because I’m sorry, but your daughter is not sweet. Gunner, on the other hand, is a man of character and integrity. The fact that he hasn’t gone after your daughter by now or threatened to make her life miserable makes him a saint. He’s way too nice; I, however, am not. I have no problem building a case against her. Now, I realize this is your house, Mrs. Coftman, but if this is going to continue, if you won’t take Gunner’s side on this, then we have no reason to stay here tonight. And Pam, I suggest you have a nice long chat with your daughter and get her to drop these false pregnancy claims against Gunner before it’s too late, and we take her to court.”

The silence that falls after my words feels heavy, but I don’t say anything more.

“Chloe, can we talk for a moment?” Before I realize what’s happening, Gunner takes my hand and leads me from the room.

I’m so surprised, I don’t even get to enjoy the feel of his hand holding mine because as soon as we get to the bedroom, he opens the door and waits for me to step inside before closing it.

A second later, he’s standing in front of me.

I take a step back, landing myself against the bedroom door.

He advances and puts a hand on either side of my head and leans forward.

He stares at me, and I forget how to breathe.

“What was that?” he breathes.

Just like that, any romantic notion I had evaporates.

I try to cross my arms, but there’s not enough room between our bodies.

“I was speaking the truth, Gunner. And if you have a problem with that, too bad.” I push my shoulders against the door and stare him down.

He makes a low sound in the back of his throat.

“I don’t have a problem with it; not at all. That’s the problem.” His words are low and sound pained.

“I’m totally confused right now,” I tell him honestly.

He pulls back slightly, so he can look directly into my eyes.

“You stood up for me, went to bat for me, called out my own mom and a stranger you don’t even know...for me.”

“Well, of course, Gunner. I was just speaking the truth.”

He stares at me, and I’m confused by the confliction in his eyes.

“We have to go back out there.”

I nod.

“Yes.”

“It would be rude to stay in here and ignore them.”

I frown.

“Yes, very rude.”

The corner of his lip turns up.

“Do you always do the right thing, Chloe Liessman?”

My frown increases, and I try to decide if this a trick question.

He leans forward, and I hold myself completely still, wondering what in the world he’s doing.

He blows out a breath, right next to my neck.

“Don’t ever change, Chloe.” A moment later, he pulls back.

He stares at me a moment longer before he steps back and shoves his hands in his pockets.

“I have to go back out there.”

“I do too.” I’m happy to hear that my voice sounds somewhat normal.

“But I, ah, need to go to the bathroom first.”

“Take your time; I’ll go see what the damage is.”

He opens the bedroom door and disappears.

I’m not exactly sure how long I stare at the empty doorway.

Gunner has always been an enigma to me, but I have no idea what any of that was.

I head towards the bathroom.

I didn’t lie when I said I needed to go; my coffee went right through me.

I take my time washing my hands and leaving the bathroom.

I’ve never been afraid to handle problems or problem people head on, but Gunner really threw me off with that whole thing.

I take a moment to compose myself before I head back out.

Mrs.

Coftman closes the front door, just as I enter the living room.

She turns back and puts her hand over her mouth.

“Gunner, I didn’t know.” Her words are almost a whisper before she walks across the room and wraps her arms around him.

I turn around, ready to give them this private moment.

“Chloe.” Her voice stops me.

“Thank you for standing up for my boy.”

“He doesn’t need me to stand up for him; he’s perfectly capable of that himself.”

Her eyes are teary.

“You did what I should have done. Thank you.”

She looks up at Gunner.

“I’m so sorry, Gunner.”

“It’s okay, Mom. I didn’t want you to know everything; I know Pam’s your best friend.”

I watch as she wipes a tear.

“You should have told me. I’m so sorry. I can’t believe Jenny would do this to you. Tell me everything.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

She frowns up at him.

“Gunner, you are my son. I want to know everything that’s going on in your life, the good and the bad.”

I watch as they sit on the couch next to each other, knee to knee.

I start towards the bedroom, so I can give them privacy.

“You too, Chloe. I want to hear from you.”

I wait for Gunner to say that he doesn’t want me to stay for this private conversation with his mom, but he doesn’t.

He begins to tell his mom everything that has happened.

I add a few details he keeps out.

By the end of it, Mrs.

Coftman is so distraught; I wonder if it was a mistake to tell her.

She pushes to her feet.

“I’m going to go find Jenny and give her a piece of my mind.”

Gunner barely restrains his smile.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mom.”

“It’s a great idea,” she says and starts towards the kitchen.

I face Gunner with wide eyes.

She comes back into the living room with her purse and keys in hand.

“Mom.” Gunner steps in front of her.

“You can’t go talk to her.”

“Watch me.” I smile because I really like her now—now that she’s fighting for her son.

Her eyes dart to mine and narrow.

“I suppose you’re going to tell me too that I can’t go.”

“Not at all. I’ll go with you and be your wingman.”

Mrs.

Coftman turns to Gunner.

“I like her.”

His entire face softens as he looks at me.

“I do too.”

“Don’t do anything stupid to mess this up,” she warns him.

Her words hit like a bucket of cold water.

Just like that, I remember that all this is pretend.

“Mom, we’re handling it. Don’t do this; you don’t want to lose your best friend.” I watch as Gunner’s words help calm her.

Eventually, she puts her purse and keys on the table.

“I’m only not going over there to give her a piece of my mind because you asked me not to,” she says, waving a finger in Gunner’s face.

“I know.” His words are solemn, but I’m pretty sure he’s having a hard time not smiling.

His phone rings, and he pulls it out, frowning at whoever’s calling.

He catches my eye and gives me a head bob, and I know he wants me to follow him.

“I’ve got to take this, Mom. I’ll be out in a little bit.” I follow him quietly.

He closes the bedroom door behind him.

“It’s Mrs. Prenderson.”

My eyes widen in surprise.

“Okay. I’ll give you privacy; let me know how it goes.” I turn back to the door, but a hand on my wrist stops me.

“When are you ever going to learn that you’re the last one I want privacy from?” His voice is low, and I stare at him in shock.

His phone rings again, startling both of us.

“Don’t leave.”

I find myself committing before I think it through.

“I won’t.”

With his eyes on me, he answers the call.

“Mrs. Prenderson, hi.” He walks over to the bed and sits down.

He seems totally engrossed in the call, but when I move, his eyes are on me.

I decide to just sit on the other side of the bed.

I don’t really have anywhere else to sit.

I pull out my phone and check my email.

I need to stay on top of my work this weekend, or I’ll get buried next week.

Gunner is quiet for so long, I kind of forget he’s even there.

Well, as much as you can forget a six-foot–four professional athlete.

He says a few things after a while, but I don’t listen in.

I've got my own work to focus on. When he hangs up, it takes me a moment to realize it.

“How’d it go?”

He moves so that his body is against the headboard and his long legs are on the bed. He blows out a breath. “She’s worried about Jenny.”

I give him a skeptical look. “Worried about her ?”

He’s quiet a moment, like he’s thinking about his words. I give him time to process. “She told me that Jenny started dating a guy last year that’s bad news. She’s pretty sure he’s abusive to her.”

“If you’re trying to make me feel sorry for her, after what she’s put you through, it’s not going to happen.”

He chuckles, and the sound of it fills me with warmth. “I’m not. I’m just telling you what she told me.”

“So, she’s dating a jerk. What else?”

“Not a lot else. She just told me her concerns, and I listened.”

“Of course you did, because you’re so nice,” I mutter.

He glances over at me with that soft smile again. “Hate to break it to you, Chloe, but you’re just as nice.”

I laugh in surprise. “No, I’m really not.”

He puts his head back against the headboard. “You’re strong and determined and confident; I’ll give you that. But you have a heart of gold underneath that tough exterior and,” he pauses and looks at me. “You’re a total softie.”