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Chapter twenty-nine

Emmett Foster

I step outside after finishing the last bite of the pancake I grabbed to go with my coffee. There was no need for syrup, but June and Raven seemed to disagree. I’d much rather still be inside, hiding my laughter while Hazel explains golf to June…Hazel knows as much about golf as she does about baseball. Miles would be appalled. I considered recording the conversation for him. I would have, if I didn’t think he would hyperfixate on my recording Hazel at all. It’s not going to be fun telling the guys about our relationship. Jason is going to spend the better part of an hour giving a speech on how he knew it all along.

Even as I think of all the ways they’ll tease me, I can’t stifle the smile tugging at my lips. That’s becoming more and more normal for me because of Hazel. I used to reserve my smiles for family, but Hazel is softening me to more than just her. Emerson will be thrilled if he ever gets over my laughing at him. We’ll see at practice later.

My thumb sticks a little to my screen as I find Brock’s contact and hit call. While I might be able to smile about the guys teasing me, there’s no grinning through this conversation. Brock might be happy for me as a friend, but as my agent he’s not going to like that I flipped the script on him in such a delicate situation. He could have gotten ahead of this, but now I’ll look duplicitous. Which means he’ll have more damage control to do.

“This is Jones,” he answers in lieu of hello.

“Are you a sports agent or a secret service agent?” I ask in an attempt to lighten his mood. Based on his lack of laughter, I don’t think it worked. I shouldn’t have tried to joke like the other guys would, it doesn’t suit me.

“What’s wrong?” Brock asks, getting straight to it.

There’s an odd beeping sound in the background. It reminds me of when I was at the hospital with Hazel recently. The noise was incessant and I didn’t understand how the nurses could bear listening to it all day. Where is he? I push away the curiosity. Wherever he is, he won’t appreciate me delaying our conversation to ask him. He’s probably got more people calling him right this second.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I tell him. “But there’s been a change in plans.”

He sighs. “You’re in love with the girl, aren’t you?”

I scratch the back of my neck. “I’m on my way there, yeah.”

“Why couldn’t you have–” he cuts off. The beeping sound in the background intensifies, making me frown. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle retracting the previous statements. It would be good if you posted something on social media, maybe a photo of you two at your next game. But only if this is serious,” he emphasizes.

“You know I’m not the type to have a fling.”

“I also thought you were the type to be straightforward with me, but here we are.”

I wince at his tone. It’s not entirely undeserved. If I would have been less afraid of my feelings in New York, this whole situation would be a lot easier. Not easy, but easier.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself back then.”

Another weary sigh. “No, I’m sorry for snapping at you. This is a part of the job. You shouldn’t shift your life around to work for what’s best for me. I’m the agent, not you.”

“I shouldn’t make your life harder though.”

He laughs, but it sounds hollow. “This is a cakewalk compared to the other things I’ve had to deal with this week. Don’t worry about it, Emmett. Just follow what I said, lay low , and enjoy time with your new girlfriend. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Is there anything else I can do to help?”

I know all the guys have been concerned about him working too much, me included. I hate that I’m adding to his burden rather than taking away.

“No, it’s–”

“Mr. Jones,” a female voice scolds in the background. “I’ve told you several times, no phones allowed.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I’ll be just a second,” Brock replies.

“Are you in the hospital?” I ask, because I can’t ignore the signs any longer.

“Yeah–uh one of my clients got hurt and I was checking in. The nurses here don’t like phones,” he grumbles.

An alarm goes off in my head. I think he’s lying, but why? What would he be in the hospital for that he wouldn’t want me to know about?

“Listen, I gotta go before they get on my case again. I’ll text you with any updates. Call if you need anything.”

He hangs up before I can reply. I frown. It’s not like Brock to lie–that I know of–but that whole phone conversation was odd.

“Everything okay out here?” Hazel asks from behind me. I turn around to face her. She’s smiling, but concern is pinching her brows together. “I can see you frowning through the windows.”

I slide my phone back in my pocket. “Yeah, it’s all okay.”

“How did the conversation go?” she asks as she walks over to me. She wraps her arms around my waist, tilting her chin to look up at me.

“He said he would handle everything, but I think something might be wrong.” Worry flashes across her expression. “Not when it comes to us,” I clarify. “But I think he could be worse off than I thought. He’s always working. I don’t know if he’s ever taken a vacation. He sounded exhausted on the phone.”

Hazel frowns. “Maybe you should tell the other guys? Shaw is his brother-in-law, right?” I nod. “He might be able to get him to talk.”

“I don’t want them to bother him more.”

“Everyone needs someone to pester them to take care of themselves.” She gives me a teasing look. I smile a little.

“I guess you’re right. I’ll text Shaw.”

“I think that will be good.”

I glance over her shoulder and see June peeking through the window, her hands framing her face. She’s giggling, and Raven is sitting next to her doing the same.

“It looks like we have spies,” I say to Hazel.

She glances over her shoulder and laughs. “They’re both smart girls. I’m sure it won’t be a shock when we tell them.”

“I’m glad it won’t be a shock. Raven’s had enough of those lately.”

Hazel grimaces. “I know. I’m debating on taking her to see Mom once you’re back from practice. She asked to go, but I don’t know if it’s for the best.”

“It surprises me that she would want to see her, based on what you said about her.”

It would suit me if neither of them saw her ever again, but I know that’s not the most compassionate viewpoint. She’s hurt them both too much for me to have sympathy though.

“I think she just wants to see for herself that she’s okay. The last image she has of Mom is her unconscious with staff all around.”

Pain mars Hazel’s expression. I rub her back to soothe her.

“Do you want me to come with you? I can get Emerson to watch June again.”

She smiles, but shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. You should stay home with June. The visit will be short, and if she says anything upsetting, we’ll leave right away.”

“Okay, but you know you only have to say the word and I’ll be by your side.”

“I know,” she says, burying her face in my chest. “Thank you.”

Aware of our audience, I refrain from kissing her anywhere other than the top of her head.

“Anything to make you happy.”