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Chapter Thirty-Five

STEVIE

N o. No. No. Definitely not, no.

Not having a job is the worst. I’ve been doing nothing but looking for available jobs and applying until my fingers hurt. I don’t want to be picky, but I don’t think my car could make an hour round-trip drive every day.

It’s been crickets. All of the hiring immediately ads are lying. I have experience. If you don’t actually want someone, then why say that?

Ugh. I hate how angry I’m feeling right now. It’s not helping anything. My phone buzzes on the nightstand next to me.

My heart drops at the name on my phone. Every time it rings, I’m secretly hoping it’s Bode.

He’s giving me my space like I asked for.

“Hey Harper.”

“Good, you answered,” she tells me by way of greeting.

“Why wouldn’t I answer?” I lie back against the oversized pillows. Thankfully Cressy’s guestroom was ready for me. It might not have much besides a bed, nightstand, and dresser, but it’s all I need.

“I was worried you’d be upset with me.”

“Why would I be upset with you?”

“Because of everything that’s happened.”

I wince, rubbing a hand over my forehead. I’m going to get wrinkles early from all the tension headaches I’ve had. “It’s not your fault.”

“I know, but I feel terrible. I wish I could do more.”

“You’re still here.”

“How are things?” she asks.

“Well, the emails have slowly started to taper off.”

“If I were you, I’d change my email,” she tells me.

I laugh. “You are not the first person to tell me that. But is it weird I want to keep it? To see when this all goes away?”

Because then, maybe I can be back in Bode’s arms. I can’t do it if they’re still at risk.

I won’t endanger them.

“As long as you’re deleting them immediately and not opening them.”

“I’m not, I promise. But hopefully they will stop soon. I don’t know why.”

“I—”

“Holy shit. Look at this!” Cressy comes busting in my room.

“Oh my god. Knock much?”

Even though the door was mostly open, the bang startles me.

“Is everything okay?” Harper asks.

“No, it’s not,” Cressy tells her. “Look.”

She shoves her phone in my face. Leaning back so I can look at it, my jaw drops.

“Holy shit.”

“What? What is it? I can’t see!” Harper’s voice rings out over the phone.

“It’s an email. From Becky.”

“Who’s that?” she asks.

“Did she really send this?” I ask, looking back at Cressy. “I can’t believe it was her.”

It’s another email blasting me for being a homewrecker and a terrible person. It seems the copy and paste didn’t work right, because there’s also a comment at the end about canceling someone’s appointment.

“Oh, you bet your ass it was. She loves the Knights. She was jealous.”

“But…I hardly ever work with her. She acts like she’s better than me most of the time.”

I can’t believe she would do this.

“Not anymore.”

Cressy taps away on the phone as I explain what’s going on to Harper. I peer over my best friend’s shoulder to see what she’s typing.

Crestina

Have you really been sending these? screenshot of email

Becky

What? That wasn’t me

Crestina

Then why is it your email?

Becky

I was hacked

Crestina

Nice try

Crestina

I’ll be reporting you to Maryann first thing tomorrow

Becky

It wasn’t me!

Crestina

Please. Of course it was

Crestina

I can’t believe you would do this

Becky

Why should she get the man and not me?

“Okay, I’m half tempted to come over right now and see what is going on.”

I shake my head, even though she can’t see it. “We’ll get drinks next week. I need to figure out what’s going on myself.”

“Okay. Keep me updated, okay?” Harper tells me.

“I will.”

“Oh! And before I forget,” Harper starts, “I have a line on a new job for you.”

“Really? Where?”

“I’ll text it to you, okay? It’s where my massage therapist works.”

“That’d be amazing. Thanks, Harper. Really.”

“I’ve got your back, Stevie. I’ll see you next week.”

Ending the call, I toss the phone onto the bed and grab Cressy’s phone.

“I can’t believe she would stoop so low,” she says.

“I never thought someone I work with would do this. I feel…”

Heartbroken. Betrayed. Angry.

“Too many things. Take some time to process, and maybe it means things will finally end.”

“You think so?”

She nods. “Yes. And you bet your ass I’m telling Maryann. I can’t believe she would jeopardize her own job like that.”

“Probably didn’t think she’d get caught,” I mutter.

“Ladies, dinner will be here in a few,” Dylan calls out.

Cressy runs out, giving me time to try and come to terms with what all is happening. I can’t believe it was Becky.

Now that we know who did this, I’m guessing it’ll stop. Maybe I could get my job back. But do I want to work somewhere that dropped me without questioning anything?

That’s a problem for tomorrow. Right now, I’m ravenous and need something to eat.

Grabbing a sweatshirt, I pull it on over my head and walk into the living room.

“Uhh, you’re not the delivery guy,” Cressy tells whoever is in the hallway.

She swings the door open and there’s Bode. He’s a feast for my sore and tired eyes. He doesn’t look like he’s faring much better than I am.

I drink him in. The way his hair is a mess. The exhaustion clinging to his face. What I’m only assuming is part of Caleb’s dinner splattered on the pocket of his hoodie.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.”

My eyes dart to Cressy. She’s looking between the two of us, and Dylan is ignoring us entirely.

“Why don’t the two of us get out of your hair?” Cressy walks over to the couch and shuts off the TV.

That gets Dylan’s attention. “Hey. I was playing that.”

“We need to go.”

“Didn’t we order dinner?” he asks.

“We’ll grab it downstairs and have a picnic. Get moving,” Cressy barks.

“Wow.” Dylan only now realizes who is in his living room. “Uhh, do you know who you are?”

“Not now, Dylan,” Cressy says, hurrying him out the door. She shoots me a wink and closes the door behind her.

“What are you doing here?”

Bode stalks toward me, hoisting me into his arms and taking me into my room. “Taking you home.”

He sets me on the edge of the dresser. “What?”

“Here. Look.”

Bode pulls out his phone and shows me the screen. It’s a picture of the Knights social media account.

The Nashville Knights have issued a statement on behalf of their star forward, Bode Adams, who has been in the press for his new relationship with Stephanie Campbell, and the appearance of his son.

“I want to thank the Knights for their continued support of me and my personal life. Being in the limelight is not easy, but it is something I chose. I love this sport and this team and wouldn’t change any of it.

The people in my life did not ask for this. They did not ask to have their personal information on the internet for all to see. The invasion of privacy is abhorrent. The bullying and invasive comments must stop. I cannot be at my best when I am worrying about those I love.

For those that have continued dragging my name and the names of those I love through the mud, I humbly ask that you stop. For the good of my child, those I love, and everyone close to me.

For the fans that have done nothing but support me, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me to Nashville and letting me be a part of this team. I love it, and hope to play my entire career here.”

“You did this?” My jaw is on the ground. “But why?”

“Why?” Bode shakes his head. “Because I love you, Stevie. I would do anything to protect you and I’m sorry I waited so long to do it. I thought the statement from the team would be enough, but it wasn’t.”

“Well, between this and figuring out who was behind the emails, I have a feeling it might end.”

“Wait, what?” He looks confused.

I nod. “Becky, from work. She was sending the emails. She accidentally sent one to Cressy and left part of a cancellation at the bottom.”

“Holy shit. I can’t believe that. I’ve never met the woman before.”

“And yet, she felt she was entitled to you. She probably sent my name to the press.”

“Well, if she did, we’ll know. I had someone looking into it. Good thing she copied the wrong person.”

“I really hope it’s over. I hate people thinking I’m a terrible person,” I confess.

“If it helps,” he starts, “people are now supporting me, having my back. They can’t believe others would behave that way.”

“Between this and figuring out it was Becky, I think the emails and messages will stop. I shouldn’t have kept checking, but I was hoping the nastiness would go away.”

“I think it will.” There’s a fierceness to his words that makes me believe him.

“I’m sorry this ever happened.”

Tears gather in my eyes. It feels like they’ve been a permanent fixture there. “But it’s over. I really think it is.”

“Me too.”

“Oh, Bode.” This time, I can’t help crying. Everything I’ve been feeling the last few weeks comes out.

The anger. The frustration. The sadness.

I let it all go. Safe in Bode’s arms.

“I love you, Stevie.”

He repeats it over and over, sinking his fingers into my hair and holding me close. By the time the tears subside, Bode is wiping them away. A tender look sits on his handsome face.

“What?”

He smiles, so big it threatens to overwhelm me in the best way. “You have bewitched me, body and soul.”

My heart splits wide open for this man who loves me so much, he is quoting my favorite movie to me. “Do you realize how much I love you right now?”

“Most ardently, I hope.”

I kiss him, smothering his face in kisses. “Darcy doesn’t hold a candle to you.”

“I will spend our entire lives making sure you know just how much I love you, Stevie. Protecting you from people that want to hurt you and tear you down. And look, if you’re not ready to move in with me, I have all your rent money for you to help you find a good place. Even if you want to stay here, I’ll still come over and see you as often as I can.”

“You still have my rent money?” I ask. Of course he didn’t do anything with it. “Why am I not surprised?”

“It’s yours. We’ll go find a place this weekend.”

I shake my head. “We’re not doing that.”

“No?” He quirks a brow at me.

I push the floppy hair off his forehead, taking him in, letting him see how serious I am. I never expected to find him, but I love Bode more than I ever thought possible. “Take me home, Bode. Where I belong.”

“Damn right.” He beams. “You belong with us.”

For the first time in my life, it’s the truth. It’s where I belong. With Bode. I’ve never felt so loved or so safe as I do with him.

He’s my safe place. A place I never want to leave.

As long as I have Bode, I’ll have everything I need.