the suite, my brain hums and echoes with reminders of the fact that I have absolutely no idea what figure all of this out means. I don’t have any ideas of where to begin as far as being a dad, dealing with the Vice family, Ellie’s job…
It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure it out because I have to. I have one driving force now. One purpose. And it’s that kid.
Eight
Ellie
Research. Work. A PR assignment.
That’s why I’m here. Although the vibrant energy and flowing drinks of the family box section in the Riders stadium feels like the opposite of a work environment.
I won’t be taking part in the fruity cocktails, but I guess I can relax a little. It’s a football game, after all, and despite what the nagging voice in my head is saying, nobody here knows I’m pregnant.
With the quarterback’s baby.
I swallow and push the secret as far away from the front of my mind as I can, straightening my back and sipping a Coke.
“Hi!” A bubbly woman with light pink hair and a radiant smile walks up to me. “You’re part of the Vice family, right?”
I open my mouth to answer, but she quickly sticks out a hand covered in rings and neon nail polish. “I’m Melody! Dylan, the kicker, is my husband.”
“Nice to meet you.” I laugh and shake her hand, studying the beautiful yet highly unconventional NFL wife. “And yes, I’m Ellie Vice. I’m working on some PR stuff for the team, since my family owns it now.”
“We are just so excited about the new ownership. Dylan keeps going on and on about how much things are improving already and how involved you guys are! They’re all crazy-stoked.”
“Oh, I’m glad to hear it.” I smile and glance out through the glass at the field, bathed in warmth and sunshine. “My brother Noah is kind of taking the reins on the whole thing, and trust me, you’ll never meet someone more dedicated to athletes and sports.”
Melody clasps her hands together and grins. “Amazing! Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone. No need to stand here in the corner by yourself just because you’re all business-y.”
Without another word, she links her arm through mine and weaves me through a small crowd to a group of women standing near the front of the box.
“Ladies,” Melody announces, “this is Ellie. She’s a Vice.” She whispers my last name so dramatically, I have to laugh.
“Ooh, the new owner. I’m honored.” A pretty blonde lifts a shoulder and reaches out to shake my hand. “I’m Kendall. Smoke’s fiancée.”
There’s someone on the team named Smoke? Damn, I really need to look through that binder.
“Hi, Kendall. And don’t be too honored.” I laugh softly and tilt my head. “I’m just managing some PR stuff. My dad is the scary one.”
“Family business, that’s what we heard. I’m Whitney, by the way.” A sweet brunette with freckled cheeks grins at me. “Chase’s wife.”
Chase’s wife? Chase Kennedy, the notorious hotshot fuckboy Matt so desperately wants to emulate, married this adorably unassuming girl next door?
I smile and relax a little. “How’s he doing?”
Whitney puffs out a breath. “He’s hanging in there. Sitting on the bench is for sure not his cup of tea. But he’s sort of been trying to mentor the second-string QB. Take him under his wing a little bit to get us through playoffs. Have you met Matt McKenzie?”
I almost choke.
“Yeah, we…” Had a mind-blowing hookup and accidently made a baby. “Met briefly.” I avert my gaze for a second, hoping the mention of his name didn’t make me visibly jump.
“We’re really rooting for him to shine,” Melody says with a hopeful smile.
Whitney crosses her arms and smirks, arching a brow. “Well, he’s no Chase,” she says, feigning bitterness. “But we are rooting for him.”
“It’s gotta be a lot of pressure,” Kendall adds, picking a loose thread from her well-pressed sweater.
“Oh yeah. I can imagine.” I look out at the field. The game hasn’t started, but the stadium is filling up fast. “He’s actually why I’m here.” I look back at the women. “Like I said, I’m doing some public relations stuff for the team, and getting the fans to support and love him the way they do Chase is sort of my biggest task at hand.”
“Oh!” Melody giggles. “An image fix, you say? Let me grab Frankie. She knows all about that.”
With that, Melody hurries off to another small group of people, this one containing a few children.
“More of an image boost, I guess,” I