but this reaction makes me feel a thousand times better.
“I got this, bro,” I say on an easy laugh. “All of it. It’s a lot, but…I got it.”
He locks his gaze with mine and smiles, looking as relieved as I feel. “All right, Matt. I can’t speak for anyone else in my family, but…” He glances out the window at the dark green grass of the field. “I, for one, am glad it’s you. My sister could do a lot worse.”
I laugh softly. “I’m not even sure she actually wants to be with me. We’re still just figuring it out.”
“Yeah, I get that.” He runs a hand through his hair and narrows his eyes, letting out a sigh. “I do. Ellie’s a bit of a wanderer. I never saw her settling down anytime soon, but this is a game changer. Who knows? Her life is obviously gonna have to be completely different from here on out.”
“Oh, no doubt about that.” I look out the window and back at Noah. “She’s a little out of my league, though. I’m not sure I have any kind of real chance but…” I shrug. “I’m taking my shot.”
“Out of your league? You’re the fastest-rising quarterback in the NFL,” Noah says with a hearty laugh.
“Well, yeah, but…” I glance down at my feet and scratch the back of my head. “She’s…Ellie.”
He smiles and smacks my arm. “I feel a lot better about this whole thing,” Noah admits. “I had no idea how to take it, because, you know, I don’t know you that well, and she’s my baby sister.”
“No, for sure. I get it.”
“Anyway, thanks for being so up front about everything.”
He opens the office door and gives me a fist bump as I walk out. “I got your back, McKenzie.”
“I appreciate it,” I say with a nod, feeling like I’m walking on air as I head out of the office.
“Oh, Matt,” he calls after me when I’m a few feet away.
“Yeah?”
“For the next two weeks, just worry about football.”
I laugh loudly and give him a thumbs-up. “I got it.”
Twenty
Ellie
I sift through my emails in an effort to distract myself from my insatiable craving for pickles covered in peanut butter, because…why do I want that? Work has always been a constant for me, a distraction and a way of keeping myself productive and happy and motivated. I miss working in exotic and fascinating locations, with weekend trips to some of the coolest spots on earth.
But, for now, my South Florida penthouse suite will have to do. I actually unpacked my suitcase and folded my clothes and put them in the dresser—something I haven’t been anywhere long enough to do since college. It felt right. Somehow, in spite of the whirlwind of change and fear and uncertainty that’s been thrust onto me, I feel at peace here.
My phone, sitting next to me, lights up and starts buzzing with a call.
Incoming FaceTime Call: Noah Vice
Suddenly, my heart flips. Noah mentioned something on the flight back from New York about how he wanted to meet with Matt and get a sense of things. Whatever that means. But damn, I didn’t think he’d do it this soon.
Maybe that’s not what it’s about. Maybe he’s just checking on me.
“Hey, Noah.” I answer the video call with a big smile and hold up the phone to see his face on my screen.
“Hi, Ellie Belly.”
“What’s going on? Are you totally slammed with Super Bowl prep?” I walk over to the couch to lie down and get a little more comfy, trying to hide my fraying nerves at the thought of Noah possibly having talked to Matt about my pregnancy.
“Oh God, El, you wouldn’t believe it.” His face is bright and lit up with passion, as it always is when he talks about sports. “It’s such an unbelievable rush. I mean, it’s stressful as all hell, especially being such new owners. But wow, what a thrill to be headed to the Super Bowl our first season of owning the Riders.”
“I know, it’s awesome!” At risk of leading myself directly into the conversation I’m worried about having, curiosity wins out and I have to ask. “How are the guys? Have you talked to…” The one whose baby I’m carrying? “Any of them?”
He laughs a little and cocks his head, giving me that classic brotherly look that always makes me feel like he can read me like a magazine. “You asking about someone in particular?”
“No,” I say quickly, sensing the playfulness in his tone and