“Chad, I wouldn’t do that. We’ll win a court battle. And maybe even full custody with supervised visitation after the stunt she pulled with Heather. I think we should wait them out.”
“Just make the offer. I can earn that kind of money by doing a tennis shoe commercial. Ryan means more to me, John. Let me know what she says. I have to go.”
Next he emailed his mom with an update. He’d put off telling her about Ryan at first, thinking he could fix it, but he’d had to tell her by Tuesday morning when Linda’s lawyers contacted his and made it clear there was going to be a long standoff.
His mom had been worried sick all week that she’d never see Ryan again if Linda didn’t get her way, but even more important to him was that Jo had been keeping tabs on Ryan’s situation through his mother. He didn’t want Jo to worry either. Although it was sweet she did.
He’d been so tempted to ask Jo to come to his game tomorrow. To see what a fantastic job she’d done, but then what? It’d be torture to be near her and not be able to be with her. He’d be better off to let that idea go and concentrate on the game in the morning.
He finished off his beer and then threw the bottle as hard as he could into a corner trash can. Pissed, and so tired he could barely see straight, he rose to go lie down for an hour. Why, when his professional life was finally back on track, was his personal life such a pile of steaming crap?
Resigned to moving on, Jo opened the heavy door to a downtown brew pub to meet up with her matchmaking team on Saturday evening. She’d hoped Chad would call, but he hadn’t all week, so he must have been serious about not wanting to change. So she’d do her best to forget about him. She’d done it before, and she could do it again. Hopefully, Lori and Shelby would find her the man she was meant to be with. She just wished she was actually looking forward to dating anyone.
The aroma of grease and beer filled the air. Shelby had picked the pub because she was having an overpowering need for some beer-battered fish and chips. This was her and Nick’s favorite place to get them. When Shelby’s cravings kicked in, there was no deterring her.
The pub was loud and had six big screens blasting sports programs on the walls to add to the overall ambiance. Once her eyes adjusted to the dim light, Jo spotted Lori in a corner booth, studying her phone, so she made her way through the full tables, took her coat off, and slid onto the leather seat across from her. “Hey, Lori.”
Lori beamed her pretty smile. “Hi, Jo. How are you?”
“Good. Where’s our beer-batter-craving buddy?”
“Where else? She had to pee again. And she was so hangry, we already ordered. She assured me she knew what you’d like.”
Shelby did know what she liked, so that was fine by her. “I can’t imagine what she’s going to be like when she hits the eight-month mark.”
Lori laughed. “It’ll either be adorable or very scary.”
When an image of Chad giving an interview appeared on the screen behind Lori’s head, the chuckle died on Jo’s lips. He was talking with a reporter about the game tomorrow. When he smiled, it didn’t make it all the way to his eyes. He looked as unhappy as she still was.
“What’s the matter?” Lori took a quick glance over her shoulder. “Ah. That explains the miserable expression on your face.” She laid her hand over Jo’s and gave it a pat. “You’ve still got it bad for him, don’t you?”
“No, we’re through. I’m here to move on. I’m ready.”
Lori shook her head. “No, you’re not. Shelby says Chad looks at you like she looks at chocolate cake these days, so what do we need to do to fix this?”
“He’s said flat-out he isn’t changing. It’s me who would have to settle for being a lower priority in his life than football and all the other obligations that career brings. Believe me, being a sports celebrity is a like having two full-time jobs. He was hiding from the press these last few weeks, so I was able to spend more time with him than I ever would normally. It can be a lonely life. I’ve lived it for a short time, and that was even before he was super famous.”
“I get it, Jo. I really do.” Lori’s eyes misted up. “But he won’t be a sports celebrity forever. Take it from a sometimes-neglected military wife. No matter how much my deceased husband’s quirks and occasional utter disregard for my feelings bugged, I’d give anything to have him back. Even if I had to share him with the military again. Love like I see in your eyes is a rare thing. Why don’t you text him right now and wish him luck in his game tomorrow? Then he’ll know you’re thinking about him.”
Shelby came back and slid in beside Lori. “What did I miss?”
“Jo is going to text Chad.” Lori’s cheerful smile returned again. “We’re wasting our time trying to find her perfect match when she’s already done our job for us. We’re just here now to cheer her on and enjoy watching you devour your fish and chips.”
Shelby raised a brow. “Is that really what you want to do, Jo?”
Jo glanced up at the big screen again just as Chad looked straight into the camera. It was if he looked right at her. It made her heart hurt. Maybe a text the evening before a big game wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Actually, it’d be the decent thing to do as his former PT. “Okay, I’ll text him.”
Just as Jo reached into her bag for her phone, the food came. “You guys go ahead.”
Shelby mumbled around a french fry, “Don’t have to ask me twice.”
As Jo debated what to write, an email came in from Chad’s mom with an update on Ryan. After she thanked Mary, she texted Chad. “Hey. Just wanted to wish you luck tomorrow. Saw your mug on the news just now. You’re quite the big deal this week on ESPN too. You’ve got them all fooled, marshmallow. Go, Chargers! (Maybe we could talk next week? Miss you.)”
She laid her phone beside her plate and dug into the California wrap Shelby had ordered for her with fruit on the side. While Shelby and Lori chatted amongst themselves, she kept an eye on her phone. After she’d finished off the first half of her wrap, she checked the cell again, but still nothing. Maybe he was busy. Or maybe he didn’t want to talk to her. She couldn’t blame him. She’d given him an ultimatum of sorts. Maybe it was for the best.
By the time they’d all finished their meals, Chad still hadn’t responded. It was Saturday night, he was free and single, so maybe he was on a date? God, how was she ever going to bear seeing him with other women now that he’d told her how much he still loved her? “I have to go. I’ll see you guys soon.”
Lori said, “Wait. Did he respond?”
“No.” Jo grabbed her purse and coat and slid out of the booth. She needed to leave before the tears she held back busted loose. “He’s probably busy being Chad Jenks on a Saturday night. See you guys.”
Jo hurried for the door. The blast of cold air reminded her to put her coat on. As she quickly walked to her car, she let her tears fall. The pain in Lori’s eyes as she told of missing her deceased husband was something Jo wouldn’t soon forget. And it’d hit a nerve. Was aching for Chad worse than being occasionally put on the back burner? At least she’d know he’d always come home to her. She’d never loved any other man like she loved him. Was she just expecting too much from him?
Sunday morning, there was still no word from Chad. Jo might have stayed in bed all day with the covers over her head, except she had to meet an electrician at her café. And she’d accepted an invitation from Chad’s mom earlier in the week to go riding later.
First she needed to get her oven fixed before the Monday morning crowd hit. It’d cost her a fortune for a weekend service call, but what choice did she have?
The old, used oven had been popping the breaker again. She’d gone in Saturday to grab some paperwork to do at home and had no electricity. She prayed he’d be able to fix the oven one more time. They’d warned the last time that it needed to be replaced, so she had her fingers crossed. She needed another year out of it, at least.
They’d sent a young kid instead of her usual guy, so after he got the elect
ricity back on, Jo showed him the oven and left him alone to do his job.
In her office with nothing but boring paperwork staring at her, she picked up the remote. The TV on the wall was already tuned to the sports channel. She hoped Chad’s knee would hold up for the game later. It was too soon for him to be back, as far as she was concerned, but Chad would do whatever he could to get back out there. She hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake.
She’d been watching Chad give interviews all week. The “Chad’s Back” contest was trending on social media, and now the diehard fans had started tailgating and waving their signs for the TV crews hours before the game was scheduled to start later. He was probably in paradise with all the adulation and wouldn’t have time to text her back. That was if he ever decided to text her back at all. She’d really screwed things up.
The kid popped his head into her office. He held something in his hand. “This is shot. Need to order a new one. Probably take a few days to get it in.”
That meant a big part of her menu was going to be unavailable. And she’d have disappointed customers on her hands. “The last time, my usual electrician did something so I could bake until the new part came in. Any chance of doing that again?”
The kid raised a brow and studied the part in his hand. Then a slow smile formed. “I bet I can rig something up.”
After he left, Jo turned her attention back to the television—and Chad. Her thoughts soon made the noise from the TV fade as she recalled their fight. It hadn’t really been a huge confrontation. More a heartfelt request—a plea—that he be the man she knew he could be. But maybe she was wrong to ask that of him.
She thought again of what Chad had said about loving her and Ryan as much as football. Maybe Chad just wasn’t capable of loving her like she loved him. Could she come to terms and live with that, like her mother had done with her dad?
Did Chad just love her in a different way than she loved him? If her mom could take her father back and then raise the product of his affair and love her too, and still claim to be happy, then maybe she could be happy too.
Or maybe Chad just wanted football in his life for now. Maybe she was a complication he didn’t need as he fought to save his career.
The electrician returned and interrupted her deep musings. “Okay. I did the best I could. Hopefully it’ll hang in until we can get your new part. But that thing is older than I am.”
“I know. Thanks.” Jo grabbed her purse and then walked out with him. Chad’s mom was expecting her. Riding Black Jack had seemed like one way to keep her mind off Chad. But that was proving to be impossible.
After she locked up the café, she headed toward her car. She beeped her locks and slid behind the wheel. Digging her phone from her purse one more time, she prayed Chad had answered her. But still nothing. Was it too late to fix things between them?
Turning the key made nothing happen. Not even a clicking sound. She tried again. And again, but it was no use. It was dead. Dammit! What else could break in her life?
Mary was waiting for her, so she called her landline. Mary answered with, “Hi, honey.”
“Hi. I guess I won’t be able to make it today. First my oven and now my car is dead.”
“That’s too bad. I was looking forward to seeing you. But your café isn’t far from Chad’s condo, right? He has cars he rarely drives. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you used one. Do you still have your passkey to get in?”
“I do. But I’m not sure Chad would like that. He’s not talking to me at the moment.”
“Me either. I got an email from him last night. I asked him a question about Ryan, and I still haven’t heard back either. But today’s the big game. Maybe he’s busy. I’m giving you permission to use one of his cars.”
She really did want to see Mary and Black Jack. And maybe Chad was just busy getting ready for the game. “Okay. I’ll see you in a bit, then. Thanks.” Jo got out of the car and started walking to the condo. She’d walked a few yards before she remembered she’d forgotten some paperwork she meant to take home, so she turned around to grab it from the café.
Maybe she still had a chance with Chad. He always returned his mother’s emails right away. Was there hope for them yet?
17
LOVE MIGHT JUST CONQUER ALL.
Chad blinked his eyes open, confused by the sunshine filtering through his bedroom blinds. He’d just laid down for a nap, but it was morning already?
He glanced at his bedside clock. He’d slept through the night. It was almost time for him to leave for the stadium. How the hell had that happened? He swung his legs to the floor and limped to the bathroom to get ready. He needed to be out the door in twenty minutes. He hadn’t ever been so tired that he’d slept for over fourteen hours straight.
After he’d scarfed down one of the casseroles his housekeeper left for him—not the perfect game-day food, but it’d have to do—he grabbed his bag and headed for the garage. When the gates closed behind him, and he headed out, it occurred to him to check his messages. Linda might have accepted his offer so he could get Ryan back.
The winding road by the ocean was no place to text and drive, so he’d check his messages first thing, once he got to the stadium. Chad hit the gas and hoped the traffic on the 5 would be light. He wanted to get there early, so the trainer could tape his knee and maybe give him a shot of something to take the edge off. He needed to show the world he was ready to play to win.
As was his ritual, he cranked up some classic rock music to get him hyped for the game. Some of the fans had predicted in the “Chad’s Back” contest that he’d carry for over a hundred yards. He didn’t want to let them down. He could do it. He had to.
Once at the stadium, he couldn’t get to the trainers because of all the press. They were allowed unusual access to him before the game to promote his comeback, so he smiled and answered questions, and finally had to excuse himself to get his knee treated. It would’ve been nice to have some warning about the interviews, but his job was to do whatever the team asked of him. He’d just sucked it up and gotten it done.
As he finally made his way to the training room less than two hours before the game, his cell buzzed in his pocket. It was Shelby. “Hey, Shelby. How’s it going?”
“Bad.” She was crying. “I got a call from the fire department. Our restaurant caught fire. Jo’s car is there, but we can’t find her.”
The news hit him like a wrecking ball. He had to stop and lean against the wall. “What do you mean? Do they think she’s still inside?”
Please let Jo be all right.
Shelby choked out, “We don’t know yet. They haven’t put the fire out. They’re saying it’s a total loss. I thought she might have gone on a run, because she does that sometimes on the weekends. Do some paperwork first, then jog around the park. But she’s not answering her cell, Chad. She always answers her cell.”
She did always answer. Tears burned his eyes. He couldn’t lose Jo.
He had fans depending on him, his coaches and the PR staff, but none of them mattered to him like Jo did. “I’m on my way, Shelby. Keep looking for her, please.”
He hung up and closed his eyes. He had to pull himself together. She’d be able to get out. She had to have gotten out. But then where the hell was she? He couldn’t bear the thought of her still being inside.
He lifted his phone to contact the service he used to fly private, and noticed a missed text from Jo. Hope filled his heart. Maybe she was on the way to see his game after all?
He quickly opened the text, and all his high hopes were dashed. The text had come the night before. He sent her a text, hoping for a reply.
Worried and scared for her, he made his call to the airport to have them get a plane ready as he jogged toward his coach’s office. He rapped on the doorjamb, interrupting a phone call, but he didn’t care. He had to go. “Sorry, Coach. I have a family emergency. I have to leave.”
Coach excused himself from his phone call and hung up. “The hell yo
u will. Rick said the kid is with his mother, not in mortal danger.”
“I have to go, Coach.”
Coach stood and leaned over his desk. “We’ve spent the entire week and a butt load of money promoting your comeback. You owe me the next five hours, and then I don’t give a damn what you do, but you will get your ass out there and play today, Jenks.”
It was over a two-hour flight. He was wasting time. “It’s my fiancée. There’s been a fire, and she’s missing.” When he found her, he’d ask her to marry him again. He never wanted to live another day without her in his life. How he’d get her to agree, he wasn’t sure, but he’d do whatever it took.
Coach asked, “Did you try to contact her?”
“Yes. So have many other people. Something’s wrong. She’s never out of touch like this.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but what if the battery on her phone is just dead? You can’t let our hometown fans down like this. Go get dressed, and maybe there will be some news before kickoff.”
“I have to go now.” Chad’s heart nearly beat out of his chest as he turned to leave.
Coach called out, “If you leave this stadium, I’ll either bench your ass indefinitely or put you out on waivers. We’ve been doing just fine without you these past weeks, you know.”
Just fine without him? That was a knife straight to the heart.
But Jo was his heart.
“Do what you have to do, Coach.” He jogged out the door and to the parking lot.
After a long, tiring ride on Black Jack, Jo hurt in places she hadn’t in a very long time. She hugged Chad’s mom good-bye. “Thanks for a great afternoon, Mary. I’ll see you soon.”
“It was fun. Thanks for coming. Drive safe.”
Jo climbed into Chad’s truck and headed back to town. After about a half hour, her phone blew up with texts and messages. Something had to be going on, so she pulled the truck to the side of the road. As she scrolled through the oldest texts first, her stomach sank. A fire destroyed her restaurant? How had that happened? And what would she do now?
Perfectly Ms. Matched (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Series Book 2) Page 17
