“But you love me anyway,” she states, her voice returning to a normal level.
I wave her away. “Sending the text to Steven as we speak.”
“God, I can’t wait,” she says, clasping her hands together. “Your future wife.”
I choke on the water I’d just brought to my lips. “I’m sorry, what?”
She smiles. “I just know these things.”
“Alright.” I turn towards the living room and yell, “Ben, Carly, Benjamin, please come in here and save me!”
The three of them march into the kitchen, battle-ready. Ben wraps his arms around his wife and plants a kiss on the top of her head. Their height difference is so cute, it hurts. The image in front of me has me trying to guess how tall Mae is and how she’ll look next to me.
“What’d she do now?” Ben asks, his words muted by his lips in her hair.
“Just another woman screaming at me about Mae Evans.”
“Dude. Caleb said that Melissa gave you the rundown.” Ben eases his hands onto the counter as his wife breaks free from his grasp. He hangs his head like he’s preparing to hear the worst news of his life.
In reality, the tough news is just Hannah ramping up another speech. I swear they all have something ready to share about this woman. My sister goes on to explain what her music means to her and every woman everywhere. With just two albums, she’s taken over the world. Her heartbreaking relationship with Trenton Travers has only made her more interesting in the eyes of the public. As delusional as Hannah sounds when she talks about Mae’s world, it does seem that Mae is a hardworking, self-made woman with talent and a head on straight. Maybe this can actually work for real.
“It’s literally going to be the biggest game of your life, man,” Ben says seriously. “Women everywhere will be watching when they realize their idol is there. Even if it doesn’t work out with Mae, you screw this up, and none of them will want to get with you.”
I can’t help but swallow that fact.
Shit.
Chapter 6
Mae
I STEP OFF THE PLANE in my Nashville jersey unabashedly. The cameras start up immediately, despite it being a private airport. If this town ever wants me to wear its jersey, they’ll have to earn my trust, and this is not the best way to start.
I spent the flight catching up on what my fans are saying. The fact that I’m here has been rumored but not leaked quite yet. I’m sure that changed the moment I stepped onto the tarmac. No matter, Wyatt has their stamp of approval from what I’ve seen, and so I’ll give him and this city a fair chance.
Raleigh and I are ushered into a car, and Dalton hops in the one behind us. Steven Champ welcomes us and thanks us for being open to the invitation. Then it’s back to silence as the managers pick up their phones, and I’m left to look out the window. Marsch Stadium is pretty far from the heart of Los Angeles. Closer to Disneyland than anything else.
Luckily, traffic isn’t terrible, and we’re able to make good time. Once we arrive at the stadium, I flinch as we go through the basement entrance, the same one I’d been bombarded at weeks ago. We’re shoved into a tight elevator and ride up to the suite level, where a beaming blonde and two young kids meet us. She hands Raleigh and I lanyards that match her own and introduces herself as Hannah Martinez. I’d read up on the team during the drive and recognize the last name belonging to the quarterback.
Her kids stare up at me with bug eyes. “Sorry about them. They’re still shy around new people sometimes,” Hannah sighs, unsure.
They’re kids. What’s there to apologize for? I sink into a squat to be at their height. “I’m Mae,” I say with my warmest smile. Extending my hand, the daughter takes it first. The son is still unsure.
“What kinda shoes are those?” He asks. Hannah gasps, but I shake it off.
“These are my cowboy boots. I wear them everywhere.” I rock back and forth on them to show them off. “They’re very comfy. I’ll have to send you a pair.”
“Uncle Wyatt wears those sometimes,” he says timidly.
I glance down at his shoes as I realize that Hannah Martinez is Wyatt’s sister. “What shoes are you wearing?” I ask, trying not to think too hard about Wyatt wearing boots.
“They have my dad’s number on them.” The shy boy finally rounds his mom’s legs and stands in front of me. “They light up, too.” He jumps up and down, demonstrating.
“Wow!” I exclaim. “I need some of those for my night shows.”
The boy's eyes go wide again before Hannah gathers us all up. “I’d hate to miss kickoff, and everyone wants to meet you so badly.”
I can’t do anything but nod; anything polite I could say in response to that probably wouldn’t be truthful, so I keep mymouth shut. A whole box full of family and friends wanting to meet me? I hadn’t planned on this being a meet-and-greet. I look over my shoulder at Raleigh, who just gives an assertive nod.
