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“I’ll let Landon tell you.”
So I tell the story again. I make sure to keep my anger in check, knowing I’m speaking about his wife. I look him in the eye as I recount her visit with me. By the time I’m finished, my hands are fisted at my sides, and he’s looking… guilty?
“I don’t care what she threatens to do, I’m not ending my relationship with Emma. If I have to give up my career, then so be it.”
“Wait, hold up.” He holds his hand in the air and stands from where he was sitting on the couch. We’re now standing eye-to-eye. “You’re not giving up your career and you’re not letting go of Emma.” Her name is spoken with reverence. “I know why she’s targeting you and I’m afraid it’s my fault.”
“Explain,” I say through gritted teeth. If he made a pass at her, I’ll kill him. Why didn’t she tell me? There are a million scenarios racing through my mind.
“Have a seat.”
“I’m good.” I cross my arms over my chest and square my feet. I’m not backing down to him. I don’t give a fuck who he is. “Explain,” I say again.
“After I saw you climb the wall, and the pictures of you and Emma were everywhere, I realized that she looked familiar to me.”
“You said that,” I say, remembering our conversation.
He nods. “You see, there was this woman. Beautiful dark hair, big green eyes, looked a lot like Emma back then. We met for a week when we were on spring break. We were inseparable that week, and I was going to ask her to try long-distance until we could work it out. She was amazing, vibrant, and full of life. In just six short days I fell hard. I knew she was the love of my life. I wanted to fight to make it work. Our last night together, it was… one I relive every single day of my life. The morning after, she was gone. Nothing but a note thanking me for the amazing week and that she would never forget me. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I didn’t know her last name. I never gave her mine either. My father was the owner of the Hermosa Beach Trojans, and I was sick and tired of women coming onto me for what they thought they could get. I just wanted to be Joseph. That’s who I was with her. Just me.”
“What does this have to do with Emma? Other than the resemblance? Does Bridgett think you want to be with my girlfriend?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “Seeing Emma, that brought back all those feelings even more so. I mean it when I say not a single day has gone by that I didn’t think of her and our time together. I was crushed. When I got home, Dad informed me he was ill and it was time for me to take over running the team. He wanted me to be settled, a family man, and all I wanted was my beach girl. Bridgett was a family friend. We grew up together. Her parents and mine were best friends. One night while getting piss-ass drunk, thinking about my life, Bridgett showed up. We made a pact. A marriage of convenience. She’d be my wife, and in turn, would get to live a life of luxury that being married to a Stamper brings. As for me, I didn’t have to worry about falling in love again, something I knew that would never happen. I knew there wouldn’t be anyone else for me.”
“So your marriage is one of convenience?”
“Yes. I care about Bridgett, but I don’t love her, not like a man should love his wife. Not like you love Emma.”
“I still don’t understand,” Coach Neil speaks up. “How does this involve Landon and Emma?”
“When I saw Emma, everything came flooding back. I decided I wanted to try and find her. The love of my life. I hired a private investigator. I didn’t have much to go on, but I did have Emma’s picture and one from a photo booth from all those years ago.” He reaches into his wallet and pulls out a small strip that contains two images. “She has the other two,” he says, handing them to me.
My mouth drops open. “Oh my God. She looks just like her.” I study the image that’s worn from, my guess, years of carrying it in his wallet.
“I found her, Landon.” I look up to see him watching me closely. “I found my Caroline.”
It takes me a minute to register what he’s saying and then it clicks. “Holy shit, Emma’s mom?”
He nods. “Yes. Caroline Deaton.” He says her name with so much reverence even I can feel what she means to him. “I can only assume Bridgett has found my file and put two and two together. I didn’t try to hide it. Our marriage is one of friendship. Why do you think we’ve never had any kids?”
