Page 185 of Delicate Storm

Amelia: So… Luke tells me Reed needs our help. He’s fed up with the friend zone

Lainey: He actually said that? To Luke of all people? No offense, Amelia

Amelia: None taken. I said the same thing to Luke. I couldn’t believe he’d volunteer that information

I’ll admit, I don’t know Reed that well, but from what Easton’s told me about him, I never pictured him as the type to voice his own issues. He’s more likely to help others.

Keeley: Are we sure this didn’t come from Luke needing another project now that Easton’s good?

Amelia: I wondered that but I have my ways of getting the truth out of Luke, and it was definitely Reed

I laugh at Amelia’s response, and Easton eyes me suspiciously, making me laugh harder.

“I’ll show you in a second. I promise.”

Hayley: Well I, for one, think it’s great. Bria’s lovely and all, but a guy like Reed shouldn’t be sidelined. How can we help him?

Keeley: I’ve got an idea

Amelia: Ooh what?

My eyes widen when I see her response, and Easton groans from beside me until I show him my phone. It takes him all of thirty seconds to read through the messages, and when he’s done, I’ve never seen him laugh so hard. A very un-Easton like response.

“I think this is going to be fun.”

EPILOGUE ONE

Paige

SIX MONTHS LATER

Easton drops his bag to the floor as he slumps against our bedroom door, his expression weary. I toss my book onto the bedside table and open my arms for him, welcoming him into my hold when he drags himself over.

Lying down, he rests his head on my chest and sighs. He doesn’t need to tell me what happened—my dad called on his way home—so I give him the moment of silence he desperately needs.

The new GM quit at the end of last season, right before their playoff loss, and this time it didn’t come from my dad. Apparently, he and Coach Pierce hadn’t seen eye to eye, and when he took his concerns to my dad and the board, they allagreed they wanted Pierce to stay. Understandably. With how well the team was playing, they’d be crazy to fire their head coach.

Still, losing another GM so soon didn’t look good for the team, but it was barely mentioned in the media. Until now. With the new season starting, it’s become the hot topic again. And it’s stressing my dad out. And Easton by the looks of things. Although he’s stressing for an entirely different reason, and I give him about three minutes before he mentions it. We don’t hold back our thoughts and feelings anymore. We’re a team. We share everything.

In fact, sometimes I sharetoomuch and take enjoyment out of his reactions. Especially when it elicits a quiet groan from the back of his throat. Like when I told him I thought his mom was glowing and was ninety-nine percent sure it was due to her great sex life. Whoops.

Speaking of… Easton releases a guttural groan as he buries his face into my chest before rolling onto his back, throwing his hand over his eyes as he speaks. “Another day, another scandal for the Storm.” He blows out a breath as he half laughs. “Do you know people are saying they want a second season of that damn show? They want to know all the crazy that’s been going on behind the scenes.”

He doesn’t mention Macy specifically, but I know he doesn’t want that brought up again, not now that she’s finally out of our life.

“Dad will never sign off on that.” I wriggle down the bed until we’re face-to-face and grab his chin, forcing him to look at me. “That part of your life is closed. I can promise you that.” I don’t even have to ask Dad if that’s true. He still curses every time someone brings it up.

Easton sighs and looks away. “I know he’s got our back in that sense, but just the fact that there’s controversy again makes mewonder if I should throw in the towel. Step away before it blows up in all our faces.”

And there it is. That’s what I’ve been waiting for.

After their AFC championship loss, Easton mentioned retiring again, and I said then what I’m about to say now. “If that’s truly what you want to do, I will support you one hundred percent. But if there’s any part of you that still wants to play football, Isaac and I have got this. We’re a team that supports you, just as much as you and I are a team looking out for Isaac.”

Easton sighs as he reaches out to squeeze my hand.

After his mom’s fall at Thanksgiving, I stepped away from my modeling and charity commitments—despite Easton’s reservations—only helping my dad, and took over the care of Isaac while Easton was working. And I love it. He’s going to be in school soon, so I consider it my time to bond with him. To really get to know him since I’m already behind. I missed out on the first three years of his life, and I refuse to miss any more.

We visit Easton’s mom at least once a week too, but I stay and work in her home office, giving her and Isaac a chance to spend time alone together without anyone stressing. I know it upsets her. We’ve spoken about it often—she’d much rather be able to live her life as though nothing has changed—but she understands that it’s not only Easton that worries. Isaac still asks if she’ll be okay every time we visit.

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