Page 53 of Playing for Keeps

I blink at him. "The letter states that I've exhibited 'erratic behavior,' including 'abandoning a prestigious career for unsubstantiated claims of mistreatment.'" My voice falters. "That I require a guardian to protect me from further self-destructive choices."

"Holy shit, Emerson." Gunnar's jaw clenches. "This is about control. They can't stand that you're building your own life."

As the words sink in, my mind races with terrifying possibilities. Could they truly do this? Force me back to New York? Place me under their legal control?

Gunnar rubs his temples. "Damn it, I should have called Brian right away."

I stare at the letter, trying to keep my breathing steady. "They say that because our marriage wasn't legal, it's evidence I'm not thinking clearly. That I've been 'manipulated' and need protection."

"We were there. We're married, Emerson." He spins the silicone band on his finger. "Maybe not legally yet, but we will be."

"You don't understand." Fear grips my chest. "If they succeed with this, I won't have any control. They'll dictate everything – where I live, my finances, my medical decisions. They could force me into treatment I don't need nor want."

Gunnar's eyes flash with determination. He reaches for his phone. "I'm calling Tim right now. Your parents aren't the only ones with lawyers."

I grab his wrist. "Gunnar. I can't fight them. They have connections, resources?—"

"Hey." He cradles my face between his hands. "Look at me. You are not alone in this. The Stags fight like wolves for our own, remember? And you're one of us now."

His intensity steadies me slightly. "But what if?—"

"No 'what ifs.' We're going to fix this, Emerson," he says, pressing his forehead to mine. "I promise."

"How?" I whisper, the letter still clutched in my trembling hand.

"First, we call Uncle Tim. Next, we make our marriage official, iron-clad, witnessed by a hundred people if necessary." His thumb brushes away a tear I didn't know had fallen. "And then we show your parents – and anyone else who's watching – that you are exactly where you want to be."

I close my eyes, drawing strength from his certainty. "I love you," I tell him, the words feeling less like a declaration and more like a lifeline.

"I love you too, Salty." He pulls me closer, his heartbeat steady against my ear. "We've got this. Together."

I believe in him. For the first time in my life, I genuinely feel that I'm not facing my battles alone.

CHAPTER 35

EMERSON

"I keep thinking about running."I trace the pattern on Zara's couch with my finger, the conservatorship letter weighing heavily in my bag. "It would be easier for everyone."

"Everyone, you mean Gunnar?" Zara's voice is gentle yet firm.

"If I'm not here, my parents have no case. They'd leave him alone." I twist my silicone wedding band. "His career wouldn't be impacted by this legal circus."

"Is that what Gunnar wants?"

I gaze out of her office window at the Pittsburgh skyline. "He says no, but he doesn't fully understand what my parents are capable of."

"Based on what you've shared, your parents are employing legal measures to try to regain control over you." Zara puts her notepad down. "Running away would actually reinforce their claim that you're unstable and making irrational choices."

The truth of her words settles like a stone in my stomach. "So they win either way."

"Not necessarily," Zara leans forward. "Emerson, I want you to know that I'd be more than willing to testify regarding yourmental stability and capacity. In my professional assessment, you're completely capable of making your own decisions."

I blink back unexpected tears. "You would do that?"

"Of course. You're in therapy not because you're unstable, but because you're working through the effects of controlling relationships and discovering your autonomy. That demonstrates remarkable self-awareness and mental clarity."

"My father will bring in psychiatrists who've never even met me."

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