Page 67 of The Run Option

Some of the stress melts off his expression. “It’s okay. As Jason’s friend, I’m happy he’s got a wife who would stand up for him. But as his agent–”

“I just made your life a lot harder,” I finish for him.

“A little.” He laughs. “But it’s okay. This is a part of the job.” He claps Jason on the shoulder, looking him in the eye. “I mean it. No trouble.”

“Aye, aye, Captain Jones,” Jason says with a salute.

Brock shoves him and starts walking off the field, muttering something about his poor taste in friends.

“I’m worried about him,” I say as Jason pulls me in for a sweaty hug. “He seems calm, but he’s got to be so stressed.”

“We’re trying to convince him to live a little outside of work, but it hasn’t gotten through to him yet. Maybe one day.”

I hope so. It would be terrible to have such a stressful job and no personal life.

“Are you worried about the lawsuit?” I ask, barely able to get the words out before Jason kisses me. He tastes of salt and something undeniably him.

“I’m not worried. Brock is good at his job, and we didn’t do anything wrong. We’ll get through this together.”

Together. I smile. I like the sound of that.

Chapter thirty-one

Willow Kingsley

I draw in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. I copy Jason’s mother’s number into my phone. He’s in the shower right now, and I know that after the long practice he just had, he’ll be in there for a while. That should give me enough time to call his mom and tell her to come to his game this weekend. It’s short notice, but Jason said they’re serial investors, so they have plenty of free time on their hands. If they don’t come, it’s because they choose not to.

I press call and walk into our shared master closet to resume my search. I want to take the horses out on the trail tomorrow morning to watch the sunrise, but I can’t find the thermal leggings I bought to wear when I ride in cold weather. I just bought them, but Jason has a tendency to put away clothes in all the wrong places, so I haven’t been able to find them.

“Hello?” a woman’s voice says into my ear.

“Is this Lydia Kingsley?” I ask before introducing myself.

“Yes, it is. May I ask who’s calling?”

“This is Willow, your son Jason’s wife.”

The line goes quiet for a moment. “Oh, how wonderful to hear from you. Patrick and I were thrilled to hear of your marriage.”

“I’m glad.” I pause, draw in a breath of courage, then continue. “I’m calling to invite you and your husband to Jason’s game this weekend. It’s one of the more important ones on this year’s schedule, and I know he’d love to have his family there.”

I open each of my dresser drawers as I speak, rifling through them with one hand.Where on earth did he put them?

She hesitates before answering. “I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it. We have several events already on our calendar for this weekend. But please tell Jason we wish him luck.”

I scowl.You’re not getting off that easy.“Could you not rearrange your calendar to come see your son? I know he would appreciate it a lot.”

Another weighted pause. “Jason knows we support him. We’re simply not the football type. He understands that,” she says in a patronizing tone.

“Jason may understand, but I don’t.Goodparents would be there to support their son,bothof their sons. Jason has an incredibly busy schedule, and yet he’s seen more of Shepherd’s games than you have.”

“You don’t have any right to speak to me this way. How long have you known my son? A few months, weeks? You know nothing of our family.”

“You’re right, I don’t know anything about your family because you haven’t even deigned to call me, much less visit. I know more about Jason’s old college football coach than his parents.”

“I don’t appreciate your tone.”

“And I don’t appreciate you neglecting my husband in favor of your social calendar.” I slam my top drawer shut in frustration. “Jason doesn’t need your support. He has friends and we’re building our own family together. So you don’thaveto comethis weekend, but know that your choice is reflective of you as a parent. What kind of mother do you want to be?”

---