Page 75 of Raging Fires

“He’s good.”

“Of course, while I was there, Howard and I chatted about you a little bit. He’s impressed with you. The whole organization is.”

“I haven’t played a down yet.” He looked back at Kelli, who was still in non-stop action across the room.

“No, but we all know you can throw the ball, Jake. The question has always been your reliability, and you’ve been acing it so far. Working out like a maniac. Studying the playbook. Good relationships with the other players. You’ve been dedicated and on-time. Looking good in OTAs. It’ll depend on what you do in summer camp and the exhibition games, but I think there might be a possibility of them extending the contract. Of course, they’d have to up the ante. And I’d prefer getting you to a team that needs a starter.”

“And you think riding the bench for a year will make the offers pour in?”

“Not pour. But, again, it’s the steadiness. The maturity. Leadership qualities.” She made air quotes around the last two words. She paused, then said carefully, “That’s why it’s important that you don’t get distracted by personal issues.”

“You mean like Kelli?” Jake tensed.

“Don’t give me that ‘back off’ stare. Private business isn’t private when it screws up your career.”

“I’m not screwing anything up. Look at me, Emma. I’m doing well. You just said so.”

“Yes, you are. Right now.”

Jake quirked an eyebrow. “Your faith in me is astounding.”

“I do have faith in you. I had faith in you when nobody else did.”

“I know. Sorry, I shouldn’t have made that crack. But sometimes I get tired of everybody waiting for me to screw up again.”

“I’m not waiting for you to screw up, Jake. That doesn’t mean I don’t think you ought to be aware of the danger here.”

“From Kelli? She’s not the reason I screwed up before. She just got out before the wreck happened.”

“I don’t blame Kelli.” Emma leaned forward. “I understand why she left you. I would have too if I’d been married to you. I like her. It’s just… I don’t understand what you’re doing.”

“You aren’t alone there,” Jake snorted. Kelli was setting out garnishes now. Seriously, how much longer could she find busy work to do?

“Living at a bar?” Emma went on. “Re-marrying the woman that you still hated four months ago? You almost turned down the contract because she lives in the same city. And how come I had to find out from Howard Perry that you’d gotten re-married? It was a little embarrassing. It took some fancy footwork to cover up the fact that I didn’t know it.”

“I’m sorry. I just kept putting it off because I figured you wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right about that. I’m not mad you didn’t tell me; it’s a little odd not to let your agent know your new marital status, but my feelings aren’t hurt. However, I am concerned that you felt you needed to hide it from me.”

Jake frowned. “The whole thing was so weird, and I was mad because my grandfather was trying to run my life from the grave, and I was worried you’d think I was losing it.” He sat back, letting out a long breath. “Okay, look. My grandparents loved Kelli, and Pops left this bar to me and her when he died. He wanted us to get back together so we had to re-marry and stay married a year before she could get it.”

“That doesn’t even sound legal.”

“Yeah, well, it was all in attorney speak, but that’s what it amounted to. It’s just for a year, and Kelli loves this place. I couldn’t be the one who kept her from getting it.”

“So you’re saying this is a platonic marriage that’s all for show?”

“Well…” Jake felt himself blushing, which was really embarrassing and made him blush even more. He looked away, his eyes going to Kelli. “It’s not exactly platonic. It’s kind of hard to keep that going when you’re living in a 600 square foot house. But the marriage is all for show. No big emotional thing. And there’s a time limit on it. One year and it’ll be over, and Kelli and I will go our separate ways. She’ll have the bar, and I’ll find some other team, like you said.”

“I thought he left this bar to both of you, but you’re talking like it’s just Kelli’s.”

“She’s the one who should have it.” He turned his head, watching Kelli as he spoke, “She knows the business; she’s worked at the Blue for years. She won’t let me give my share to her, I’m sure, but I imagine we can work out a deal where she pays me for my half over the years.”

“Jake…” There was an odd note in Emma’s voice, and Jake looked back at her. Emma was no longer looking like the no-nonsense agent talking about screw-ups. She looked distressed.

“What?” Jake asked. “Why are you looking at me like you’re going to tell me my puppy got hit by a car?”

“I think you’re fooling yourself, Jake, and I’m worried about you.”