Page 99 of Set Play

I hadn’t known the news had come from Henri. When we talked, he sounded like he accepted my feelings for Mateo, but maybe I misunderstood…

Did I just inadvertently choose Mateo over my family?

My eyes find Mateo’s and he squeezes my hand again, reminding me that I’m not alone. “We hadn’t known the source of the leak,” Mateo admits, keeping his eyes on mine. “But if it was Henri…I’m sure he had his reasons for doing it.”

In the silence that follows, Leonard’s desk phone rings, startling us all. The mic in Leonard’s ear must tip him off to the caller, because he answers it with amusement dancing in his eyes. “Well, hello, Henri. We were just talking about you.”

“Yes, I am aware, Leonard. If you’re going to blindside my sister and try to instigate something, then you need to hear the full story. I did not leak anything. My former PR team recorded me on a private phone call with my sister and released it in an attempt to blackmail me.”

Leonard blinks, clearly not expecting that. “And why, pray tell, would your PR team try to blackmail you?”

“They didn’t want me to leave and press charges for all of the bullshit they’ve done over the last six years. They manipulated every comment and interview to make my rivalry with Reyes more newsworthy, thus drawing more press to me, and more work to them.”

All three of us in the live studio are left speechless until Mateo clears his throat. “Thank you, Henri, for clearing that up for us.” The phone disconnects before a response comes through, but I can always call him later.

“Well, that definitely puts things in a new light. So, what about reports that you two were planning to move in together soon? Of course, they were never from a verified source. But can we assume that those were also false?”

“Yes,” I confirm, with confidence at the same moment the man beside me shakes his head and insists, “Not at all.”

Leonard looks between us and chuckles awkwardly. “Guess you two still have some things to figure out.” He then proceeds to direct other questions about the rivalry and season at Mateo.

With all of the attention on the men while they talk shop, my brain overanalyzes Mateo’s response. Not at all. Every scenario I imagine triggers a new doubt, until I’m so overwhelmed that I can hardly breathe. My eyes latch onto the emergency exit at the end of the hall, the red glow symbolizing the one thing I’m desperate for.

Escape.

Mateo

When the cameraman finally gives the all clear, Élise hauls ass for the exit. I thank Leonard once more and chase after her. She bursts through the door just as I catch up, barely managing to grab her uninjured arm. “No. No running.”

“Let me go, Big Shot. I’ll stay put, but I need a second.” She pulls against my grip, but I just wrap my arm around her.

“No, you’re clearly lost in your head about moving in together. Listen to me, Chispita. Eres mi media naranja.”

“I don’t know what that means!” she shouts, still fighting me.

I grip her chin with my free hand, forcing her to look up at me. “Literally it translates to ‘you’re my half orange,’ but we say it to mean, ‘you are my other half.’”

She stops fighting me as tears fill her eyes. “I love you, Élise. And it’s okay if you’re not ready to say it back, yet, but I want you to move in with me, Chispita. Maybe not today, but it’s happening. Just tell me what I need to do to convince you to do it sooner rather than later. I’ll do anything. You know I can follow directions.”

Desire darkens her eyes as her tongue darts out to lick her lips. “Nothing,” she confesses, quietly, “You don’t have to do anything to convince me. I’ll move in with you at the end of the month. Actually, there are two things I want. I want you to tell me what chispita means and once I move in with you, I want to christen every room in our apartment.”

“You drive a hard bargain, Little Spark.” Using her nickname in English feels odd, but it's worth it to see the light in her eyes. "I told you that your fire drove me crazy," I murmur as I lean in to press my lips to hers, savoring her soft sighs as she relaxes against me. When she pulls back, I trace her bottom lip with my thumb and whisper, “As for the rest, you've got yourself a deal.”

The smile she gives me could rival the damn sun. With a cheeky grin, she asks, “So, does this mean Sarge won the bet?” Laughter pours from us both, lighter and happier than we’ve sounded in hours.

And to think I found my other half in the woman who hated me at first sight.

Epilogue

Cillian

One month later

“Mano, how much shit does your girl have?” Lukas whines as we enter the townhouse for the fourth time. He acts like helping Élise move is worse than conditioning with Sarge.

I shake my head, heading for the staircase when I hear her. “Éllie, I promise it’s fine!”

It’s been so long since I’ve seen or talked to her. Hearing her now feels like someone’s reaching into my chest to squeeze the blood from my heart.