My mouth drops open. “You’re kidding.”
Monroe sniffs and looks up, blinking away her unshed tears. “No, for real. He said that he knows as long as he keeps playing, the job will put a lot of strain on our marriage, and he loves me enough to walk away from it all.”
Tears stream down Harlow’s cheeks. “Goddammit, you’d think I was already pregnant. What the hell is wrong with me?”
Kelsey slings her arm around Harlow’s shoulder too. “You’re a great fucking friend, that’s what’s wrong with you. God, you guys. Look at us working out our problems like adults and shit. I’m so proud of you, Monroe.” Kelsey kisses her on the cheek and then straightens to pull a tissue from her pocket and hands it to Harlow. “It probably has some concealer on it, but you’re still leaking, so use it.”
Harlow dabs at her cheeks. “Is he going to retire then? Did you two decide?”
“I’m not going to let him walk away from doing what he loves because of me. Not until he’s ready. Besides, I like being a player’s wife. It might be even more fun now that I’m not worried that he’s going to pick up a cleat chaser at every game if I’m not there.”
“Good, and I’m not saying that just because Jimmy would be devastated because Nate’s arm has plenty of good years left,” Harlow says.
Monroe smooches the air at our friend. “Har-har, I love you. We’d better all be co-godmothers to that little rug rat you’re going to have.”
Kelsey returns to her seat with a laugh. “No offense, but I wouldn’t even know what to do with a godchild until she’s old enough to play with makeup. So you don’t need to worry about me.”
Harlow’s gaze cuts to me. “Don’t think we missed the part about Gabriel Legend moving in with you, Scarlett. Is that for real? Is that why you’ve got a beefy new security guy instead of just your normal car service?”
I glance out the front plate-glass windows to where Pat sits in the parked SUV. “Uh, well ... that’s complicated.”
All four women stare me down.Apparently, Monroe’s out of the hot seat and it’s my turn.
“You didn’t tell me Legend moved in,” Flynn says with an accusing undertone. “And I was just at Curated. Are you keeping it a secret or something?”
“No, it’s just ... well, with this fight coming up, we had to shore up security.”
Kelsey narrows her eyes on me. “I feel like there’s something big you’re not telling us.”
I think about the scene from last week in Gabriel’s office when Moses had a gun to Bump’s head.Do I tell them? Don’t I?
I make the decision on the fly. “Someone from Gabriel’s past came back and threatened him. We’re not taking chances right now. That’s all.”
“Shit,” Harlow whispers. “The fight has been getting a ton of publicity now that the deal has been inked. That makes perfect sense.”
I’m not going to correct her or elaborate on her assumption.
“Are you safe? Like really safe? Or do we need to be worried about you?” Monroe’s acrylic nails tap nervously on the Formica table, and the waitress appears with our refills.
We’re all quiet as she replaces our empties, and we thank her when she’s finished. As soon as the waitress is gone, all eyes are on me again.
“I’m fine. I’m not worried.”
Harlow still looks skeptical, but they don’t push me any further on that subject.
“We’re here for you, babe. Whatever you need. And just so you know, Jimmy is getting us two tickets to the fight, so I’ll be there if you need me.”
I could hug her for her solidarity. “Thank you.”
“Wait, I want to come too,” Monroe says.
“And me.” Kelsey raises her hand. “Actually, I need two. My brother will be all over this shit.”
“This is bullshit that you have to be twenty-one to get in,” Flynn grumbles. “I have a fake ID. Just tell that tall, dark, and asshole sidekick of Legend’s to let me into the club. I shouldn’t have to miss it just because an accident of birth makes me a few months too young.”
I bump her in the shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Do we have a look planned for fight night?” Kelsey asks. “Because you’re going to need to be straight-up fire for him.”