Reading Online Novel

Perfectly Ms. Matched(65)



“Hi. I guess I won’t be able to make it today. First my oven and now my car is dead.”

“That’s too bad. I was looking forward to seeing you. But your café isn’t far from Chad’s condo, right? He has cars he rarely drives. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you used one. Do you still have your passkey to get in?”

“I do. But I’m not sure Chad would like that. He’s not talking to me at the moment.”

“Me either. I got an email from him last night. I asked him a question about Ryan, and I still haven’t heard back either. But today’s the big game. Maybe he’s busy. I’m giving you permission to use one of his cars.”

She really did want to see Mary and Black Jack. And maybe Chad was just busy getting ready for the game. “Okay. I’ll see you in a bit, then. Thanks.” Jo got out of the car and started walking to the condo. She’d walked a few yards before she remembered she’d forgotten some paperwork she meant to take home, so she turned around to grab it from the café.

Maybe she still had a chance with Chad. He always returned his mother’s emails right away. Was there hope for them yet?





17

LOVE MIGHT JUST CONQUER ALL.

Chad blinked his eyes open, confused by the sunshine filtering through his bedroom blinds. He’d just laid down for a nap, but it was morning already?

He glanced at his bedside clock. He’d slept through the night. It was almost time for him to leave for the stadium. How the hell had that happened? He swung his legs to the floor and limped to the bathroom to get ready. He needed to be out the door in twenty minutes. He hadn’t ever been so tired that he’d slept for over fourteen hours straight.

After he’d scarfed down one of the casseroles his housekeeper left for him—not the perfect game-day food, but it’d have to do—he grabbed his bag and headed for the garage. When the gates closed behind him, and he headed out, it occurred to him to check his messages. Linda might have accepted his offer so he could get Ryan back.

The winding road by the ocean was no place to text and drive, so he’d check his messages first thing, once he got to the stadium. Chad hit the gas and hoped the traffic on the 5 would be light. He wanted to get there early, so the trainer could tape his knee and maybe give him a shot of something to take the edge off. He needed to show the world he was ready to play to win.

As was his ritual, he cranked up some classic rock music to get him hyped for the game. Some of the fans had predicted in the “Chad’s Back” contest that he’d carry for over a hundred yards. He didn’t want to let them down. He could do it. He had to.

Once at the stadium, he couldn’t get to the trainers because of all the press. They were allowed unusual access to him before the game to promote his comeback, so he smiled and answered questions, and finally had to excuse himself to get his knee treated. It would’ve been nice to have some warning about the interviews, but his job was to do whatever the team asked of him. He’d just sucked it up and gotten it done.

As he finally made his way to the training room less than two hours before the game, his cell buzzed in his pocket. It was Shelby. “Hey, Shelby. How’s it going?”

“Bad.” She was crying. “I got a call from the fire department. Our restaurant caught fire. Jo’s car is there, but we can’t find her.”

The news hit him like a wrecking ball. He had to stop and lean against the wall. “What do you mean? Do they think she’s still inside?”

Please let Jo be all right.

Shelby choked out, “We don’t know yet. They haven’t put the fire out. They’re saying it’s a total loss. I thought she might have gone on a run, because she does that sometimes on the weekends. Do some paperwork first, then jog around the park. But she’s not answering her cell, Chad. She always answers her cell.”

She did always answer. Tears burned his eyes. He couldn’t lose Jo.

He had fans depending on him, his coaches and the PR staff, but none of them mattered to him like Jo did. “I’m on my way, Shelby. Keep looking for her, please.”

He hung up and closed his eyes. He had to pull himself together. She’d be able to get out. She had to have gotten out. But then where the hell was she? He couldn’t bear the thought of her still being inside.

He lifted his phone to contact the service he used to fly private, and noticed a missed text from Jo. Hope filled his heart. Maybe she was on the way to see his game after all?

He quickly opened the text, and all his high hopes were dashed. The text had come the night before. He sent her a text, hoping for a reply.