“I have an idea about that.” Jason leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “But I’m going to need your help, Fleur.”
“You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?”
“I hope not. But given what you’ve said and what I’ve got on the line, it’s worth the risk.”
Fleur’s eyes narrowed. “If you do something to embarrass her, she’s not going to forgive you. She might even run away.”
Jason was aware of that. But the idea forming in his head wouldn’t be shifted. It would require some help from everyone around him, but if it meant he had Elena back, he would do it.
Swallowing pride was never easy, and Jason knew that all too well. But, in this case, it would be worth it.
CHAPTER24
ELENA
“Mind your foot there,” Fleur said as she held onto Elena’s arm. “These steps are a bit steep.”
“Fleur, I may be pregnant, but I’m perfectly fine getting up some steps on my own.” Elena gently shook off her sister’s arm.
“You can never be too careful,” Fleur reminded her.
Elena knew that, but she liked to think that she was capable of standing on her own two feet.
Concentrating on where she was going, she got to the top of the steps and entered the stadium. It had been several years since she and Fleur had been here to watch a game. They couldn’t have been in double figures in terms of age before they were sitting up in the bleachers, wrapped up in thick coats and scarves while they watched the players grapple for the ball. Even though she hadn’t been much of a football fan when she was a kid, that was one of Elena’s fondest memories.
She wondered how much had changed. Probably everything, maybe nothing. But she did hope that the bleachers would be different; Elena remembered that they had just one flimsy rail at the end and a sudden drop to the ground. How nobody had fallen off and seriously injured themselves, she had no idea. It gave her vertigo looking at it from the ground.
It was freezing outside, but it was even colder in the stadium building despite the press of people around them. Elena slapped her hands together in their gloves.
“God, this never gets any better,” she grumbled. “I’m going to be an ice cube in a few minutes.”
“You and me both.” Fleur was shivering beside her. “I’d forgotten how cold Washington can get in December. I feel like I’ve been de-climatized.”
“Trust me, it never gets better even when you’re used to it.” Hunching over in her coat, Elena shoved her hands into her pockets. “Where do we go now? Are we going to get something hot to drink and go out to watch the game?”
“Well, we could. Or…” Fleur was looking over Elena’s shoulder. “We could see what he thinks we should do.”
“What?”
Elena turned, and saw a familiar figure walking towards them. Carl was bundled up in his usual jacket, a wooly hat on his head. He was smiling.
“Hey, Elena.”
“Carl!” Elena hugged him as he reached her, feeling his arms close around her. “How did you know we were here?”
“I was looking out for you two.” Carl drew back, nodding at Fleur. “Orders from the boss. You two are going to be sitting in the dugout with us as our guests.”
Elena stared. “You what?”
“Well, in your condition, we don’t want you freezing in the bleachers. And the players want to see you.”
Jason had ordered this? Elena didn’t know what to say. It felt like Jason was up to something. All the same, she found herself nodding.
“Okay. Let’s go and see everyone, then.”
With Carl holding onto her arm and Fleur on her other side, Elena was led out onto the field. There was a threat of snow in the air with the icy chill, and the ground was hard underneath. Part of Elena wondered if it was a good idea to play when it was going to be a surface that could bring a lot of injuries, but she wasn’t about to question it; as of right now, she wasn’t working for the Wolves. She was just a spectator.
The players were already in the dugout, getting themselves warmed up and ready. Liam was the first to notice Elena, and he came over with a beaming smile.