A stewardess came over with a glass of champagne, and Elli took it with a grin of appreciation. Elli was ready to go, ready to get to Florida, and really ready to see Shea. Grace’s statement was still fresh on Elli’s mind, and a grin pulled at the side of her mouth as Bryan sat down in front of her.

“I’m still mad at your daddy for not coming,” he said as he leaned back, taking his large beer from the same stewardess.

“He had work stuff.”

“He works for me,” he said with a pout, causing Elli to giggle.

“Stop complaining,” Elli said as she took a sip of her drink.

“Has Melody gotten a hold of you about the promotional stuff the team is gonna need in the next couple months?”

“No, but I’m sure she will,” Elli said. The thought of working more for the team made her extremely excited, but she didn’t want to think of work stuff right now; she was going to see Shea in a matter of hours. She just couldn’t wait!

The jet took off right as a text came from Shea; it was a picture of a beach chair with the caption saying:

I have a seat waiting for you.

Elli couldn’t contain her excitement. She was ready to see Shea, ready to spend time with him. A shy smile went over her face as red dusted her cheeks when she realized she would be seeing him topless on the beach. Yeah, she had seen him naked in the bedroom. But laying on the beach with him, while he was topless, made her giggle from the giddiness!

“I tell you what, Eleanor. I always thought you were beautiful, always, but goodness me, the last couple times I’ve seen you, you honestly have taken my breath away,” Bryan said, making Elli blush profusely.

“Papa….,” she groaned. He let out a loud booming laugh.

“I only speak the truth, darlin’. You’re absolutely beautiful, and that damn Adler is to thank for it, huh?”

“Yes, sir,” Elli said with a quick grin as she took a drink of her champagne.

Bryan sat there smiling for a moment before his grin fell and he asked, “What if he got traded, Eleanor?”

Elli’s head whipped back up, staring at him with disbelief.

“He isn’t, is he?” Her heart had actually stopped. She couldn’t breathe as she waited for him to answer.

“No honey, he’s a franchise player. He ain’t going anywhere right now, but one day he might. What’s gonna happen then?”

Elli let out a whoosh of breath, taking in another deep one. The man was gonna give her a damn heart attack!

“I don’t know Papa, we’re just datin’.”

“Now, you and I both know that’s a lie. Y’all are more than just datin’.”

“It isn’t any of your business. Next subject, please.” Elli said with a sheepish grin, as Bryan chuckled, taking a long pull of his beer.

“We need to discuss something, darlin’.”

“Which is?” Elli asked, picking at one of the holes in her jeans.

“The reason I asked about Adler was because I’m giving you the team, Eleanor.”

Shea was practically bouncing up and down, waiting for Elli and Bryan’s car to arrive at the hotel. He was ready for their mini-vacation, ready to lie beside Elli on the beach and not move, except to go back to the room where he would have his way with her. Shea was also excited about her being at the game tomorrow; he always played better when she was there watching.

Yes, he was ready for his girlfriend to come. Now.

Grace had called earlier that day, saying that the dress fitting went perfect, and that Elli loved the dress, which put his mind at ease about the party. The dress was the biggest part, since he wanted her to feel like she had stepped back in time and was going to the ball of her dreams. He was so excited about the party. Everything Grace had emailed him looked amazing. From the food to the entertainment to the guest list, the night was going be astonishing, and he couldn’t wait to see Elli’s face.

Speaking with her family was interesting to say the least. Her dad was fine, but Shea decided there was a good chance he would never like Olivia Fisher. She had promised that nothing would happen and that they would be on their best behavior at the party, but he was pretty sure she was full of shit and was just lying because he told her she wouldn’t be able to come if she couldn’t promise her best behavior. That was the only thing he was nervous about, considering the party.

He probably shouldn’t have invited them, but he wanted to give them a chance to make amends with Elli. Elli didn’t get to see the kids like she had before. And more than anything, he just wanted her to be happy. He thought bringing her whole family together would fix things, but he was preparing himself just in case things went to shit.

Shea was leaning up against the wall of the hotel waiting as the ocean breeze hit his face. It was in the high 70s, and Shea was convinced he needed to move here. He had always loved the ocean, and being somewhere warm made him happy, but he did love Tennessee and didn’t really want to leave. Especially since he had Elli in his life now.

Would she even come with him if he left Nashville? The fact that he didn’t know the answer to that bothered him. What did he expect, though? She wasn’t clingy; she had been on her own for the past six years. Of course, she missed him a lot when he was gone, but she didn’t act like her life was over when he was gone, unlike most of the women his friends dated. Elli was different, but would she follow him? Could he ask her to? She was rooted in Nashville.