Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91065 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
What was he going to say, then? “Hmm?”
“I, uh . . .”
I wait, shifting so I can glance up at him. But I don’t press—he seems to be struggling for the words, not that that’s unusual for him.
“I love you, Margot.”
What?
I move so I can sit up, so I can look him in the face. In the eyes.
Shock. Disbelief.
“What did you say?” I ask, voice barely a whisper.
Dex’s eyes meet mine, unwavering and sincere. “I love you, Margot,” he repeats, steady and resolute. Mostly. “I know we’ve only known each other a hot minute, but when I picture what a relationship and love should be like, I picture you. Is that weird?”
My head gives a shake. “No, it’s not weird. It’s . . .”
Beautiful.
Nice.
Sweet.
And. True.
“I might not have pictured myself in a relationship with a professional football player. And we haven’t seen much of each other, but I think I can imagine myself as part of your life.” Whatever that looks like.
I mean, how hard can it be to attend football games and cheer him on? How hard can it be to splash around in his pool during the summer and hold his hand and go for ice cream, something he loves very much.
We’ve already had a few conflicts, and we worked them out.
“If you can tolerate Colton, I can tolerate Trent,” I tease, running a hand down his bare chest.
“I can tolerate that prick too.”
I laugh despite myself. “He’s not bad—he’s just butt hurt.”
“You mean jealous?”
I hate assigning feels to someone else but, “Yeah. I guess.”
“Don’t blame the poor bastard. He lost out on you, and now I’m going to be the best fucking boyfriend ever.” He kisses me on the forehead. “Wyatt is my new best friend.”
I shiver. “Do you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“My ovaries bursting.”
Dex chuckles, his chest vibrating under my touch. “I have no idea what that even means.”
“It’s something a woman says when a cute guy gets her all hot and bothered, and she wants to, you know, make more babies.”
He holds his hands up in surrender. “Whoa whoa whoa. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“I’m kidding.” I kiss him below the chin. “I love you too.”
He snorts. “I was wondering when the hell you were going to say it back. I was getting worried—my testicles are about to shrivel up inside my body.”
We laugh as he adjusts us both so he can murmur against my lips. “I think we’re going to be just fine.”
I grin happily, resting my forehead against his. “I know. I’m excited,” I whisper.
As we settle back into each other’s arms, I feel the warmth of contentment spreading through me.
I begin rebuttoning my sleep shirt while he reaches for the remote on the bedside table.
“This dating stuff is so easy,” he boasts, clicking the television on. It’s massive, anchored to the wall opposite the bed, and comes to life almost instantaneously.
“You think so?” I roll my eyes.
Of course he thinks it’s easy. He has it made.
I’m amazing.
My kid is awesome.
I’m fun. Smart. Cute.
I don’t exactly think it’s going to be a cakewalk 100 percent of the time, but I think I’ll be able to hold my own with him, and he with me—as long as we treat each other with respect.
“I do.” Dex hesitates. “I mean, how could it not be? I get to date the most incredible woman ever.”
“True.” I laugh playfully, swatting at his chest and leaning into him. “You’re just saying that because my daughter thinks you’re Thor.”
He catches my hand, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “Well, yeah, the hero worship is a definite bonus,” he admits. “But I’m serious, Margot. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. God, listen to me. Gross. I make me want to vomit in my helmet.”
Oh Lord. He’s so dramatic.
Still. His praise melts my little heart, and I lean in to kiss him softly. “You make everything feel right too,” I whisper against his lips. “I love you.”
He kisses me deeply. Open-mouth kisses that are wet. Hot.
I can feel the intensity of his emotions in the way he kisses me, in the way his body responds to mine.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless. His hand caresses my spine, up and down . . . up and down, lazily.
“I love you too.”
Chapter 37
Dex
It’s like I said—my parents weren’t involved in most of my shit, so I have no idea what to expect when I meet hers.
We’re at the scene of the crime, a.k.a. the first place we met in person, a.k.a. the restaurant where I paid Wyatt to ruin my date with Madisson.
We thought it would be an ironic and fitting spot to meet her folks.
Margot is fussing with her hair, glancing nervously at her reflection in the window of the restaurant, tightening the sleek ponytail that she already tightened at least four times on the ride here.