Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 629(@200wpm)___ 503(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
We’re not—they are sitting right in the center of the table, but they don’t notice. They take their candy and gladly giggle their way away.
Brady chuckles once they’re out of earshot, and I sit back with a sigh. “Holy shit. If you’re bringing all this attention, I would hate to be the guys at the football table.”
Brady frowns instantly. “Are you saying there’s someone better-looking than me over there, ’cause I was voted fan favorite last year and I intend to win it this year too.”
I smile, shaking my head. “You’re insufferable.”
“Yeah.” He wraps his arm around me, kissing my temple. “But you like that about me.”
I do.
“You know”—I look up at him—“having a ‘girlfriend’ might hurt your chances of that one.”
His eyes move between mine, and then he says, “Worth it.”
A comforting, pleasant feeling stirs within me at his words. His mossy-brown eyes hold mine a moment longer, and he opens his mouth to speak, but then his name is called.
He jolts, and we both look down the path.
His coach is standing there, his arms in the air in a gesture that can only mean what the hell do you think you’re doing?
Brady chuckles and pushes to his feet. “Gotta go, but you’re coming to the ice cream thing later, right?”
I nod and the smile he gives me…
Jesus, I’m fucked up today.
I think I need a side of vodka with my ice cream.
Little did I know, I was about to need a lot more than that.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Cameron
“Is it just me, or do the girls seem a little more feral than normal tonight?”
Payton and Paige look in the direction I’m staring, low laughs leaving them both.
“They are definitely hovering around the athletics station.” Paige nods, taking a bite of her matcha ice cream. “But they do have the most topping options.”
I scoff, leaning back on my hands and watching the women laugh and giggle with the guys. “You are so cute, sweet, and innocent, Paigey. They are not there for the toppings. They’re there to see who they want to be topping.”
Paige turns ten shades of red, and Payton chokes on her boring vanilla cone.
She wipes her mouth, smiling from us to the athletics table. “I say it’s all about the hot dad. I don’t know what it is, but guys with babies seem to draw the hottest of women.”
“Mm.” I nod. “Yup. It’s catnip for our pussycats.”
“Oh my god,” Payton chuckles, and Paige is now the color of a tomato.
We look over again, laughing as Mason lifts Deaton up onto the chair and does his best to scoop a pile of sprinkles, half of them missing the girl’s ice cream bowl and landing all over the table when he serves it to her.
She and all her friends giggle and make the universal he’s so cute sounds.
Mason grins at his son, kissing his cheek before his eyes move this way. He winks at Payton, then goes back to serving ice cream.
“Are they working the table all night?” Paige asks.
“Nah.” I look across the room. “Xavier and the other baseball players are already here. They should be taking over soon.”
“Why did they decide on ice cream again?” Paige asks, digging into her jacket pocket when her phone dings. “Why not hot chocolate or something?”
“It’s from the local creamery downtown. They donate pretty much everything. We got a few big tubs for the day care this morning too, and Junie was telling me about it.”
Paige sighs, and I look over to see her frowning at her screen, chewing on her fingernail nervously.
“Hey,” Payton says. “Everything okay?”
Paige looks at the two of us, her shoulders falling. “So I finally got the estimate on how much it’s going to cost to fix the damages at my studio, and it’s…insane. I was only able to buy it because it was in foreclosure, and with what I had left of my dad’s life insurance after school expenses, I knew I could only afford to keep the lights on and pay property taxes until I graduate next year, but I was okay with that. Something like this didn’t even cross my mind.”
“You couldn’t afford the insurance,” I realize, and her eyes cloud with tears as she shakes her head. “Shit, Paige. I’m so sorry.” I reach out, squeezing her shoulder.
“So does that mean you’re going to have to let it go?” Payton asks softly.
Paige blows out a long breath. “You know how my long-lost grandfather just popped up out of nowhere?” We nod, and she lets out a sad, humorless laugh. “He says I have an inheritance waiting for me.”
I turn toward her. “That’s awesome.” Payton gives me a quick look, and I rethink my answer. “I mean…that will help, right?”
Paige nods. “Yeah, it would.”
“There’s a but, isn’t there?”
“A huge, massive but.” She shakes her head again, stuffing her phone back in her pocket. “It’s complicated, and I’m still trying to process what he’s offering.”