Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
The second I get behind the wheel, I turn toward her. “You know we fly out to San Antonio tomorrow, right?”
She nods, staring through the windshield. I put my hand on her arm. “Come with me.”
Her eyes widen, and I can’t tell if she’s happy with the request or not, so I continue. “I mean, I’m flying with the team, but I can get you there and put you up at the same hotel. I’d love to have you in the stands.”
She shakes her head. “I can’t. I need to start getting my classroom ready and—”
“You’ve got a few weeks before school starts. I can help you when I get back.”
She stares at me for a long second, then she asks, “Did you tell Skyler I’m the one?”
My eyes widen. Shit. “Is that what’s freaking you out?”
Nicole pulls her arm away from my touch. “Did you say it?”
I nod. “Yeah. I said it.”
She gives a small shrug, but there’s nothing casual about it. “Why? Why would you say something like that? And why would you tell your family?”
I turn in my seat so I’m facing her completely. “Because they’re my family. I don’t understand why it’s such a big deal. They already knew about us. It’s not like I went on television and announced it.”
She shifts away from me and crosses her arms over her chest. “Guy, I think we need to take a break.”
For a second, I’m sure I heard her wrong. “A break?”
She looks down.
“What the fuck are you talking about, Nicole? We’re not taking a break.”
The words are out before I can stop them. It feels like my whole world is crashing in around me. My chest tightens, and I can’t sit here pretending I’m okay with what she just said. I start the truck and pull out of the parking lot. Neither of us speaks the whole way across town. When I pull up outside her apartment, Nicole is still staring out the window.
I almost expect her to jump out as soon as I stop, but I’m surprised when she doesn’t. “Talk to me, Nicole.”
She slowly turns toward me. “This is getting too complicated, Guy.”
I shake my head.
“I know you don’t want to hear that, but it is. This is too much.”
I put my hand over hers. “Nicole, you’re the one making it complicated. I love you, and you’re trying to hide us. You want me to hide how I feel about you. That’s what’s making this hard.”
Her eyes widen. “Love?”
I nod.
“You don’t love me, Guy Brody.”
I give her a small smile. “Yeah, honey. I do.”
She shakes her head like she can’t accept it.
“I think it happened the first night I saw you. Maybe I didn’t know what it was then, but I know now. I love you. I just want to be with you.”
“Guy… We can’t.”
My stomach drops. “What do you mean we can’t?”
She sits straighter. “You have a new series starting tomorrow. You should be focused on that, not this.”
I stare at her. “That’s what you’re worried about?”
“I’m worried about all of it.”
I get out of the truck before I say something I’ll regret and pace in front of it for a few seconds, then I go around to her side. I open the door and hold out my hand. She hesitates and then puts her hand in mine.
I walk her to the apartment and wait while she unlocks both locks. She steps inside and turns toward me. “I’m sorry, Guy.”
I shake my head. “Honey, this isn’t over.”
Her eyes widen, and I can see how scared she is of all this.
And that about tears me apart. I cup her cheek. “I’m going to San Antonio. I’m going to play some ball. I’ll be back in four days, and I’m coming straight here.”
Her hand goes to my waist, bunching my shirt in her fist.
“Guy, listen…”
I cup her face in both hands. “No. You listen. I love being with you. I don’t want this to be over. I know being with me scares you, and I’m willing to be patient, but I can’t just pretend you mean nothing to me because that makes you feel safer.”
Her hands slide up my chest and loop around my neck. “Good luck this week.”
I lean closer until her body presses against mine. “You going to watch?”
She rolls her eyes. “My dad is pitching.”
I laugh. “Oh, so you’re not watching me?”
Her mouth softens into a smile. “Yeah. I’ll be watching you too.”
I brace my hands on either side of the doorway. “We’re not broken up, Nicole.”
Her eyebrows lift.
“I don’t want to leave town with you thinking you’re suddenly single.”
She lets out a breath that almost sounds like a laugh. “Guy…”
“I’m serious.”
She tilts her head. “You can’t just decide we’re not on a break.”
“Fine.” I nod once. “Then I’m deciding I’m not on one.”