Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
“I’m not Derek,” Cannon says, a hard glint in his eye. “It’s only a mistake if you think I’m like him.”
“Of course you’re not like him,” I snap, irritated.
“If it makes you feel better, come back to Pittsburgh and ask me to move into your place. Go on… ask me right now.”
I scoff and roll my eyes. “You can’t move into my place. It’s a hovel, far too small, and you’re used to so much nicer.”
“I need you,” he asserts, and once again, his hands have mine and he’s jerking me into him. “I don’t care if we live in a small, one-bedroom apartment with peeling paint on the walls and water stains on the ceiling. None of that matters as long as I’m with you.”
“Cannon,” I whisper softly, touched by his words. “You spent so much time making sure I understood you have limits and—”
“Listen, Ava… I can’t give up my career. I mean, I would if I could—for you. I did it for Melissa, and if I could, I’d do it for you.”
“I’d never ask that,” I growl.
Cannon nods, a smile on his face. “Yeah, I know you wouldn’t. But I would if I could. The truth is, I can’t. This isn’t like walking away from a playing career, and you don’t have cancer making things grim. As a coach, I have too many people who depend on me. Except now, I don’t want that career to be a barrier to time with you. I want you to be a part of that life with me.”
“How? What does that mean?”
“It means I want to share my world with you in whatever way I can. I want you to come to away games with me when you can, and I want to do more work at home rather than at the arena, so at the very least, I can do it on the couch with you by my side. I want to have more balance, which means maybe delegating a bit more so I can have more personal time to spend with you. I want you to come to team functions with me, and I want the gossip columns to wonder about me dating and what it all means. I haven’t got it all figured out, but everything I’ve suggested so far seems like it’s exactly the right thing.”
I’m speechless. Cannon is telling me things I never thought he’d be able to say.
“I got scared, Ava,” he continues, bringing his hands to my face. “And I’m so sorry I wasn’t a better man for you. But it took me no time at all to figure out I fucked up. I came straight to you to make it right. And if you want to make me work harder for it, I will. I’ll devote every bit of free time I have to showing you—”
I lurch forward, my arms going around Cannon’s neck, and I hop right up on him. My mouth plasters to his as his hands go under my ass to hold me.
Pulling back just enough to speak against his lips, “Enough already. I forgive you, and I’m ready to get back on track.”
I try to kiss him again, but he jerks his face away. “And you love me?”
I know I said it once already, but I was talking about the past. He’s talking about right now. “Yes… I love you.”
“And you’ll come back to Pittsburgh?” he presses, the expression on his face tense with worry.
“I have to talk to Shelley. I told her I was coming to Charlotte.”
Cannon sighs, closes his eyes, and lets his forehead drop to touch mine. “Okay… if you need to go to Charlotte, we’ll make it work.” His face lifts and he stares at me. “We can be together in the off-season. Maybe Shelley will let you work remotely to be able to travel to some away games. I can fly in to see you at Christmas. We’ll figure it out.”
I shake my head. “No, we won’t figure it out. I’ll talk to Shelley about letting me work in Pittsburgh. I don’t have to go to Charlotte. Yes, it was a great opportunity, but I was only doing it because we’d broken up.”
“I was on a break. I did not break up with you,” he points out.
“Fine.” I laugh. “If that’s the way you want it remembered. But I’ll come back to Pittsburgh.”
“And we’ll move into your apartment,” he says.
Grimacing, I tip my head back as I consider but then grin and shake my head. “Nah… let’s live in your condo.”
“Oh, thank God,” he mutters and kisses me again.
Slowly, with a tenderness that makes my heart contract almost painfully because it belongs to him now.
“Think I can have another piece of pie?” he asks as his mouth lifts. “Maybe some turkey. I’m starving, and I’ll love you forever.”