Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
As soon as Basha exits the building Cameron jumps out and grabs her suitcase and puts it in the back. He helps her into the front seat and then climbs into the back.
“Do you have your tickets?” I ask her. She’s on her way to San Diego for a conference and plans to stay an extra day to catch our game. Due to some weird weather pattern, it’s going to be in the eighties all week down there and she wants to take advantage. Honestly, I don’t blame her. I wish Coach took us down early.
Basha pats her bag. “I do, and everything’s set.”
“Perfect.”
“Did you find out?” she asks.
“Not mine,” I tell her as I eye Cameron through the rear-view mirror. Noah’s the only one I’ve told, but people have seen Maggie at the games, and of course, her pregnancy hit the news wire with the headline being we’re expecting. We’re not. She is.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“Fuck that,” I say. “It’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
The three of us make idle chit chat, mostly about the things to do in San Diego. I haven’t been, other than for games, but according to Cameron I really need to visit. Basha says the beaches are amazing down there, and she’s definitely looking forward to the spa day she has booked.
When we get to the airport, Cameron jumps out to help Basha with her things. “I’m going to walk her in,” he says. “You should circle around.”
“Sure.” If I didn’t owe Basha my life, I’d tell Cameron to fuck off because circling around Portland airport isn’t exactly my idea of a good time. Still, I do as he asks because I’m a nice fucking guy and this will bring a smile to Basha’s face.
Instead of circling, I leave the area and park off to the side at the nearest cell phone lot. I text Cameron to let him know where I am and to just let me know when he’s ready to come get him. Airport romance—I’m sure that’s a book somewhere, and if not, maybe Kelsey needs to ask one of her authors to write it for her.
While I wait for Cameron, I look through the photos of Kelsey on my phone, only for Maggie to interrupt me.
Maggie Gardner
You were very rude in the office today.
I think about not responding but fuck that.
I don’t care. This whole thing has fucked with my life. You could’ve told me long before you showed up at my door that you were pregnant, so I could’ve been prepared. Instead, you waltzed back into my life like you never left knowing I had a girlfriend. You didn’t give a rat’s ass about her feelings so I don’t care about yours right now, Maggie.
Maggie Gardner
I’ve said I’m sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.
Do you want me to talk to Kelsey? I will.
No, I don’t. You’ve made things bad enough for me where she’s concerned. Nothing you can say or do will change the damage done.
Maggie Gardner
If you change your mind
I won’t.
I’ve never said a mean thing to her in my life until recently. It’s like her head is stuck in the clouds. She only cares about herself. If I didn’t need to go back and pick Cameron up, I’d turn my phone off. Thankfully, Maggie stops texting, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before she hits me up for something else.
Finally, Cameron texts me and I circle back to pick him up. He gets into the truck and says, “I like Basha, but I’m not sure if it’ll work.”
“Ha, why’s that?”
“She’s not a football fan.”
“What are you talking about?”
Cameron shakes his head. “She’s a fan of tight pants.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I think she’s messing with you. She’s a version of Peyton. Basha knows a lot of random facts about the game. Shit I didn’t even know.”
He eyes me suspiciously. “The last thing she said to me as she slapped my ass was ‘don’t forget to bend over for me.’”
I laugh so hard I swerve and almost hit the guardrail.
“Of course, if you kill us before the game, I won’t be under pressure to keep bending over in front of the stands.”
“Yeah, sorry man. She’s hilarious, and I think she likes teasing you.”
“Yeah,” he says with an exasperated sigh. “She’s funny all right.”
We make our way back into town, stopping at the mall first, which turns into a massive autograph session. As soon as some young boy sees us, he asks for a picture and then for us to sign his shirt, which we happily do. The only problem is when one sees you, the rest come in hoards, and they don’t stop. They follow you to the store and wait until you make eye contact with them before they ask.