Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Blowing out a deep breath, I look out to the ice and mutter, “Didn’t expect to have that deep of a conversation with you.”
Laurence laughs and leans back in the chair. “Don’t worry. My entire family underestimates my ability to meddle in my kids’ lives. But I’m cool with keeping this secret if you are.”
Chuckling, I twist my neck to look at him again. “I’ll keep your secret so you can maintain your rep with the family.”
“You’re a sweet girl, Stephanie,” Laurence says gently. “I think Lucas stumbled on to someone really great when he met you.”
This surprises me after the very nice but clear warning he just gave me to try not to hurt his son. He sees my surprise and addresses it. “Stephanie, just because I think you have the potential to hurt my son doesn’t mean I don’t like you. And just because you have the potential to hurt my son doesn’t mean you’re not good for him.”
“Will you say that if I do indeed hurt him?” I say in a low, ashamed voice.
Laurence again surprises me when he nods. “Yes, I’ll still say that. As long as you give it your all so there are no regrets.”
“You realize you’re taking pressure off me,” I say in a somewhat dry voice.
“You’re pregnant with my grandchild,” he says with an acknowledging tilt to my head. “I don’t want you to be under stress.”
We stare at each other a moment, and then in a rare act of spontaneous affection, I take Laurence’s hand and give it a grateful squeeze. “Thank you for sharing that with me. Your family is amazing and I’m lucky to know you.”
Laurence squeezes my hand back and then pushes his long frame out of the chair. He looks down at me with a smile. “Just so you know, we’ve all been on our best behavior around you. You really haven’t seen our ‘crazy’ yet.”
I giggle, shaking my head. He gives me a wink and then starts making his way out of the row.
Turning back, I look out over the ice and contemplate my relationship with Lucas and how I can achieve the impossible.
Opening myself up to love.
Chapter 21
Lucas
Stephanie opens her apartment door and I give her a quick, hard kiss as I drop my overnight bag on the floor. When I pull away, I clap my hands and rub them together. “Just dropped my parents at the airport, left behind a squabbling Simone and Van to kill each other, and you and I have four days together where the only obligation I have is practice for a few hours each day. I’m so fucking excited I don’t know what to do first.”
She smiles at me and digs her fingers into the waistband of my jeans. Her voice is husky as she looks up at me. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to entertain ourselves.”
“Damn skippy,” I tell her as I wrap my arms around her back. “You’re going to be walking funny by the time I’m done with you.”
Four days where I can lie around and do nothing but fuck Stephanie. Since we took the Florida Spartans in five games and our next round doesn’t start until Saturday, that’s four days of little to no obligations except for some practices to keep the gears functioning. While I’ve adored having my family here for the last three days, I was eager to pack them off because that meant three days where I didn’t see Stephanie, since I was trying to spend my time with them while they were in town.
Stephanie did come to the play-off game as well as hung out at Max’s house for the celebration that came after taking the first round of the play-offs. But after that, she stayed away at her insistence so I could have time with my family. I was torn because I wanted to see her and I wanted to see my family, and I was slightly pissed I couldn’t have both. Pisses me off even more how much I missed her.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, moving a hand to her belly.
“Nausea’s almost all gone. Didn’t even barf today, just a slight rolling stomach. My boobs are really getting sore, though. You’re going to need to leave them alone until that passes.”
“Well, that fucking sucks,” I say with mock annoyance, but then I let her go, spinning to my duffel. “I got you something, though, that will make things a lot easier for you.”
“What’s that?” she asks curiously.
I take a folder out of my bag and walk into the kitchen. Stephanie follows and I throw it onto the table and smile down at her smugly.
She bends over and reads the wording on the front out loud. “ ‘Pregnancy Activity Planner.’ ”
I smile even bigger.
“You got me an activity planner?” she asks dryly.