Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 379(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
He shook his head. “You didn’t. Everything was real. It’s always been real between us.”
I felt the ground giving way beneath my feet and stood taller. “But I don’t trust you yet. If you’re serious about what you’re saying here tonight, you’re going to have to prove it to me.”
“Of course. Tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
I shook my head. “Nope. It can’t work like that. I’m no longer writing your essays, Tyler. You have to figure this out.”
Inhaling, he squared his shoulders. “Okay, I can do that. I think.”
“I think you can too.” I softened a little.
“Sadie flew out to see me over the weekend. Surprised the hell out of me.”
“Why’d she do that?”
“She claimed she was worried about me, because I hadn’t answered any of her calls or texts, but I think it was mostly to tell me I was being an idiot.”
“Sisters are good for that.”
“Well, she was right. I left here thinking it was the right decision for everyone, but I was more miserable and lonely each day. And I don’t want that to be the rest of my life—not when so much more is possible. Anyway, I went right to the hospital after I arrived, but something Virgil said made my brain explode, and I realized I needed to see you right away.”
“What did he say?”
“It was something simple, but it reminded me that the things I loved and respected most about my dad weren’t about baseball. They were about family.”
I smiled. “Virgil is wise.”
“Virgil is wise.”
We stood looking at each other for a moment, and I knew I’d better get inside—alone—before my resolve not to kiss him weakened. “I should go in.”
“Okay.” His expression was crestfallen, but he stepped aside and let me walk up the steps. “Can I see you tomorrow?”
Up on my porch, I turned to face him, wondering what was safe to agree to. Dinner seemed too much like a date, and a drink meant my decision-making abilities would suffer. I bit my lip. “I have to work, but I could meet you for lunch.”
“I’ll take it.” He grinned, making my heart flutter.
“What?” I asked.
“I love it when you bite your lip. I just found an old picture of us at my dad’s kitchen table, and you were chewing on it.”
I laughed self-consciously. “I’m surprised I haven’t chewed it right off.”
“Don’t do that. I love your lips. I’ve missed them.”
My face got hot, and I smiled. “Get out of here, Tyler Shaw, before I lose my mind and invite you in.”
He laughed. “God, I missed you. Goodnight, April.”
“Goodnight.” Then I unlocked the door, went inside, and leaned back against it, exhaling with relief.
I’d managed to resist him.
If that wasn’t proof that I was stronger than I thought, I wasn’t sure what was.
We agreed by text to meet for lunch at a restaurant downtown, and I arrived first. When I saw him walking toward me, my heart jumped around in my chest.
He sat down across from me in the booth. “Hey. How was your morning?”
“Good. Yours?”
“Excellent. Virgil is doing better, I accepted the school’s offer for a coaching position, and I have an appointment with a realtor this afternoon to look at some listings on the water.”
“Wow. You’ve been busy.”
“I’m focused, that’s all. It’s easy when you know what you want.” His eyes held mine over the table, and heat bloomed at my center. “And I know what I want.”
I cleared my throat and picked up my ice water. “How did you sleep last night?”
He shrugged, giving me a rueful grin. “Not at all.”
“Jet lag?”
“No. I was thinking about . . . a lot of things.”
“Want to tell me about them?”
“Yes. Because most of them involve you—at least, I hope they do.”
The server came over and we ordered drinks and sandwiches. When we were alone again, Tyler said, “We should talk about Chip.”
I nodded. “I’m meeting him on Saturday.”
Tyler’s expression was momentarily alarmed, but he recovered and cleared his throat. “Okay. I was hoping for a little more time, but it’s okay.”
“What’s okay?”
“So I was up all night asking myself how I could earn your trust again. How I can show you that I meant what I said last night—I want you in my life for good.”
My entire body warmed, but I tried to stay cool. “And?”
“I came up with something that involves Chip, and I’ll admit it scares the shit out of me, like every time I think about it I am not okay, and I get this horrible pit in my stomach, and my intestines are all twisted, and it feels like this one time I pitched against this one team full of—”
“Tyler.” I raised my eyebrows. “I get it. It’s scary. I’m scared too.”
“Right.” He took a breath. “So I still think people are going to find out I’m his biological father, or at least speculate out loud. And I think it could make things really hard on everyone if we have to waste a lot of time and energy issuing denials and refusing to comment and telling what we know are lies. So I’ve made a decision.”