“My dad played ball.He went to USC on a scholarship.But his parents died when he was twenty-one, just as he was about to enter the draft, and he went home to raise his siblings.He’s the oldest of nine.He and my aunt made a deal.He would raise the kids, and she would take over the family lumber business.Then when my aunts, who are twins, were about to graduate high school, he met my mom.He got offered a coaching position at USC but turned it down to stay in Lake Starlight with my mom.”
I think of all the sacrifices my parents made to get me here.Now I have a child and don’t know who the mom is, and I’m in a fake marriage.
My dad gave up his dream twice for the ones he loved most, and I wonder if I’d do the same.
“Wow, that’s so admirable.”
We find a bench away from anyone else.I wait for her to sit, then I sit next to her.
“Yeah, big shoes to fill being raised in a town where your dad is treated like a king.”
She squeezes my knee, and I let the silence fall.
“I love it, though.I mean, I’m sure my dad would’ve understood had I not wanted to play.Maybe because he had me throwing a ball as soon as I could is part of it.But I love the game, and this is gonna sound really arrogant, but the more success I have with it, the more I love it.I’ve been really fortunate.”
“The city’s favorite Colt.”She knocks shoulders with me, lightening the mood.
I glance at her.“I guess.”I laugh.
“Isn’t it hard to be on so much?”She spoons the last of her ice cream and holds it out to me.
“Nah, it’s the last bit.”
She inches it closer to my lips.“I want you to have it.”
“Then you have mine.”I scoop the rest of mine and hold the spoon to her.
We both open our mouths, feeding each other, our eyes locked.
Once we finish, I take our cups and throw them away in the trash can before returning to her.Her legs are up and tucked into her body, her arms around them.
I sit a little closer to her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.“I’m never not myself.I feed off people’s energy.I’m an extrovert, so it’s not hard, but there are times that it gets a little much.Like tonight, when we can’t just be a normal couple on a date.It’s always in the back of my head, trying not to get recognized or not wanting anything to interrupt us.I haven’t felt that way in a long time, though.”
Her head falls back, and she looks at me.“I had a really great night.”
I want to kiss her, but we don’t have any witnesses here that I have to sell us to.There would be no reason to kiss her except me wanting to.
“Me too,” I whisper, pressing my lips to her forehead.
I pull back, and I swear that’s disappointment in her eyes.
How long can we really keep this act going?Holding back isn’t a me thing, so why am I doing it now?
ChapterForty-One
Hadley
Istare at myself in the bathroom mirror.
This should do it.
Thank you, Grandma.
I open the door and step into the room.
Easton is leaned along the headboard in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, his legs stretched out in front of him, the remote in his hand as he flips through channels.
“You know what I hate about hotels…” He glances my way and stops talking.His gaze roams down and back up my body.A slow, easy smirk makes his lips quirk.“You think that’s going to change anything?”
