Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 101505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
We both give her a look.
She raises her hands, grinning. “Just saying there’s technically more than two options.”
“Why wouldn’t she want Jake to know if it was his?” I ask. “That doesn’t make sense.”
Andi and Mia share a look, as if they’re trying to decide which one of them gets to explain something obvious to the dumb man.
“Caroline is proud as hell,” Mia says. “And she has always been taking care of herself since she was little. She’s not going to want to drag some guy into helping raise a kid if she thinks he wouldn’t want to. That’s my guess. Maybe it’s not Jake, but I think she probably didn’t tell the guy because she doesn’t think he deserves to be in her and that kid’s life.”
“Kinda fucked up,” I say.
That earns me a slap from Mia.
“What?” I ask. “Doesn’t the dad have a right to know he has a kid?”
“Maybe he does, and maybe he doesn’t,” Andi says. “If it was just a meaningless hookup, she’s doing him a mercy by keeping it a secret. Or maybe she knows the guy well enough to know he wouldn’t want to know. I trust Caroline to be making the right choice, either way.”
I nod thoughtfully. “Yeah, I guess so. Still can’t believe she won’t tell us, though.”
Mia shrugs, and I can tell from the look on her face that she’s hiding something. I’ve begun to suspect she actually knows more than she’s letting on, but Caroline must have sworn her to some insane levels of secrecy. Normally, Mia tells me everything. Everything.
But I can sense she wants to be a good friend and keep this secret, so I haven’t really pushed her to tell me.
I stand suddenly, pumping my fist as Jake scores with ten minutes left in the match.
“That’s it,” I say, smiling. “Vandals to the playoffs.”
“Great,” Andi says. “More hotels and more plane rides. Amelia is going to be thrilled.”
I grin. “Who wants to tell Paisley she’s about to get more time running Taste in the next few weeks?”
Everything is covered in a blanket of pure white snow outside. We’re in Jesse’s cabin, the guys made a deep playoff run but came up short from the Stanley Cup, earning them an earlier-than-hoped-for offseason. But with a week or two behind us, spirits are high again and they’re already talking about next season.
Maddox is on his knees pretending to protect Caroline’s infant son, Walker. He’s laying on his baby mat, surrounded by brightly colored toys. Amelia is growling and throwing herself at Maddox’s big frame in an attempt to reach the baby and plant more kisses on his bald head.
Caroline is watching with a fond smile on her face. Jake and Liam are on the patio, talking quietly and seriously about something. Carter is scratching his head as he tries to put together some bouncing harness toy thing he bought for Amelia. Between the guys and the girls, Andi’s children are drowning in toys, clothes, and little vehicles they’re way too little for. Jesse had to clear out a garage spot for all the little electric toy cars.
Mia, Andi and Paisley are sitting together playing a card game while they very obviously gossip about something together at the table by the big bay windows.
Jesse nudges me. “Living the dream, huh?”
I grin. “Really feels like it.”
“Still no idea?” he asks, discreetly tilting his head toward Caroline and the baby.
I shrug. “Frosty Harbor’s biggest mystery.”
“How are you guys doing?” he asks.
“Great. I was actually hoping I could ask you a small favor, though.”
“Anything,” Jesse says.
“Can you grab a marker from the kitchen and follow me for a second?”
43
BONUS EPILOGUE - MIA
Ihear loud, thumping footsteps and look up suddenly. I see Nolan running into the room with his shirt off. There are big, thick words on his stomach in black sharpie. My brain goes back to when Jesse announced to everybody that Andi was pregnant, and I’m utterly confused for a split second.
Then I read the words as he jumps up on the coffee table to Amelia’s oblivious clapping and laughter.
I have to read the words sloppily written across his chest and abs three times before they register with my brain. “WILL YOU MARRY ME?”
My heart is in my throat, pounding so fast it feels like I can hardly breathe. My hands are shaking as I lift them over my mouth. I’m already nodding, smiling, crying a little, and laughing. “Me?” I ask. Stupid question, but my brain isn’t exactly operating full-throttle at the moment.
The only sound in the room is Amelia grunting as she tries to pull a toy from Walker’s hand behind me. Even Maddox is quiet, but that could be just because he is eating two beef jerky sticks at once and his mouth is full.
Nolan comes down from the table and walks toward me, eyes locked on mine. He’s smiling, and he adorably looks a little nervous, too. He pulls a box from his back pocket, then kneels in front of me. “Mia… Will you–”