Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90290 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“What’s up with that?”
“Don’t know, but Portland is stupid for not having him under contract, and these other teams?” The commentator whistles. “If the rumors are true, they’re throwing money at him. He needs to come to L.A.”
“Dude already lives here. Might as well stay.”
“Maybe it’s better for us if Portland sleeps on it. Then we’ll get a decent QB. I’d love to have Westbury on any one of our teams here.”
I pull into the driveway and shut the car off, but don’t move. It’s nice to be wanted. Mega shitty when the team you’ve dedicated the beginning of your career to doesn’t act like they want you. My head spins with this knowledge, wondering what the fuck I’m doing.
“They’ll make an offer,” Peyton says, breaking the silence.
“Do you know something I don’t?” My voice catches. I hate asking her this. Mixing our marriage and work was something we swore we’d never do.
She shakes her head.
“Will you quit your job if I go somewhere else?”
Peyton’s quiet for a moment and I know I’ve put her on the spot. Any decision I make, we make together. “We have time, Noah. Let everyone get settled and out of vacation mode.” Her fingers trail down the side of my face. “Let’s go inside. I’m hungry.”
“For lunch?”
She shakes her head and palms my crotch again. “You promised.”
Damn straight, I did.
3
PEYTON
Tomorrow, Elle and I have our appointments for our ultrasounds. We plan to go together to save the guys from having to drive into downtown. Mostly, it saves our sanity. It never fails, some other driver will piss either Ben or Noah off, and then a mood is set. I’m trying to remain positive and think only happy thoughts. I figure if I tell myself this is going to work on the first try, then it will work, and I won’t have to continue going back. I’d be happy with one round of shots. I know Noah would be.
I caught him reading about IVF and the process even though we know everything there is to know about it. Thanks to social media and vlogging, mothers and even some fathers detail their journeys. The highs and lows, the good and the bad. Even the ugly, which I appreciate. I know it's going to be ugly. I hate being poked and prodded and as much as I’m looking forward to morning sickness, I’m really not. No one enjoys puking, even if there’s a good outcome at the end of the duration. That shit hurts and since the accident, my bones ache.
I grip the railing of our balcony, tip my head back, and close my eyes to let the sun beat down on me. I love being in California, with the warmth, the ocean, and of course the sun. But I miss home. By home, I mean Beaumont. I never thought I’d miss it as much as I do, but ever since Elle moved back and I’ve gone back and forth a few times to see her, I’ve realized that’s where I want to raise my family. Deep down, one part of me hopes Noah takes an offer from a different team, maybe one closer to Beaumont. But then, there’s a part of me who wants to be here, near my parents so my mom will be there when I need her. Because I’m going to need her. The football analyst in me wants him to stay in Portland. We’ve made a good home there and have a lot of friends. Friends I’d miss, but who could come visit wherever we are. I’m not foolish enough to think those friends won’t be traded, although I imagine Julius would retire if that was the case.
Behind me, Noah’s on the phone. I glance over my shoulder and see him pacing. His hand is in his hair, tugging at the ends. He’s frustrated and rightly so. The Pioneers are taking their sweet time making him an offer. Honestly, all of this should be a no-brainer. He’s the face of their franchise and has a Super Bowl under his belt. Not many teams or quarterbacks can say they’ve done that with an expansion team in the time he’s been there. Yet, they’re dicking him around. Which makes me wonder about my job. Is it worth staying if my husband isn’t there? I’ve had other offers before, from teams here and on the east coast. Noah has options, as do I. We’re definitely not a packaged deal, but it is nice. And now I wonder if I am the cause of their delay. Do they want me gone? If they do, they just need to say so.
I pull my phone out and press the contact for Liam. Normally, I’d video chat, but I don’t want Noah to hear his dad’s voice and come out here.