Page 9 of Cloud Nine Love

“Oh…wow.”

“Yeah.”

“And you think…I mean…you think it’s really over?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Her having another man’s baby sort of makes it final.”

“Oh, right,” she said as if she’d forgotten that detail. “I’m so sorry.”

“So am I. Not about the baby,” I quickly clarified. “She’ll be a great mom.”

Misty was very nurturing and had strong maternal instincts. Kids and babies loved her, and she loved them right back. I’d always known she’d be great with our kids.

The woman’s green eyes were staring at me like she was trying to solve a riddle.

“What?” I asked.

“I’m trying to figure out whether you’re being sarcastic or not.”

My brow furrowed. “Sarcastic about what?”

“About her being a great mom.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I would never be sarcastic about anything … No, she is going to be a good mom. It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with her. She has about a dozen nieces and nephews, and seeing her with them…I just saw firsthand how loving, patient, kind, and nurturing she is.”

“Wow.” She blinked at me several times. “That’s impressive.”

“Impressive?” I repeated.

“Most men in your position would not be so gracious about the situation.”

I shrugged. “It’s not grace; it’s the truth.”

A tiny grin lifted from the corners of her very kissable mouth. “In this case, the two are not mutually exclusive.”

Even her smile reminded me of the actress. Her resemblance was uncanny. It was also fascinating. I told myself that was why I couldn’t stop staring at her, but I wasn’t sure if that was the truth or not.

“What?” she asked.

“Sorry, I just can’t get over how much you look like Ana de Armas. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“No, but I’ve gotten Felicity Jones and Gal Gadot before.”

Now that I thought about it, Ana de Armas looked like a love child of Felicity Jones and Gal Gadot, so that tracked.

“Has anyone ever told you that you look like Kyle Chandler?”

“No, but I get Ben Affleck and Ron Livingston a lot.”

She shook her head in disapproval. “No, you are Kyle. All the way.”

“I don’t actually know who that is.”

“He’s Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights?”

I shook my head. I knew the show was popular, and it was about high school football in Texas, which I’d actually played, but once I left Texas, I hadn’t wanted to relive my time there.

“Folks, if I can have your attention!” A woman in an Eagle Airlines polo waved her hand. “All flights are canceled until the morning.”

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