Page 11 of The Light We Lost

“I’m guessing this is why I saw you give Bethany our trophy?”

I gave him a sheepish grin. “I told her she could have it since I only like real gold.”

Nolan laughed, shaking his head as he grabbed my hand and urged me out of my seat and across the cab. I settled sideways on his lap, my legs dangling overhis. I rested my head against his shoulder, already feeling the pressure in my chest ease.

It didn’t matter where our paths led us, so long as I always ended up here.

“They don’t know what I know. They don’t know us.” His fingers danced over my legs. “It’s you who made me believe I was worth something. Every time I’ve wanted to quit, you’re the one who keeps me going. You’re not mooching off my dreams, you’re giving them life.” He lifted my chin with his finger and thumb, holding my gaze. “We’re almost out of here, Indy. Soon, nothing else will matter but us.”

He sealed his words with a kiss, lingering until I melted like butter against him. I didn’t care what this town or even Mom thought—I only cared about Nolan. “I’m always going to believe in you.”

“Good. Because there’s something we should talk about.” He rubbed at his jaw with his hand and my stomach twisted with panic at the slight shake in his voice.Why does he sound so nervous?“I heard back from my advisor. It turns out we weren’t approved for couples housing. Apparently, they give priority to married couples. Since I’m a freshman, I have to live on campus . . . and you can only live on campus if you’re a student or married to one.”

“So I can’t live with you?”

He shook his head. “Not on campus.”

“Alright.” I blinked hard, refusing to cry over something as minimal as housing even though it felt like a boulder had crashed onto my lungs. “That’s okay, I don’t have to go. I’ll stay here and travel up on weekends. Maybe Mom will let me adjust my schedule to where I’m off for your home games. It won’t be forever, we’ll be fine—”

“Peaches.” Nolan palmed my face, squishing my cheeks, and despite the situation, I smiled. “I’m not leaving without you.”

“This isn’t about me—” I tried.

“I’m not leaving without you,” he repeated, his tone lined with gentle firmness.

My heart squeezed, and something that felt like guilt washed over me. “You’re not quitting. Not for me.”

“You’reright. I’m not quitting baseball, and I’m not quitting you.” He shifted me on his lap, turning me to face him. “There’s another option for us.”

I eyed him, seeing the way his throat bobbed. “What are you wanting to do?”

He smiled at me, and I should’ve known then: I would’ve done anything he wanted.

Nolan

“Tell me, son—were you bored, or does stirring up shit come naturally to you?”

I caught the pillow Dad tossed at me and threw it back, swallowing my laugh as his phone rang again. “I didn’t know you’d get dragged into it.”

“Like hell you didn’t.” He silenced his phone and plopped down on his recliner. It was after midnight, and I had to be up to work at the shop in the morning, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. “Any minute now, I’ll be forced to watch when Lila comes over and burns you to death.”

I laughed. Dad was over six feet tall and had at least a buck twenty-five on Lila Tyler, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was scared of her. It was a miracle I’d made it home in one piece after we’d announced our plans to Indy’s parents. “Thanks for protecting me. You’re dad of the year.”

“I can’t die for you, Nolan. At least not until Levi graduates high school and Brooks is back in town to take care of you babies.”

“No one mommas us quite like Brooks.”

Dad smirked, running a hand through his full beard. “I dare you to call him momma.”

I raised my brows, silently promising I would. I’d get my ass kicked, but nothing was sweeter than getting under my older brother’s skin. I settled deeper into the couch, catching glimpses of reruns and sports highlights. “Do you think I’m making a mistake?”

“Do you?”

I glanced down the hall to where my little brother slept, not surprised Dad hadn’t given me a straight answer. “Everyone else seems to.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

I groaned. “No, I don’t. But that’s not enough to stop everyone from running their mouths. Indy heard some girls call her a gold digger, talking about how I should wise up and dump her.” I rolled my fingers into a fist, thinking of what I’d heard with my own ears when Indy had stepped outside. When I didn’t have to worry about my hands anymore, I owed Sam a punch to the jaw for asking when I’d be done with her, claiming he was eager to get his hands on her wild ass.

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