Page 70 of Mad Love

“That wouldn’t be realistic,” I say finally. “We don’t need to avoid living our lives just because of what might be said about us.”

“Well, let me know if you change your mind,” she says.

“I won’t change my mind.” My tone is sharper than I intended, but fuck, I don’t even know what to say.

“Why don’t I go lay Caleb down for his nap?” Pam says. “He’s looking sleepy.”

Sadie kisses Caleb’s cheek and hands him to Pam. “Thanks, Mom.”

I kiss him too and Pam takes him upstairs.

“I’m sorry I snapped at you. I feel like an ass. If you don’t want to be seen with me, I’d understand.”

“You’re fine. It sounds like you’ve had a crazy day,” she says.

“It’s no excuse.” I lean my hands on the back of the couch and lower my face until we’re a foot apart. “There are parts of this life that aren’t the easiest,” I say.

She swallows hard.

“Off-season is like a summer vacation. It’ll get busier than it’s been the past month and a half before too long, but when I’m playing, I’ll be gone a lot. It’ll be a lot different than this.”

She blinks and she looks so damn pretty, it’s distracting. My eyes fall to her lips and she swallows again. I force myself to look in her eyes again.

“I guess I just want you to know what you’re getting into…and that this isn’t an accurate picture right now. The media can get intense. I’ve liked being in this bubble getting to know Caleb…and you. The people in the lives of the players…the women…can get hit pretty hard. I don’t want that for you, but I’m selfish enough that I don’t want you retreating either. At least not retreating from me.”

I lean back and run my hands through my hair, too much energy coursing through me. I need to work out for a few hours.

“I like where we are now, Sadie. I don’t want anything or anyone messing that up. I want to see…where it goes.”

Shit. I didn’t mean to say that last sentence, even though it’s how I feel.

My hand slides off the back of my neck and I sigh, waiting for her to say something.

“I like where we are too,” she says. “But don’t you think it’s normal that we’d get somewhat attached raising a baby together and living in the same house? We’re new to this and we’re relying on each other for a lot. We can’t mistake that for…anything more.”

“I’ve never felt anything close to what I felt last night when I kissed you,” I tell her.

Her mouth parts and she blinks, stunned silent for a few seconds.

“Maybe it’s best that I go stay in my apartment,” she says. “I can drive back and forth during the day.”

“What? No. Sadie, come on. I don’t want you to go. If you tell me that what happened last night didn’t mean anything to you, I’ll let this go and we don’t have to talk about it again.”

“I don’t want to talk about it again,” she says.

Well, fuck.

I guess that’s my answer.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

LANDMARK MOUNTAIN

SADIE

“What do you think we forgot?” Weston asks.

I laugh. “I’m sure several things, but hopefully nothing urgent.”

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