Page 92 of Secret Love

“I do. They're great kids. And they all really like Tru a lot. My oldest, Cassidy, is her student, and she's struggling with the thought of me dating her teacher, but she's crazy about Tru, so I think it's all going to be fine. But we've kept things kind of low-key because of that…and also just trying to take our time getting to know each other.”

“I think it's commendable that you're putting your girls’ feelings into consideration,” Stephanie says.

“But I want you to know I'm also taking your daughter’s feelings into consideration. And I want to do right by her too.” I reach out and take Tru’s hand and squeeze it.

She looks like she might cry too.

“I didn't mean to make you get teary…I just wanted to be open about the whole thing.”

“Thank you for that,” Stephanie says.

I smile at her and then reach down and kiss Tru’s hand. And then we move on to dessert.

CHAPTER THIRTY

FOREPLAY TIGHTS

TRU

The school year has come to an end, and I can finally breathe a little bit. It's been really hectic, but things are good.

My mom loves Silver Hills as much as I do. She sees Clara and Lane at least once a week, and she fits right in around here. She loves Sadie and Elle and Calista. Honestly, I think she knows more people than I do at this point. She’s working at Rose &Thorn, the elegant restaurant on Jupiter Lane, and I’m shocked by the amount she makes in tips.

I love seeing her happy.

My dad isnotso happy.

He hasn’t come out here…yet…but he’s started calling me regularly, wanting me to put in a good word for him with Mom. I tell him he’s on his own there and that I hope she never goes back to him because she’s doing so much better without him. That never goes over well. He hung up on me the last time.

Mom is obsessed with Henley. She says she’s never met anyone like him and that I should hold onto a man who looks at me the way he does. She spoils him rotten every time he comes over and then goes to bed around eight thirty to give us time to ourselves, despite us telling her she doesn't need to rush off. He’s spent the night occasionally, usually on the weekends, but I usually go to his place.

Things with Henley are…well, I can’t even think about him without my heart flip-flopping, so I think it’s safe to say that my feelings are only growing for the man. I’m ready for things to be out in the open soon—I’ve been the one still holding things back. If it had been up to him, the whole world would know by now, but I just needed to get through this school year for Cassidy's sake. She's doing amazing. Her reading has improved dramatically, and things are great between us, which has made me afraid to mess anything up.

But I think we’ll be okay. I hope we will.

Henley wants to tell the girls tonight. His approach has been to not bring it up unless they did, while we’ve been exploring things between us, but we’re past that point now. It’s time to come out with it.

Sadie invited me to go with her and Caleb to see the Mustangs practice this afternoon, and I’ll ride home with Henley. My mom’s working the lunch shift today, so she can’tgo, but she hopes to make it another time. She gets downright swoony when she sees the five football players together.

“That’s a lot of testosterone heaven right there,” she says.

I’m watching when Sadie pulls into the driveway and I kiss Earl on the nose and set him down. He’s gotten so big.

“I’ll see you soon. Protect the fort for me, okay?”

Benson Boone is blasting when I get in Sadie’s SUV. Caleb’s little head is bopping. He waves excitedly when I see him, but it’s nothing like the reaction I’ve seen him make when he sees Henley.

“Hi, Caleb!” I wave back, and say hello to Sadie.

“Are you ready for this?” she asks.

“I think so. Should I be nervous?”

“No, this is pretty chill. Some of the players’ wives and girlfriends aren’t as awesome, but there are enough that are.” She looks over and smiles when she sees my outfit. I’m wearing a white cargo dress with teal wedges.

“Is this okay?” I ask, bringing my hair over my shoulder so it doesn’t get smooshed. “I have a hard time doing casual.”

“You always look stunning,” she says.

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