Page 142 of Butterfly Effect

I roll my eyes and imagine Indi would be doing the same if she were here.

“Hey, where’s Indi?”

“She’s inside, keeping her feet up.”

“She okay?” I point my thumb over my shoulder. “Should I go back in there?”

Landon pshaws. “Nothing to worry about. Normal pregnancy stuff. They ache after standing for a while.” He tuts. “My gorgeous wife played sous chef with Babi, Mom, and Delaney all day. And she won’t take a break and sit while coaching either.”

The car beeps, trunk rising with a whish as I hit the remote key.

“I’ve been working with the league to hire an assistant in secret. Your friend is unbelievably stubborn.”

“You’re telling me,” Wade chimes in. “It’s basically the reason they’re friends.”

Landon tosses him the sticks and grabs our bags while I trail behind them, empty-handed. A small, matching cabin stands to the left of the main house, donning a festive holly wreath on the door.

Our gracious host punches in the key code and explains how to reset it to whatever we want.

“I already had my dessert,” Pretty Boy mumbles from the corner of his mouth against my ear. “Three times.”

“Quiet, you.”

“What’s that?” Landon pries.

“How about we meet you back at the house in a few? I need to freshen up.”

“Alright, see you in a bit.”

I switch out my grungy, beat-up jeans and flannel top for a maroon sweater and leggings, and use the washroom mirror to untwist my delicate gold chain. Wade brushes aside the waves draping my shoulders and dots kisses on the cusp of my neck. We share a lazy hum.

“You doin’ okay?”

“Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He palms my nape and turns me to face him. “Your dad’s in India.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Gabe.” His voice is stern, cutting through my defense mechanism like a hot knife through butter.

My head sags but stays supported by his hold. “I’m fine. He wanted to go and I wasn’t ready yet. What do you want me to say?”

His stance widens and pins me to the vanity, cradling my jaw between his strong hands. “I want you to tell me the truth.”

The truth?

That I’m more attached to him than I thought was possible in three months? That I might be as obsessed with him as he is with me, but if I show it, he’ll freak out, and my heart won’t be able to take losing anyone else? That I’m more afraid of the loneliness waiting for me beyond New Year’s Day when we’re not together any longer?

I give him another truth instead.

My arms circle his waist, cinching him to me. “I’ve got everything I need right here.”

“Oh,Freckles,” he intones, tipping up my head so our mouths bump.

I smile where the seams of our lips meet. “I meant Indi.”

The extended Radek family fills the hearth room of the farmhouse. I’m familiar with a few from past interviews. His parents, grandparents, sister, and her kids. Others look similar enough to tell they’re related.

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