Page 66 of The Girl He Loves

I wipe my face on his T-shirt, not caring that I left a mascara smudge. I pull back to look up at him. “You aren’t going to New York?”

He shakes his head. “I wanted to tell you this later. I have a whole plan in motion, but I can see that making you wait might not have been the best move.”

My eyes narrow. “What are you talking about?”

“I took the assistant coach job for the university in Orlando. It’s the closest I could get to Daytona.”

“When did this happen?” My brain is slowly processing what he’s just said.

“Well, that day I was here with you and Tyler, the night after you sexed me up in the minivan? I asked my agent if there was anything nearby that might work for me. He called and said the university might be interested, but I had to meet with them that day since the head coach was headed out of town the following day.”

“That’s why you rushed out of here?”

“Yep.” He wipes moisture from my cheek.

“I thought we weren’t going to keep stuff like this from each other?”

He smiles. “I know, and I felt terrible, but I really wanted it to work out, and I was afraid to bring it up. And what if I didn’t get the job? All of it felt like a lot to load on you when you weren’t even sure you wanted me to come back even one more day. Remember?”

I nod. “So, you’re moving to Orlando?” I’m still wrapped in his arms.

“I wasn’t joking when I said I’d been aimless until I ran into you. Throwing the football out here with Tyler helped me decide on my next course.”

My phone, which has been pressed into my hand and his waist, buzzed. I glanced at the screen. Josie.

“She wants to go over the results I’m sure.” I show him the screen.

He meets my gaze. “Can we see them together first?”

“If you want. Are you sure?”

He smiles. “I know you think a lot would change for me, but I disagree.”

“Everything would change for you,” I say, incredulous.

He puts up a finger. “Wait right here.” He hops backward, mumbling. “Why did I bother to make a plan? Nothing is going like I planned.” He hobbles out of the room.

I sip coffee while I wait, desperate to take a peek. I text Josie that we’re going to look at the results now and will call her ASAP.

Dax hops back in and comes to a stop before me. He smiles then drops to one knee, kicking out his broken leg to one side. “Damn, this is uncomfortable.”

“What are you doing?” I say.

He takes my hand in his. “Heather Lowell Michaels. Will you marry me? I don’t care what that paternity test says. I want Tyler and I want you, not in that order, equally. I want this.” He gestures to the house. “I want to come home to you every night. I want to make street taco shells from big tortillas. I want to play catch with Tyler and go to the doctors with you. I want to take care of him and do everything in my power to make him healthy. I want to give him siblings. And I want…”

I clap my hand over his mouth. “Stop.” I shake my head. “I can’t take it. I can’t believe this is happening. I love you, and I was afraid you might not feel the same about me, and all this might be the last thing you would ever want.”

“Help me up,” he says. My hand is still in his, and he presses something into my palm.

I open my hand to find a diamond ring.

Dax says, “I’m going to take your declaration of love as a yes.”

“Yes,” I say. Then pause. “Oh, you have to ask Tyler. That’s the right thing to do.”

He dismisses me with a wave of his hand. “Already did that last night.”

“Wait, you and Tyler discussed this, and he kept it a secret?”

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