Page 71 of The Way We Score

“Fuck me, Liv.” The words come out in a rush, and before I can register what’s happening, I’m scooped up in Garrett’s arms. “I’m pretty sure my heart stopped.”

His face is in my hair, and my knees collapse. It doesn’t matter. He holds me up, tight against his chest, and a muffled sob escapes my throat. I reach up to put my arms around his shoulders and hold on for a moment, until I get my bearings again.

“Garrett.” More tears fall onto my cheeks. I can’t stop them. “Why did you do that?”

“What?” He lifts his head, frowning, and I push against his arms.

He releases me, and I take a step back, swiping away the tears and trying to get control. “You stood there like I was giving you the weather report. You didn’t even react.”

He takes another step forward, and now his eyes are shining. He cups my face in both hands, looking down at me like I’m something precious. My stomach twists, and another tear pops out.

“You have no idea how hard that was for me.” Shaking his head, I think I see moisture hiding in his blue eyes. “But I’m trying to change, Liv. I’m trying not to make it all about me.”

“Well, you picked a fine time to change!” My voice is pouty, and he chuckles, pulling me into his chest again for a hug.

“Damn, Liv. You’re having my baby.”

My head is on his shoulder, and I nod slowly. Rotating me carefully, he moves a hand around my waist. His palm spreads over my stomach, and he softly speaks the wordMine.

It’s pure amazement, and at last, I feel calm.

14

Garrett

Liv’s having my baby. It’s like some kind of crazy dream come true. My mind reels, and all I want to do is hold her in my arms. I want to kiss her so bad, but again, it’s not The Garrett Show. I have to let her take the lead.

Letting her take the lead is fucking hard as hell. I’m ready to put a ring on it and move her here to New York. We can spend my last year in the city together. I smile, thinking about her in the box all round and pregnant, smiling and waving in my jersey.

Damn, that’s good.

“I can’t do this alone, Garrett.” Her tone almost seems afraid.

What the hell does she have to be afraid of?

“You won’t do it alone.” I’m pure confidence. “I’ll help you with everything.”

“But how?” She takes a step back again, brow furrowed. “I can’t move here, and you can’t move back to Newhope.”

So much for my big plan.

We’re quiet again, and the sounds of the busy Manhattanstreets echo soft in the air, audible even at this height. I think about what Jack and I’ve discussed, and how it looks like we’ll have to speed up the timeline. I can’t wait until next year to retire. Liv needs me now.

“Who says I can’t?”

“What?” She blinks up at me, her pretty hazel eyes wide. “But your contract…”

“I’ll worry about my contract.”

“I just… Mom needs me to be close, and I can’t imagine having a baby without her, so far away.”

Looking down, I think about what she’s saying. I think about all those years ago, when we were faced with our first separation, and it was only college.

“The last time we had a hard decision to make, you asked me to come to you, and I said no.” My throat tightens, and I swallow that regret. “I’m not saying no to you again.”

Our eyes meet, and another tear falls onto her cheek. She wipes it away fast.

“Okay.” Her voice cracks with a whisper, and it hits me right in the stomach.

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