Page 106 of While We Waited

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Okay, fine. More like an hour. I’ll message my friends. If they come, I’ll be faster.”

Hudson shackles my wrist as I try to pass him. “You’re not making any sense, Nova.”

“I’m not making sense! I’m not the one who’s keeping secrets!” I tug on his hold but he doesn’t release me.

“You need to slow down. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

I push up on my tiptoes to get in his face. “All you care about is the baby. You don’t care about me.”

“What are you talking about? I care about you.”

“Because I’m growing your baby inside of me. But don’t you worry. Me and the baby will be out of your hair momentarily.” I tug on his hold again. “As soon as you let me go.”

“I’m not letting you go,” he growls. “I’m never letting you go.”

“Really?” I throw my free arm in the air. “How is that going to work when you’re off galivanting with the team whileI’m here on Smuggler’s Hideaway being a boring mom and beer salesperson?”

“Galivanting?”

“It means—”

“I know what it means,” he says and cuts me off. “What I don’t know is why you’re talking about me off galivanting.”

“I saw,” I seethe.

“Saw what?”

This time when I yank on his hold, it works and I manage to retreat a few steps from him. “You’re leaving me.”

“You have to help me out here.”

“Help you? You wantmeto helpyouget a job that earns one million dollars a year? Are you out of your mind?”

“Shit,” he swears under his breath.

“Now you get it. And I need to leave.”

He blocks my departure. “You are not going anywhere.”

“I’ll go wherever I want.”

“I’m not going anywhere either.”

“Of course not. This is your chalet.”

“Listen to me, Sunshine. I am not going anywhere. I’m not leaving. I’m not accepting the job.”

“Why not? Isn’t offensive coordinator your perfect job?”

“I thought it was.”

My heart seizes. I was right. He’s leaving me.

“Sunshine.” He cradles my face with his hands. “Hear me. Ithoughtit was. I was wrong. Football is my past.”

“But you always sound full of regret whenever I bring up your football career.”

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