Page 74 of Pucking Secret

“Don’t go,” I whisper. “Stay.”

He grins, squeezing me tighter to him.

“All right,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Honestly, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: MORNINGS WITH THE FAMILY

STACEY

The soundof my alarm going off pulls me out of a deep sleep that I’m reluctant to leave. It takes me several moments to realize that I’m alone. Rolling over, I find his side of the bed empty and when I run my hand over the sheets, they’re cold. He’s been gone for a while. Disappointment settles inside me. After everything that happened yesterday and last night, I was kind of hoping to wake up next to him today.

That’s when I notice a yellow post-it on his pillow. I freeze, anxiety flooding through me in an instant. I have to swallow down my panic as I reach for it, remembering the last time Owen left me a handwritten message…

I let out a sigh of relief when I read it. Nothing to fear. The opposite, actually — he’s left me a sweet little note.

Good morning, beautiful,

I had to leave for early morning practice and didn’t want to wake you. The team is leaving tonightfor our game in Nashville, otherwise I’d skip practice and keep you in bed all day ;) Text me when you get up.

Owen

I grin like an idiot as I clutch the note to my chest and roll back over to grab my phone off the bedside table. I nibble my bottom lip and send him a message.

Stacey: Good morning. I missed you when I woke up

To my surprise and delight, he responds within moments.

Owen: I know. I wish I was there with you right now, but Coach would’ve had my ass if I was late.

Laughing to myself, I sink back against the pillows. My smile widens as I type out a response. I decide to tease him a bit — drive him a little crazy.

Stacey: *Sigh* I see how it is. Here I am, all soft and sleepy and cuddly, and am still no competition for an old man with a whistle ;)

Owen: Baby, if you’d been awake when I had to leave, I’d still be there. That’s why I had to sneak away.

I burst into a giggle. This is fun… it kind of feels like we’re kids again, flirting and teasing each other because we simply can’t help ourselves.

Stacey: Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I can forgive you.

Owen: Thank God! I was afraid I’d have to grovel.

Stacey: I mean, a little groveling never hurt anyone.

Owen: I’ll keep that in mind, sweetcheeks. Are you coming to the Nashville game?

Stacey: Yeah, but I have an early morning flight tomorrow instead of leaving tonight. I don’t have anyone to watch Millie overnight tonight.

A part of me wishes I could go and be with the team overnight. Owen and I might be able to steal some time away, just the two of us. However, another part of me would also want Millie there. She needs more time with her dad now that she knows who he is.

Owen: We should start making a plan for how we’re going to make this work. I don’t want to miss another moment of Millie’s life.

My heart flutters. I love how he’s diving headfirst into being a father without hesitation. It makes me kind of wish I’d had the courage to tell him sooner, but I’m determined not to dwell on the what-ifs. We need to focus on the here and now and figuring out how to be together.

I type back quickly.

Stacey: I think that’s a good idea. We’ll figure out a plan when we’re both back home.

Just as I hit send, the door bursts open, and Millie charges in, her curls bouncing wildly around her face. She pauses, looks around, and then charges toward me with a look of determination.

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