Page 54 of Falling for You

Okay, I have to admit, that was fun.

A few minutes later, I swallow hard as the doors ding open, and I walk out into Taylor’s massive living area, a room I haven’t been in since I snuck out that morning.

My eyes lock on him sitting on his couch, playing with something. His eyes come our way, and they widen in shock.

“Hey,” I whisper over Hudson’s coos, “I was wondering if you had room for two more in your car?”

I hold my breath and wait for his answer, hoping and praying I haven’t pushed him away.

Chapter 22

Taylor

I sigh as I spin the silver bracelet belonging to my stubborn, hardheaded, beautiful girl. I eye the extra charms lacing it, which sum up the kind of person she is.

A cradle for our son, a heart with ‘Mom’ in the middle because she’s an amazing mother, a dark blue heart gem to indicate our sons and my eyes, and a caduceus to represent that she’s a nurse.

I also added a sun because the room lights up when she’s around.

Since sleeping with Pen, we’ve been closer, but she hasn’t given in yet. I can still feel that wall up. It’s been a week, I’ll sleep in bed next to her, holding her all night long while our son sleeps, but there’s still that part of her keeping me out. I don’t know how to break that bit of wall down without her opening up to her father.

She won’t come to my games, won’t meet my family as the mother of my child and the girl I’m in love with instead preferring to be known as the nurse who looked after Kaylah. Heck she won’t even see my little niece yet because, apparently, she doesn’t want her to get the wrong idea about us when there isn’t a wrong idea.

I’m hers, and she’s mine, and have been since that night at Bulls.

I gently rub the heart charm, hating that I have to leave soon. This means I won’t see Pen or Hudson because they both will most likely be asleep by the time I’m done with the press, whether we win or lose.

We’re playing the New England Eagles tonight, which will determine whether we’ll make it back into the semi-finals. If we lose, we don’t get another chance of playing, and I really want my girl and son there. That would mean she’ll need to meet my parents, and so far, she’s pushed back against it, and I know it’s because that last wall is still up.

My phone rings, and I pick it up and without looking at the screen, I answer, “Yeah?” Keeping my eyes on the bracelet.

I wonder if she’ll finally let me in when she realizes I kept the bracelet after all this time.

“Well, hello to you too, little brother,” Dylan says, and I snort.

“Shouldn’t you be doing press right about now after winning?” I ask.

“Well, actually, little brother, I managed to convince my coach to let me off interviews so I could get to the arena and watch you kick some ass, though Xanthe will be with me. I didn’t know she was at the game, and I walked out to see her flirting with some reporter, so I can imagine that’ll be in the press tomorrow,” he says.

I sigh, “The woman needs to fucking check herself. Doesn’t she realize you’re ready to divorce her?”

He chuckles darkly and admits, “Despite what our mom, dad, or even Hannah believes, I was ready to divorce her as soon as the doctors confirmed she was never pregnant. She tried to fake a miscarriage, brother.”

My lips part in shock, and I stutter, “Then why did you stay? I mean, why not kick her to the fucking curb?”

“One, because I didn’t make her sign a prenup until after we married, and that only stated she gets fuck all if she’s caught cheating no matter how long we’re married or otherwise, she gets half of everything, and two, bad fucking press. You know this, Tay, I can’t have that for my team.”

“Fuck’s sake Dylan,” I mutter, and he huffs.

“I know,” he admits, “besides, after a few months, we clicked, the sex was good and well easy, a part of me was hoping I’d fall in love with her.”

“You just couldn’t get past the lies, huh,” I ask.

“That and every guy with a status that comes close to her, she’s tried to get their attention, just never crossed that line in eyesight. The woman is fucking high maintenance and a menace. There isn’t even friendship between us, but hopefully, this private detective has something. Then, I can finally be free because honestly, Tay, I feel fucking trapped,” he admits, and I sigh.

“I’m sorry, Dyl,” I say, unsure what else to say.

The idiot managed to get himself trapped, but he thought he was doing the right thing after witnessing Kaylah’s biological father walk away without so much as looking back.

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