Page 161 of Off Season

I blurt out, “I can’t ever marry you because you want kids. You might say you don’t care, but I know you do. Look at how you are with Harper.”

I’ve spent a lot of time over the past three weeks thinking about the fact that I almost accepted his proposal just before the accident. I was obviously caught up in the wedding atmosphere. I didn’t mean it.

I feel him stiffen. “Don’t tell me what I want. I’m sick of people doing that. It’s been happening my whole life. I’m not saying I need to have kids, but why are you dead set against it? You’re very good with Harper too. She worships you.”

“She’s a unicorn.” I rub my fingers over his chin as my face falls serious. “Cruz, I don’t see myself as a mother. I never have. Crazy Aunt Kam will be my title one day. That’s it.”

His face turns serious too. “Then I can be Crazy Uncle Cheetah.”

“I don’t know if I believe that will be enough for you.” I blow out a breath as I look up. “I want to be unselfish and tell you to go find some child-bearing woman, but I can’t right now. I need you too much. You’re my happy place.”

He squeezes me tightly. “You’re mine too. How was Bails today? Sorry I wasn’t here at all. We had a few mandatory team meetings and then a team workout.”

“Inch by inch, we’re getting there. I know she wishes it was faster, but she’s a hard worker.” I sigh. “I need to work out too. I’ve never gone this long without breaking a sweat.”

“You can bounce on top of me right now. Sweat away.”

I giggle before looking around. “I’ve missed your forts. Too bad it’s not a nudist fort.”

He wiggles his eyebrows. “We can make it one.”

Tanner yells out from somewhere nearby, “You better not.”

This fucking guy is driving me nuts.

I smileinto the camera on my computer. “Thank you, Dr. Pearl.”

“You’re a good sister, Kamryn. Make sure to carve out time for yourself. You’ll go mad if you don’t.”

I nod. “I’ll try.” I hear a knock at my door and know it’s time to shut down. “Have a good day, Dr. Pearl.”

“You too.”

I close my computer screen, unlock my door, and open it to see Fallon. She pokes her head in my room. “Who were you talking to?”

“My therapist. No one but Cheetah knows that I see her, so keep it under wraps.”

“I will.Does it help?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe. I started earlier this year to help me overcome my boatload of issues. Every session, I feel a little less fucked up. Maybe one day I’ll get to the point where I’m only slightly fucked up. Unfortunately, some issues never truly leave you.”

“Like what?”

“Like how much I hate your ex-husband.”

She lets out a laugh as she holds up a folder. “Nice deflection. Speaking of him, he left this for you. He said you need to sign all the cancellations of your endorsement deals. You don’t have to miss them all. I’m here for her.”

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving my sister anytime soon. Plus, there’s the added perk of Tanner not getting his agent fees.” I smile.

She lets out a laugh. “You two are oil and water.”

“That’s because he’s jerked my sister around for a long time. Speaking of which, is she awake?”

She naps nearly every afternoon. I think it’s part exhaustion and part depression, though she perks up when Harper gets home from school. Harper has been amazing. She plays board games with Bailey every single day before dinner.

Fallon shakes her head. “Nope. I’m bored. Harper won’t be home for a bit. Can I interest you in a glass of wine?” She wiggles her eyebrows up and down. “We can steal one of Tanner’s expensive bottles.”

“Now you’re talking my language. Let’s do it.”

---