Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 109(@200wpm)___ 87(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Todd tenses up, glaring at my eldest brother. "Get out of the way," he snarls.
"First, you need to explain what happened with your agent," Hudson says, his drawl thicker than usual.
Todd glares at him. "What the fuck are you talking about?"
Cole joins in, "Did you agree to return to San Francisco?"
Todd’s eyes widen as he runs a hand through his dark hair. "You think I'm leaving?" He lets out a deep breath and shakes his head. "You think I'd fucking leave again? I came back to Silver Spoon Falls for her, you assholes." My tears start to dry up. He's here. He came back for me. He's not going anywhere. "I told him I'm retiring. I’m moving here to chase my real dream. Knocking up your sister. Now, move," Todd repeats, staring Hudson down. "Or I'll move you."
Hudson frowns. "You fucking break her heart again, we'll take turns breaking you," he says.
Finally, Hudson steps to the side, and Todd rushes over to me.
"You damn well better marry her before knocking her up, or you'll still be in a body cast when the baby arrives," Silas interjects before suggesting to the rest of my brothers that they should give us some privacy.
As they walk out, Tanner shoots a look at Todd and says, "We'll be just in the next room."
Once we’re alone, Todd gently wipes his thumb over my cheek, catching the lingering tears that glisten in the dim light. "Why did you run?" he asks softly, his voice a soothing balm.
I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of my fears as I admit, "I thought you were planning to go back to San Francisco, and it broke my heart." My voice trembles with the confession.
He shakes his head slowly, his eyes filled with earnestness. "Silver Spoon Falls is my home," he declares, a tender smile curving his lips, and he corrects himself. "Actually, that isn't right. My home is anywhere you are." In that moment, the pieces of my shattered heart begin to come together, like a puzzle finding its perfect fit. He isn't leaving me. A warmth spreads through my chest as I hear him say, "I need you more than I need my next breath. I'm not going anywhere." His words wrap around me like a comforting embrace, chasing away the shadows of doubt.
"Oh, Todd," I say. "You don't know how happy that makes me."
He grins, and it's the cocky, slightly wicked smile I remember from when we first fell in love. It makes my heart beat in a funny rhythm. "I love you.” He stares into my eyes. “I’m not ever letting you out of my sight again.”
I shake my head, still half in disbelief. "That sounds great to me." Then a sudden thought flashes through my mind. “Wait.” I blow out my breath. “What if you miss your NFL career?” I don’t want him to ever regret his relationship with me.
“The NFL wasn’t my dream. Not after I met you. I only played football so I could make enough money to take care of you. And our family.” My heart squeezes in my chest as I see sincerity shining from his eyes.
“What if you miss all the excitement?” I have to know he isn’t going to blame me for giving up his dream.
“I’m going to have plenty of excitement in my life. I’m hoping you’ll help me create a sports program for underprivileged kids through the Carrington Charitable Foundation. Between coaching kids and chasing after our own kids, I’ll be too happy to even think about my past NLF career.” My heart melts in my chest. He’s choosing me over his career. All the hurt from years ago turns into intense happiness now that we’ve found each other again all these years later.
“Now that we’ve straightened all that out.” He tugs me closer, and I feel his breath warm against my neck. "There's just one thing left to discuss—how soon you’re going to marry me," he suggests. "We should get it done quickly since I’ve been trying my hardest to get you pregnant for weeks, and I definitely don’t want to be in a body cast when our baby arrives."
I laugh and cry simultaneously, my words getting caught in my throat. "Sounds like a plan to me." He kisses me deeply, and I melt into him as happiness flows through me.
The spring heat smacks me upside the head as I step out the back door holding a tray of steaks ready for the grill. Our yard is filled with our family. There’s nothing left to do but fire up the grill and watch the chaos play out. Maggie stretches out in a deck chair, adorable with the baby bump. Cole rolls around on the grass with my nieces, who swarm him like angry little ladybugs. Tanner and Silas race by in a blur, all grumbles and insults. Hudson takes a spatula from me with a glare.