Total pages in book: 230
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 217798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1089(@200wpm)___ 871(@250wpm)___ 726(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s a princess doing in our school anyway?”
“Spending time with kids.”
“Princesses like kids?” His brows rose.
“I guess they do.”
“Kids like princesses.” He smiled, the one that looked identical to his father’s and made my heart melt.
“Do they?”
“I do.”
“You do?” I felt myself smile wider. “Because they wait for their prince to rescue them?”
“Nah.” He shook his head. “Daddy says princesses don’t need saving.”
“He said that?”
“He says they’re the ones who do the saving.”
“Really?”
“Yup.” He frowned. “Do you think he’s right?”
“I’m not sure.” I sighed, repositioning myself so I was more comfortable. “What’s your name?”
“Asher. Asher Drake,” he announced proudly.
“I’m Pilar.” I extended my hand to him. He took it in his small grip and bowed before kissing the backs of my fingers. I laughed.
“That was very official.”
“I know. I saw it in a movie.”
“You may just be my new favorite kid, Asher Drake.”
“Does that mean I can be a knight?”
“Definitely.”
“Will you knight me?” His eyes widened.
“Only the king can knight you.” I winked. “It’s a good thing I know him.”
“Ash.” The voice came from a woman, and we both turned in that direction. His mother. I stood quickly and patted his curls.
“It was great to speak to you, Asher.”
“You too, Princess.”
I felt a tiny rip in my heart then swallowed back the emotion that threatened to overwhelm me.
“I’m sorry. I was in the school and—” I began to apologize to his mother for speaking to her son, but she put a hand up and dismissed the apology.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Oh.”
“It’s not like I could exactly get ahold of you.” She smiled. “And normally I wouldn’t want to, but I know Ben, and I’ve never seen him this distraught.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” I bit my lip.
“He told me it was because of this.” She turned her head slightly toward Asher.
“It’s not just this. It’s not this at all actually.” I smiled sadly. “It’s me. I’m the problem.”
“Because you don’t think you’re ready for this.”
“I’m not.”
“No one is. I mean, I don’t think I am most days.”
“That’s what Ben said.”
“He’s not wrong,” she said. “And my boyfriend, Jack, it’s all new to him too, but he’s trying, and he’s doing so great.” She paused, exhaling. “Anyway, I’m speaking out of turn, and I don’t know your full story or issue. But I just want you to know that we’re here for you. If you love Ben half as much as he loves you, we’re all here for you.”
The tears came then, even though I batted them away quickly. “He loves me?”
“He does.”
“He said that?”
“He didn’t have to.” She smiled. “When you know, you know.”
I licked my lips, nodding. “Thank you for this…”
“Tamara.” She laughed. “I should have started with that. My name’s Tamara.”
“Thank you, Tamara. Truly.” I looked at Asher again, who was now talking to the little boy beside him. “You’ve done an exceptional job with him.”
“Thank you.” She smiled and reached for her son’s hand. “I hope to see you around.”
I smiled but didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what I could say. I’d dismissed Ben and his feelings for me because I wasn’t sure I was ready to assume a role in his child’s life. Because I wasn’t sure that I was prepared for that. I didn’t know how to even speak to a child most of the time. I hadn’t thought about Ben’s feelings toward me or mine toward him. I hadn’t thought about all of the extra stuff I’d be throwing away when I said goodbye to him. I hadn’t taken into account the hollow feeling in my chest or how every single day would be consumed by thoughts of him. And I sure didn’t know how to fix it now. But maybe it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone and try.
CHAPTER 31
Ben
The last thing I wanted to do was go out there and play a match, but I knew I had to. Between the Kayla thing weighing heavily on me, because I felt responsible for her being anywhere near Pilar in the first place, and letting go of Pilar, things were just not looking great for me. Football was my job though, and the show had to go on after Pilar. I’d only missed one game my entire career, and that was after my brother died.
“You’ve got this.” David handed me my water bottle.
“I know.” I nodded.
Even if I didn’t have this, I would fake it until I made it. Sometimes it took that to get going, to get in the zone.
“Drake!” The voice came from behind me.
I turned around to see Warren Silva walking up. Now I definitely had to do my best out there. Silva was my idol, my mentor when I came into the league, and one of the best footballers to grace the pitch. I said hello to him, gave him a quick hug and dap.