Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37885 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 152(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
She was thinking about me while I was thinking about her. But when I had the chance to do the right thing, all I did was take her for myself.
I have to tell her the truth. Right now.
As I stand and stumble for the door as my phone rings in my pocket, and in almost a daze I answer the call, putting the phone to my ear.
“Jackson! How are things going, kid? Resting up that throwing arm I hope!” Harson Hilton chuckles, his voice turning my mood dark. “Son, I want to get things moving with this contract. Need to get you all squared away and confirmed, what do you say? You’re in Harbor Shores, right? My Cindy said she saw you. I’m stuck here in New York but I’ve got a private jet just sitting on a runway with nowhere to go. Get your ass over to the Charlevoix Airport, I’ll fly you on up here in style and we can get the ball rolling. Soon as that’s done, I’ll make sure all your family’s other little problems go away.”
I’m shaking my head, a growl rubling in my chest. How dare he interrupt this? I have no idea how long I’ve got with Mina, and he wants to talk about football contracts? “I’m looking after my sister this week, Harson.”
“Well, hell, bring her along too! I bet she’ll love a ride in a private jet and a few days in a swanky hotel. My treat. We’ve got the fashion week going on up here, too. She likes fashion, right? What girl her age doesn’t? Maybe she can tag along with my Cindy. And you know how much I value that all-American family image.” Harson sounds so fucking pleased with himself as my stomach knots. “You should too. Cultivate that image and you’ll go a long way jackson. I don’t do messy, remember that. You, your pretty sister, your beautiful stepmom and proud father are what I’m buying into with this deal. An NFL dynasty. You maintain that apple pie image and we’ll have no problems. No fights, no Twitter, no surprise knocked up girls. We’ve got doctors for that. Squeaky clean. Now get your ass to the airport.”
“No,” I say, sounding harsh.
Fuck, I don’t want to go to New York. I want to stay here with her. But if I tell her the truth right now, I’ll destroy that anyway.
Jesus, this is all a fucking mess.
Before he can come back with anything, I grunt and add, “I’ll let you know, Harson,” and throw the phone across the room.
I didn’t tell her. How could I? Ruin what we’ve got by bringing back all her memories?
Besides, maybe she’s already pregnant.
The thought comes to me without permission, but once it’s in my head, it’s hard to shift it. It’s true. We’ve had sex. Unprotected. She could already be knocked up, and if she’s not, maybe with a little more time…
It’s wrong, but also fucking right.
I need a few more days. I want a few more days of perfection, then I’ll tell her the truth. All of it. And let the dice fall how they will.
Except… She’s starting to remember things. Little things at the moment. Details about what happened, about how there were other people here when she fell in the pool. I explained that they were the agents showing us around the place, but I don’t think she bought it. Not completely. She looked puzzled and asked why I didn’t mention them before, and I didn’t have a good answer.
Right now, as I talk to my stepmom on the phone, she’s napping in literally the next room.
If she heard any of this…
“Can’t you go wake her up, Jackson? I really want to talk to my little girl. We’re not really going to have any reception for the next few days while we’re on safari and I’d like to hear her voice.”
I shake my head. “She’s had a killer migraine and just fell asleep. I really don’t want to disturb her, you know?”
“No.” My stepmom hesitates for a moment, then says more firmly, “No, you’re right, Jackson. Thank you for looking out for her. You’ve always been a good big brother, you know that? I trust you completely with my baby. And you know I love you like you are my own son. It’s good to hear your voice, anyway, and you’ll let her know I called, won’t you?”
“Sure, of course.”
“Your dad wants to have a word. I think it’s something to do with work. I’ve told him that this is our second honeymoon and I want him to relax, but you know what he’s like.”
I force a laugh. “Yeah. It’s fine. Put him on. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetheart.”
A second later, I hear my dad’s voice. It’s lowered, which means he’s probably moved away wanting to keep his own secrets. And right now, I’m hardly in a position to judge am I? “I had a phone call from Harson,” he says.