Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102549 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 513(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Because you and Pres have this connection with each other that reaches out and slaps you in the face. I felt it the night I met you guys. I’m convinced Prescott is in love with you as much as you’re in love with him. Me, on the other hand … what if he says, ‘Kit, I’ve been in love with you for years, but what do we need the kid for?’”
“I guarantee you he will not say that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you mean a lot to him as well.”
“Mm. Maybe. Guess we’re about to find out.”
“Where’d all your courage come from suddenly? If you say you’ve wanted this since we met but haven’t said anything because it’s been geographically impossible, why the change? Why now?”
“The geography was a good excuse for the real reason.”
“Which is?”
Brady pinches the bridge of his nose and then looks at me with determination in his eyes. “You know how you recently found out about my ability to actually be a grown-up and take care of people? It’s all I’ve done my whole life. My brother might be older than me, but I’ve always been the one protecting him. My best friend—fuck, I really need to call Felix because we’re both so busy with life we haven’t been able to catch up.” Brady takes out his phone and taps away on the screen.
“Focus,” I say. “What was your real reason for holding back?”
“Felix was a hot mess in college. I was his shoulder to cry on because I’ve always been the dependable one. It’s why I’m going to make a great agent. But that means that in my real life, outside of you and Prescott, I have an image I need to maintain for my clients. An athlete’s agent can’t be the story. They need to stay hidden.”
“Which makes me ask again, what has changed?”
“I told you I came out to my uncle. This is the man in charge of my career. He said not to hold back and that while a relationship with two men will cause headaches with the media and the public, I have to live my truth. Two days ago, I thought Prescott was dead. I was all but convinced of it. It’s only more reason to shoot my shot while I have the chance.”
Shoot his shot.
Shoot our shot.
Maybe Brady’s right. If I never admit aloud to Prescott how I feel about him, I may never get over him because I will never know for sure.
The only problem with that is I’m not sure I’m ready to accept rejection. I’m not ready to let him go. And I will have to if he doesn’t want me. And if he says he doesn’t want to be with me but wants to be with Brady, I’d have to deal with that on top of it all.
I can’t see myself living without either of them. “How is it that I used to brave war zones, but walking in there and telling Pres how I feel makes my legs weak and my throat dry? I’m on the verge of a panic attack or something, and I don’t get those.”
“The only thing you risked in a war zone was your life. We’re risking our hearts in there. That’s big.”
“Should we make it romantic or some shit? Buy him flowers? I don’t know how to do this.”
“Well, I don’t think we should hijack the hospital loudspeaker and pour our hearts out or anything, but yeah, flowers might be nice. Hospitals have gift shops, don’t they?”
We change direction and find the gift shop, but all the flowers are not really what we’re after. I pick up one bunch that has pastel purple ribbon around them and pink roses.
“They’re very flowery,” I say.
“Of course they are. They’re flowers.”
“They don’t look romantic. They look like they say, I’m sorry you’re dying.”
“Hmm. You’re right. We should find ones that at least say, We’re happy you’re not dead.”
“I can help with that,” the woman at the counter says. “If you want to combine some of the bouquets, I can reorganize them for you so they blend together and give you something bigger. Special.”
Brady and I look at each other and then hand over one of each bouquet she has.
She’s gloaty about getting us on the upsell, but little does she know, we don’t care about the money. We just want to make Prescott happy.
Fuck, I hope he’s happy about this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
prescott
Mom has been fussing over me since the minute she got here. Dad’s used to her ways and has the uncanny knack for tuning her out. When I get the chance to have my sister alone, I beg her to ask Mom for help with the kids to give me a break.
They won’t be gone long though, so I lie back and close my eyes, enjoying the peace.