Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
We break apart for air, both of us breathing heavily, eyes locked. Her cheeks are flushed, and her pupils are blown wide with desire. I press my forehead to hers, trying to gather my scattered thoughts.
“Ripley,” she manages, voice trembling, “I… I want this. I want to be with you.”
“Yeah?” A grin breaks across my face, relief and excitement surging. “You sure?”
She snorts a tiny laugh. “I’ve never been more sure. I mean… I was afraid it was all in my head, that you’d see me as just a fling, or worry I couldn’t handle Juniper—”
“Hey, no.” I cup her face, forcing her to look at me. “I’ve been worried you’d run the second you realized how complicated my life can be. You’ve got your own career, your own dreams.”
She shakes her head adamantly. “Complicated’s okay if it’s real.” Then she swallows, eyes suddenly shining with tears. “And this is definitely real.”
I draw her in for another kiss, tasting the salt of a single tear that escapes down her cheek. It’s not sadness, though, I can feel the joy behind it, the release of tension we’ve both been fighting. My arms tighten around her, like I can’t hold her close enough.
We make out like that for what feels like hours, hands roaming but still mindful of the fact that Juniper is asleep down the hall. The intensity flares, and each kiss grows more heated, more desperate. She rocks against me, and I feel her heartbeat thudding in sync with mine. Every brush of her lips sends a delicious ache through my body, and I’m half tempted to carry her to my bedroom right now.
As if reading my mind, Kali slides off my lap just enough to catch her breath, cheeks still flushed. “We should… probably talk about how this is going to work,” she says, voice husky. “Like, with Juniper, and boundaries, and… everything.”
I nod, still trying to steady my pulse. “Yeah. We’ll figure it out. Together.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against my side. She rests her head on my chest, her fingers idly tracing circles on my forearm. It’s so domestic, so sweet, that a part of me aches with gratitude. I never thought I’d have this—a real chance at love, with someone who gets me and isn’t scared off by my life.
After a few beats of comfortable silence, she lifts her head. “So… we’re doing this, right? Exclusively?”
Relief sweeps through me. “Absolutely,” I say, pressing a kiss to her temple. “No question.”
Her smile lights up the room, and she snuggles closer. “Good. Because I’ve already broken the news to Bristol that I’m completely gone for you and Juniper.”
I laugh, exhilarated at the thought that she’s telling people about us. My heart feels almost too big for my chest. “Guess I’ll have to let Hattie know we’re official. She’s gonna tease the hell out of me, but hey, she’s on board.”
Kali tilts her chin up to kiss me again, and this time it’s gentler. I cradle her face, matching her unhurried pace, savoring the warmth of her lips and the taste of her. When we part, we rest in the quiet, bodies tangled in the space of my living room couch, hearts finally on the same page.
“I’m yours,” I murmur, brushing a stray hair from her cheek. “And Juniper… well, she adores you. I think we’re stuck with you now.”
She giggles, eyes shining. “Good. I was hoping to be stuck.”
With that I pull her in for another lingering kiss, and then we head off down to my bedroom.
18
Kali
I’m perched on a low bench near first base, watching the kids scatter across the makeshift diamond as they scramble to their positions. It’s Saturday morning, and the weather in Starlight Bay is perfect for baseball—crisp, sunny, with just a slight breeze to keep the heat at bay. Normally, this is my favorite part of the week: coaching these enthusiastic little players, sharing tips I’ve picked up over the years. But today, my heart isn’t fully in it.
It’s not because I’m unhappy—far from it. In fact, things with Ripley have been amazing these past few weeks. We finally told Juniper we’re officially together, and the way her eyes lit up was pure magic. She raced around the living room whooping, “We’re a real family!” and jumped into my arms, nearly toppling me over. Every time I think about it, warmth floods my chest.
But right now, I’m distracted because Ripley has a day game, and I couldn’t be there. And Juniper’s with me instead of cheering on her dad. Once I wrap up here, we plan to drive over to the ballpark to catch the tail end of his game. Ripley was bummed, but we both figured Juniper would have fun helping me with the other kids.
I glance over to where she’s standing with a small cluster of players, explaining the importance of bending their knees when fielding. She’s wearing her purple T-shirt and cap, her cheeks flushed from the excitement of being “Coach Juniper” for the day. My heart squeezes at the sight. She’s so proud to be helping, so thrilled to have a special role.