Page 117 of Delayed Penalty

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, why is it just a thought? Why haven’t you enrolled?”

“Well, for starters, college costs money.”

“So?”

“So,” I say pointedly. “We’re not all rich hockey players, you know.”

“No, but I’m sure there are grants or loans or something you can use to get you started, then you can figure out the rest later.”

That’s always been my life—figuring out the rest later. For once, I don’t want to do that. I want to jump in with both feet and be completely secure in what I’m doing. I want to be sure. Absolutely so.

It would be a lie if I said my siblings’ words weren’t still haunting me. I can’t help but think about them because what if they’re right? What if I fail at this too? What if I am rushing into it? What if I?—

“Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Overthinking it,” Hayes says, his touch still light against me. “I know that’s what you’re doing. I can hear you all the way up here.”

“You cannot.”

“Can too.”

I don’t miss how he covers his nipple…just in case.

“For what it’s worth,” he says, “I think you should do it.”

He does?“You do?”

“Yeah, I think you’d be great at it. And you’d look totally hot in those buttoned-up teacher’s outfits.”

I roll my eyes.

“Plus, you already have the silly earrings the kids will undoubtedly love. It’s perfect for you.”

“I do have some pretty amazing earrings.”

“I saidsilly.”

I lift my hand to pinch him again, but he’s too quick, covering up before I can.Damn those hockey reflexes.

His chest rumbles with a low laugh, and I can’t help but smile. Sometimes, I think I like moments like these where we’re lying in bed and just talking as much as I like the sex.

He loves you.

“But in all seriousness,” Hayes says, distracting me before my brain can descend into overload again, “I think you’d be great, and I’m not just saying thatbecause I’m a little biased since Flora loves you so much. I’m saying it because I mean it. I see the way you look at her when she gets an answer right on her homework or recites something you’ve taught her. Those hazel eyes of yours light up, and you give her a secret grin likeyoujust did something right—and you did. You taught her. So, yeah, I think you’d be good at it, and I think you should do it. If you want to, of course.”

I don’t have the words. I’m too busy trying to choke down the sob that’s attempting to work its way free. I have no idea why it means so much to me that Hayes supports me in this decision and thinks I can do it, but it does, and it gives me just a little more confidence that Icando this.

Maybe I should.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

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