Page 206 of The Fake Date Agreement

“He knows I want to get married and have kids. He was offering me the thing he knew I always wanted.”

My arms tighten around her. I’ve always wanted kids one day. Reid and Javier want the same, but we can’t all marry Tobie, and I have no idea how we would decide who does.

“But?”

She lifts her head and peers down at me. “Marriage is a commitment that I can take or leave. What I want, what I truly want, is love. And maybe kids one day. I don’t care if the kids are adopted or if I have them. I just want to give a kid all the love my mom and dad gave me.”

“You do?”

“But not with Marc. With you, Reid, and Javier. I was so scared I would lose you that I ran away to Nebraska.” She blinks, and a tear rolls down her cheek. I lift my hand to thumb it away. “He said you were all cheating on me, and he had a picture on his phone of a girl outside Javier’s dorm?—”

I frown. “We would never do that to you, Tobie.”

“I know. Reid already explained about Daniela. If I’d talked with you instead of running off, we’d have cleared this up days ago, and Reid wouldn’t be out prowling the campus looking to kill Marc.”

A smile twitches my lips. “He told you that?”

She nods, and she hesitates for a beat, chewing her lip.

“What is it?”

“I got into grad school.”

I grin at her, so proud of her that I give her a squeeze. “Knew you would.”

“No, you didn’t,” she denies.

“Yes,” I tell her firmly. “I did. You’re going to be the best damn teacher the world has ever seen.”

Her eyes get glassy. “No, I’m not.”

“You are.” I kiss her.

“But you’re going into the NHL,” she tells me. “We probably won’t be in the same city.”

“If we have to do long-distance while you’re in grad school, then we do long-distance. This is yourdream, Myers. You chase those down, and we support each other’s dreams.Always. Jay and Reid feel the same way.”

“You say that like we’re a team.”

“Because we are. Come here. You haven’t been in my arms nearly long enough for me to want to let you go.”

“How long is long enough?”

I breathe in the floral scent of her hair as I close my eyes. “I’ll let you know when it happens.”

Chapter 50

Tobie

A soft kiss wakes me,and I’m smiling before I’ve opened my eyes.

Caleb breaks the kiss, resting his elbow beside my head as he peers down at me. The light in the room has changed, and I have no awareness of how much time has passed.

“I fell asleep,” I whisper.

“Me too.” He kisses me. “And I should have let you sleep, but I couldn’t stop myself.”

I slide my arms around his shoulders. “I don’t mind.”

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