Page 105 of Unexpected Forever
I gesture to the table with my chin. “Looks like you have plenty. You don’t need any from me.”
She jams her hands on her hips. “Charley Reynolds, don’t make me go tattle to your mom.”
I laugh and cross the room to where she stands. Pulling the strip of pictures from behind my back, I hold them up for her. She squeals and snatches them away. “Oh, look! I see a little hand!” she says.
“And there’s the heart,” I point out on the grainy film.
“Did y’all find out the gender?”
“Nope. We agreed we wanted to be surprised.”
She sighs dramatically and frowns. “But Charley! I’ve been eyeing this cute little dress in that shop on Center and Magnolia for weeks. How can I buy it if we don’t know what you’re having?”
I chuckle. “Well, you can buy it and save the receipt or wait to see what we have.”
“So mean,” she mutters under her breath. Then she looks at the picture again and her face brightens. “I cannot wait to meet my little niece or nephew.”
She hands me back the photos, then draws me in for a hard hug. When she pulls back, tears are in her eyes. “Thank you.”
Seeing her eyes well up makes me want to cry. “For what?”
“For bringing my brother back. I don’t remember the last time I saw him happy about something that didn’t involve baseball. It looks like he’s come around on the family thing after all.”
Her hazel gaze, so much like her brother’s, is intent on mine. “You’re the first woman he’s ever been serious enough about to stick around and not let the game interfere with his life. I’m pleasantly surprised and proud of him.”
I frown. “What do you mean by surprised?”
“Well, I told you about how he never wanted kids because of his career and leaving them behind. I knew where he was coming from, but I always thought he was selling himself short. Maybe now that he’s retired, he’s seeing things differently and he won’t need the manager job.”
She sighs and looks out the window. “I’ve always been proud of him for his career and the success he’s had.”
Her gaze meets mine again. “But there were times I hated the game because I thought it took him from me. He traveled all the time, or he stayed away to protect me from the media. Either way, he was gone. I’m ashamed to admit it, but there it is.”
I smile, though my stomach dips at the things she says. “I understand.”
She sniffs. “I’m sorry for dumping that on you.”
“It’s okay. But I’ve held you up long enough.”
Before I leave, we make plans to get together soon to talk about baby things and wedding plans. When I walk outside, Nate paces the sidewalk, his phone at his ear. When he sees me, he holds up a finger, mouthingmy agent.
“Sounds good. Email me the contract. Yep. Talk soon.”
Contract.
My chest grows tight, and a wave of nausea like I haven’t felt in months washes over me.
He taps the screen, disconnecting the call, and smiles.
“Good call?” I paste a smile on my face, hoping I look like a happy and supportive…girlfriend? Baby mama? What am I to him?
I hold my breath waiting for his answer. Do I really want to know about the phone call?
A call from his agent about a contract I know will change everything.
It tells me everything I need to know.
He nods slowly, looking at me. There’s a flash of uncertainty in his eyes, but as soon as it’s there, it’s gone. His hand slides into mine. “Yeah, I think it was. You ready to go? You look pale.”
