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I want to snatch the word back the moment I throw it out there, but Braden nods He nods quickly, a matter of fact, the sa

It’s a yeah-no-shit nod

It’s a nod that tells me he doesn’t even have to wonder if he feels the same, doesn’t have to ponder it for more than a moment

“I’ve never liked that word,” he says, “but I know exactly what you mean There’s no other way to describe it”

“Well, I’er, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I tell hi of this date, I’d be happy to share a pizza at my place Really”

He glances at“I know you would But you deserve better than that That’s the thing, Bria I always knew you weren’t like that I always knew you wanted o of stuff like this sometimes”

I reach over and touch his arainst my palm

“I know But I swear it’s not like that The first time I knew you were the one for me, I didn’t even know you were famous”

“What do you mean?”

Confusion twists through his voice

Heck

Why did I have to say that?

I withdraw ”

“It’s clearly not nothing,” he says “Coin What did we say about honesty?”

Sing, I let hway, over the road ahead of us, as I try to work out how I’ to tell Braden about my crush

Chapter Fourteen

Braden

She talks quietly, my perfect woman, her tone low

But even with this new revelation taunting ht down the surging contenth me with more certainty each second

She feels the same

She wants me the same way I want her

We’re going to have a family, a future