Page 169 of Slapshot Bride

I nod. “However long it takes.”

Mason looks at me like he’s seeing a different version of me he’s not used to.

“Thank you.”

I leave a few minutes later.

I’m crushed.

I could ignore his words. Drive down to her parents’ home, demand to see her. But then I'd be no better than Preston. Or Donovan.

For now, I’ll let her be, but when I finally get her…

Lord knows I’ll never let her go.

38

RILEY

Go Get Him

I’m in the garden when I get the first shot I actually like.

It’s a butterfly, of all things. It’s been working the lavender at the edge of the path for ten minutes, and I’ve been crouched on the gravel that whole time with the camera up, waiting for it to open its wings and hold still at the same moment, which it refuses to do.

Rachel’s on the bench behind me with a coffee, watching in amusement.

“It’s mocking you,” she says, chuckling.

That makes me laugh, but I stay as still as I can to not chase the butterfly.

“It’s not mocking me. We’re simply playing a game of hide and seek.”

Her laughter rings louder and longer.

“Whatever makes you sleep at night, sweetie.”

That leaves a smile on my face. A genuine smile.

It’s the first one I’ve had in the past couple of days. Since I saw the results of the pregnancy test. Since I discovered I was carrying the baby of a man who may not have truly been in love with me.

My eyes sting with tears threatening to spill free, but I swallow them.

I haven’t told anyone. Not my mom, not my dad. Maybe if I ignore it long enough, it’ll disappear. It’ll be a bad dream, and everything will be back to normal.

I pause my thoughts when the butterfly finally settles, wings flat and open in the light, and I press the shutter and know before I’ve even looked at the screen that I got it.

I show Rachel the screen.

“Ouuu… That’s really good, Riley.”

“I know, right?” Pride swells in my chest. “So, what do you say? Want to be my next model?” I waggle my eyebrows.

“Oh, with all pleasure, my lady.”

She immediately drops her tea on the nearest table and rises to her feet. I look around, trying to find the perfect spot. I find a nice corner with perfect lighting.

“Over here,” I wave at her.