Page 101 of Playing It Forward

I understand. It’s not the same, but when I watch a bride walk down the aisle, I forget about all the crazy requests, the late nights spent making gift bags, the screaming at me for being incompetent. It all disappears. Love and excitement for the couple replace everything.

“Run to the tree and I’ll show you why timing matters.”

“Timing is that important?”

“Yes, because the hardest part isn't throwing the ball. It's trusting someone will be where they're supposed to be.”

I understand how hard trust is. I’m trying to trust that Nolan will be around when our little mermaid is born. He did cancel all of his obligations in March. But it’s still difficult.

I force those thoughts away. Nolan’s here now. He showed up with food. He worried about the food not harming me or the baby.

“No making fun of how slow I run,” I holler as I jog toward the tree.

I glance behind me and he throws the ball. He doesn’t throw it to me. He throws it to where I’m going. I continue running to the tree and catch the ball.

“I caught it!” I shout loud enough for the neighbor’s curtains to twitch.

I run back to Nolan with the ball high in the air. “Touchdown!”

He smiles at me and his dimple comes out. I want to dip my tongue in the groove. Before my tongue continues to taste every inch of his skin. My nipples tingle.

“Show me something else,” I insist before I tackle him to the ground and have my wicked way with him.

“Do you know what a stiff arm is?”

I roll my eyes. “I didn’t know what a route was five minutes ago. What do you think?”

“Stop being cute, sprite.” He tweaks my nose.

I bristle. “I’m not cute. I’m sexy and irresistible.”

I’m joking, but Nolan’s eyes heat as his gaze rakes over me. “You’re those things, too.”

Under his gaze, I do feel sexy and irresistible. He makes me feel those things. And more. He makes me feel heard and understood. He didn’t give up when I pushed him away. He stuck around.

Uh oh. I sway from the force of the realization hitting me.

I’m falling for him.

I want to deny it, but I can’t. I’m falling for the father of my baby.

Chapter 33

Apparently, tackling quarterbacks is foreplay. And I am more than okay with it.

Nolan

I want to know what’s playing in Terri’s mind. It’s obvious she’s wrestling with some thought. But I know better than to push her.

“Shall I show you how a stiff arm works?” I ask instead.

She blinks a few times to bring me into focus. She was far, far away. “I don’t even know what a stiff arm is.”

“A stiff arm is when a ball carrier keeps a defender away by pushing them with one arm.”

I snatch the ball from her, tuck it under my arm, and use my other arm to feign pushing a defender away.

“Try it on me.”