Page 23 of Game Over
“Could never imagine myself getting married or having a baby with anyone else, Harper. Only you. It’s always been you.”
She closed her eyes and drew a breath as her heart shattered for all the years they’d lost. She’d once loved this man more than anything. But would she ever be able to love him again… without the fear of losing him dogging her every day? Once the trust was broken in a relationship, it was damn hard to re-build.
Chapter Eight
Deke put his nephew to bed over an hour ago and he and Donski were watching their team lose in the ninth inning. But that wasn’t what had him on edge. He kept waiting to hear the sound of footsteps next door, but it was dead quiet.
“So, you and Harper?” Donski said, grinning.
“Me and Harper.” Deke couldn’t wipe the stupid smile off his face if he tried, because there was finally a him and Harper to talk about again.
“Looks like you two are getting pretty close.”
Deke grunted. “Not close enough.” The kiss they’d shared on the balcony was just a prelude to all that he wanted to do with her, for her, to her.
“Where’d she rush off to tonight?”
He grumbled before tipping his longneck back. “Went out for drinks with Paul Alfinore.”
“No shit?” Donski grinned. “You know Alfie and his fiancée split, right? She was doin’ some dude at the car dealership her old man owns.”
Deke glared at him. “And you’re telling me this why?” He knew the reason, just to piss him off. With friends like Donski he sure as shit didn’t need any enemies.
He chuckled. “Just sayin’, buddy. You don’t lock her down soon and you know someone else will.”
Yeah, that’ll happen over my dead body. “I’m not worried. We’re the real deal, no one else is gonna turn her head.” He may have bouts of jealousy from time to time, but he wasn’t the same insecure kid who’d tortured himself with thoughts of his girlfriend falling in love with someone else. That guy was long gone.
“You sure about that? She and Alfie were pretty tight back in the day, if I recall.”
Deke knew his friend was just testing him. He knew what tore them apart when Harper was in college and wanted to see if any of the old doubts still lingered. He supposed Donski was doing it for his own good, putting their relationship to the test before it he got in too deep, but his buddy didn’t need to worry. He had his head screwed on straight this time, and his eye firmly fixed on the very beautiful prize.
“Yeah, they were.” He stared at the screen, but caught sight of Donski’s grin out of the corner of his eye. “And still she didn’t cheat on me. Wasn’t even tempted, so I guess that says is all, doesn’t it? I was the guy she wanted then, and I’m pretty sure I’m the one she wants again.”
“You’re pretty sure? You don’t sound too convinced.”
“Would you gimme a break?” He tried not to take the bait, but his best friend was damn good at fishing. “She just walked back into my life. Haven’t seen the girl in years. She’s gun shy after what that dirtbag did to her. It’s gonna take some time for us to figure things out.” He smiled. “Fortunately, we’ve got time. Plenty of it.”
Donski smiled. “I’m just bustin’ your chops, bro. Seriously, it’s great to see you two together again. No one does it for you like that girl does, anyone can see that.”
“Ain’t that the truth?”
Deke dipped a cracker into the killer spinach dip Harper made before she left. That girl could cook, and bake, like no one he’d ever met. He’d need to hit the treadmill twice as long every day just to stay in shape, but that was a small price to pay for the chance to be pampered by her.
“So, where do you go from here?” Donski asked, delving into the platter Harper had left for them. “The girl’s babysitting your nephew, living next door…” He raised an eyebrow. “How long before she’s sharing your bed?”
Couldn’t come soon enough for him, but if Deke had to wait until Harper was ready, he gladly would. Just having her back in his life was enough for now. “I’m in no hurry.”
He coughed on a mouthful of food, covering his mouth. “I call bullshit. The way your eyes were tracking her, looked like you couldn’t wait to jump her.”
Donski didn’t miss a thing. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to. Just said I’d be willing to wait, if that’s what Harper needs. I’m not gonna push her, man. Not this time.” Last time, he’d thought about proposing to her before she went away to college, just so he’d be sure she’d come back to him, but when he brought it up she shut him down, claiming she was too young.
“You’re not getting any younger.”
“Neither are you, dumbass.”
They shared a smile before Donski said, “You always said you wanted to get married and have kids someday. Seeing you with Drew, it’s obvious you’d be a great dad.”
He didn’t know where he was going with this, but he was losing patience. The last thing he needed was someone encouraging him to put pressure on Harper. It took everything in him to hold back with her. “And?”
