Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 48306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 242(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
My brow furrows. “Not ideally, but given the circumstances—”
“Goddamnit,” she hisses, folding her arms over her chest and turning to walk over to the windows again.
“Natasha—”
“What if I had a third option. Well, fourth if we count your lame idea of quitting as number three.”
“I’m listening.”
“You stay through regionals. You do not touch my daughter at school, at practice, or anywhere else. Period.”
I frown. As “compromises” go, this one is starting to sound like a shitty one.
“However, that’s just until regionals. Because after that, you quit to go swim for Team USA.”
“To try out for—”
“Oh, no, that’s part of the agreement,” she says, a small smile on her lips. “You have to make the team. Not try, make.”
I smile. “Well okay then. What about you? What about your professional—”
“This stays right here, Camden,” she says quietly. “And I’m only telling you because, well, this is where we are.”
I nod. “I’m listening.”
“I’m putting in my notice at Winchester. This week.”
My brows shoot up.
“Hold on, no. Natasha, this is your career, and I’m not going watch you throw it away over—”
“And I’m not, actually. I’ve been offered a job, and I’ve been sitting on it wondering if it’s a move I really want to make, but I think it is. This thing with you and Waverly tips the scales, perhaps, but it’s my decision independent of that.”
“What’s the job?”
“Dean of Admissions at NYU.”
My brow shoots up, and I whistle lowly.
“Shit. Congrats, Natasha.”
“Thank you. If I went, it would probably mean Waverly moving into the dorms to finish at Winchester, since I’d be moving to New York. I’m not going to say I’d be happy with her dating a man ten years older than her, but you won’t be her coach. And…” She frowns. “Well, it might be better than her dating some shithead high school guy.”
I grin. “That I can promise you.”
She smiles thinly, nodding.
“Look, Camden, I don’t think you’re a bad guy, I just…”
“It’s not what you imagined.”
She nods. “Yeah.”
“Natasha, I’m in it for the long haul. I’m here, and I’m going to be with Waverly for as long as she’ll have me. What I mean is, I don’t want us to… you know. I don’t want this to be a wall.”
“No promises,” she says quietly before she smiles a little more. “But, I’m willing to meet you halfway and at least try. Beyond anything else, I think we both want the same thing, which is to make my daughter happy and to keep her safe.”
“It’s the most important thing in my world,” I growl.
“More than swimming.”
“Hands down.”
She smiles. “Well, if you’re dedicated enough to that to be trying out for the goddamn Olympics, and it’s only your second priority…”
I grin. “I’d give it all up for her. In a heartbeat.”
She nods. “I believe you.”
“I’m not gonna hurt her, Natasha. Not ever. And I’m not going to stop her from doing anything she sets her mind to do. I want her to go to Cornell. I want her to stick with swimming and go as far as she can. I mean, shit, Natasha, she’s not just good, she’s at the top. Did she tell you about her time the other night?”
She frowns. “No?”
“She literally almost broke a world record in the Winchester pool for the four-hundred freestyle.”
Her brow shoots up. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously. Three seconds shy of it. That’s not just talent, that’s a fucking gift, and I’d never let her waste that, or dwell in my shadow or any of that bullshit.”
We look at each other, and slowly, Natasha nods.
“And my rules? About your contact with Waverly before regionals and before you leave to go to training?”
“Hands off, and you have my absolute word on that.”
Fuck it. It’s going to suck, but I mean what I say. When it comes to Waverly, I’m in it for the long haul. I’m in it for forever. And really, what’s two months in the scheme of forever?
Natasha sighs, half-smiling as she looks away.
“I can’t believe I’m about to fucking say this, but…”
She looks back at me, and our eyes lock.
“Then you have my blessing.”
I start to smile, but she holds up a finger.
“But so help me God, if you hurt that girl—”
“Natasha, I’m never—”
“If you do, don’t think for a second I won’t exchange that fake gun for a real one and put you in the ground. Do we understand each other?”
I grin. “Crystal. Heard loud and clear, mama bear.”
She smiles.
“Waverly’s outside in the car. You’ve got ten minutes and then I’m taking her home, and then our deal goes into effect until after regionals. Yes?”
My grin widens. “Absolutely.”
Because again, what’s two months against forever?
Natasha nods towards the front door. “I’ll be out in ten.”
“Hey, Natasha?”
She raises a brow.
“Thank you.”
I whirl, and I’m out the door like thunder, and as I go barreling out, Waverly comes flying out of the car.