I expect her to argue. “You have a big game in four days.”
I barely contain my smile. Obviously she’s been watching my schedule, and that sends a thrill through me, giving me some hope. “I know.”
She shakes her head, confused. “Well, don’t you have training or practice or something?”
“I do. But you’ve seen me, Vi. I haven’t been shit lately. I can barely hang on to a ball, forget running with one. I told my coaches I would be back in time for the game.”
“And they’re just letting you blow off practice. Just like that.”
I nod. “Yeah, because I told them I was coming back with my wife and I would be back to the old Josh Chambers then.”
She shakes her head, “Josh, we’re...”
But I don’t let her finish. I don’t want to hear her say we’re not meant to be together or anything else like that. “You’re mine, Violet. Give me three days, and I’ll show you that we are meant to be husband and wife. If you still want a divorce after the three days, I’ll give it to you.”
I hold my breath. I know that if it comes down to it, I can’t make her do this. So all I can do is hope she gives us a chance.
“I’ll have to see if I can get Tillie to cover the restaurant.”
I pick her up and swing her around until she almost looks green and is holding on to me with her eyes clenched tight. “Stop. I’m going to throw up.”
I stop immediately and let her down but don’t let her go. “I’m sorry. You okay?”
“Yes.” She clears her throat. “Yes, I’m fine.”
She’s holding her belly, and I put a hand on each side of her face. “Look at me, are you all right?”
She blinks her green eyes at me, and just like that I’m in a trance. “Yes, I’m fine, Josh.”
I stare at her, trying to see what’s hidden in her eyes but know that right now is not the time to ask. “Well, c’mon, let’s go. I have plans for us.”
6
Violet
What am I thinking? I’ve second guessed myself at least a hundred times since I agreed to this nonsense. I should have told him no and refused to go with him... but I couldn’t. There are things I need to tell him. Things I planned to tell him after he signed the papers, but now, well, now I need to figure something else out.
And I can lie to myself all I want, but the fact remains that I want three more nights with him. Three more nights and then I will let him go back to his life, and I’ll stay in mine.
“This is it,” Josh says, interrupting my thoughts. We’ve driven to the edge of town, almost to Jasper when he pulled off on a side road. I didn’t even ask where we were going. I probably should have, but once I agreed it was like I didn’t care. I am ready for this... I need this as much as he does.
“Where is this?” I ask, looking around at all the trees lined down the driveway.
“Our new house,” he says, and I swear there’s a whirling in my ear or something. There’s no way I just heard what I thought I heard.
“Did you say our new house?”
He keeps driving, and we come to an opening in the trees. There’s a beautiful cabin with a wraparound porch that sits right on the lakefront. It’s magnificent. But there’s no way this is ours. I mean, that’s crazy talk.
“I got your papers this morning and worked out everything on the way to Whiskey Run this morning. I had my agent find this, and well, it’s not exactly ours yet, it’s on a rental program and I rented it for the month. But if you love it, we’re buying it. I figure we need something that is close to Whiskey Run and to Jasper since we’ll be traveling back and forth for my games and your restaurant.”
He says it in one big, rushed statement, and my heart starts to race in my chest. He’s setting this up like he truly believes we’re going to work this out, and it’s freaking me out a little. “Josh, I don’t think...”
He reaches across the console. “That’s good. Don’t think. I don’t want you thinking about anything but me and you. That’s it. The rest will fall into place like it should.”
I don’t want to argue with him and tell him again how crazy this is. It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done. Nope, I take that back. The craziest thing I’d ever done was fall in love with a football player.
He reaches over and kisses my forehead before getting out of the SUV. I watch him come around and open the door before he helps me out. He had driven me to my house and walked with me room to room while I packed a bag. Not once since he found me has he let me out of his sight. He acts like if he does I’m going to run away again, and I know I need to put that thought out of his head. “I’m not going to run again. I promise that at the end of the three days, I’ll tell you before I go back into town. I’m not going to disappear again.”