Chapter 38
I should not be confessing my love during a potential fistfight.
Terri
My alarm blares and I bury my head under a pillow. I don’t want to get up. I have no desire to face people after last night.
Smugglers won’t pretend they don’t know what happened. Nope. Smugglers are entirely too nosy. They’ll get all up in my face and ask me the most inappropriate questions.
So, are you broken up broken up or Smuggler's Hideaway broken up?
Do we return the 'Team Terri & Nolan' shirts?
Have you considered throwing something at him?
Does this mean we have to pick sides?
Will the offensive line still riot for you?
At least I can avoid Mayor Lana today. She’d probably want to hold a mermaid-themed second chance festival. The woman does love her festivals. She’d probably name it something like 'Love Finds a Way' or 'Operation Win Back Terri'.
My phone rings and I throw my pillow across the room. I guess I won’t be avoiding the world today after all.
“What?”
Hudson grunts. “Stay home today.”
“Why? What did Nolan tell you? Is he trying to get me fired?”
He sighs. “I wanted to stay out of this. I am perfectly happy ignoring the private lives of my employees. But Nova wouldn’t allow it. She insisted I phone you and tell you to take a day off.”
I groan. There goes any hope the entire island doesn’t know. Hudson is practically a recluse. If he knows the gossip. The entire island knows. Great. Just great.
“Nolan didn’t dump me. I dumped him.”
“Stop. I seriously don’t want to know. Especially since you’ll be back together again soon enough.”
“Back together again? I don’t think so. Hold on. Did you bet we’re getting back together? Who’s voting we won’t get back together? Wait. I don’t want to know.”
“I’ll send Nova over. Talk to her.”
“No!” I shout. “Nova will bring her friends, and before I know what’s happening, we’ll have slashed the tires of the entire Seals team.”
He snorts. “Give Nova some credit. Her ideas for revenge are much more inventive than slashing tires.”
“But you admit she’s already concocting plans. Please don’t send her over. I’ll come into work.”
“I’ll pull her off her revenge mission if you promise to stay home.”
“Fine. I’ll stay home.”
“Good.” I can practically hear the smirk in his voice. He planned this all along. I should have known. Everyone on this island is devious.
“You little—”
He hangs up.
I drop my phone on the nightstand. At least I don’t need to get out of bed now. I can lay here and nurse my heartbreak all day.
The doorbell wakes me some time later. I must have fallen asleep. I ignore the doorbell and roll over. Whoever it is will go away.
Except they don’t. They press the doorbell and hold. Drowning pirates. So much for avoiding the world today.
I throw the covers off and climb out of bed. I stomp down the hallway to the front door. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My hair is sticking up in all directions, and my eyes are red from crying.
I freeze. I can’t answer the doorbell looking like this. I whirl around, intent on at least washing my face.
“I can see you!” a man shouts through the door.
So much for washing my face. I yank the door open. A middle-aged man is standing on my porch. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he appears furious.
I inch backwards. Nope. Wrong move. I don’t want this man – whoever he is – in my house. I step outside and shut the front door behind me.
I scan the street. At least two neighbors are now standing on their porches watching. One has a phone to her ear and gives me a thumbs-up. Good. She contacted the police.
“I think you have the wrong house,” I tell the man.
“Are you Terri Jordan?” I nod. “I have the right house.”
“I’m sorry. Do I know you?”
“I’m Mr. Allen.”
This is Nolan’s dad? He’s nothing like Nolan. Nolan would never pound on a woman’s door and insist she open it. He would never glare at a woman with the threat of violence in his eyes.
Nolan’s a caretaker. A gentle man despite being a football player. Oh mermaid, how I love him.
But I had to let him go. I can’t let him ruin his football career for me. I can’t let him miss the chance of playing in the Super Bowl for me. He’s not giving up his dreams. I won’t let him. I won’t be his regret.
My mom was full of regrets. Regrets that kept her from getting out of bed. From caring for the child who loved her.
I clear my throat and straighten my back. I’m not letting this man intimidate me. He’s a bully. Nothing more.
“How can I help you?”
“You can set my boy free. He’s meant for bigger things than this small island.”
“I agree.”
“He’ll pay…” He trails off. “What now? You agree?”
“Yep. I do. Which is why I ended our relationship last night.”
A vehicle squeals around the corner and screeches to a stop in front of the house. But it’s not the police. It’s Nolan. What is he doing here?
Nolan hops out of his SUV and races to me. He pushes me behind him and faces off with his dad.
“What are you doing here?”
His dad smiles. “Just making sure you aren’t ruining your career.”
I flinch. He almost did. For me.
“Ruining my career? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Heard you’re retiring.”
Nolan growls. “How did you hear?”
He smirks. “I still have contacts.”
I peek around Nolan’s back. “It’s okay. I explained to him you’re not retiring.”
“Wrong,” Nolan grumbles. “I’m retiring. I accepted a new job today.”
“What the hell job did you accept?” His dad explodes, but Nolan ignores him. He turns around to face me.
“I’m coaching at Coastal State University.”
“But the Super Bowl.”
He frames my face with his hands. “I’m done playing.”
I grasp his hands. “I don’t want you to retire for me.”
“Listen to your baby momma,” his dad says and Nolan pushes me behind him again.
“Don’t you dare speak to her that way. Terri is the love of my life, and we’re starting a family.”
“Just because you got her pregnant doesn’t mean anything needs to change.”
Nolan steps forward. “Wrong. It changes everything. I’m not going to be you.”
His dad narrows his eyes on Nolan. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I’m not going to be an absent father. I’m going to be around for all the big things – the baby’s birth, her first steps, her first day of kindergarten. And all the little things – diaper changes and late night feedings. I want it all.”
His dad scoffs. “Why? You could be a Super Bowl Champion. This is your year.”
“I don’t give a shit about the Super Bowl. I’ve had a great career. Now I’m playing it forward by coaching.”
“Coaching? Those who can, do. Those who can’t, coach.”
Nolan shakes his head. “This conversation is done. You’ll never understand how fulfilling it is to help someone else. How good it feels when they achieve their dreams.”
He reaches for my hand and draws me near. “How much the love of a woman can fill all the holes in your soul. I feel sorry for you.”
He wraps an arm around me and kisses my nose. “I’m not leaving her no matter what.”
“Well, I never,” his dad grumbles.
Nolan points to his dad’s car. “You should go. There’s nothing here for you.”
“Your mom will be mad you sent me away.”
“Mom will understand. She loves you, but she recognizes your faults.”
“Don’t you dare.”
A car slams on its brakes and Scott and Ricky pile out. Uh oh. My brothers are pissed. This isn’t going to be good.
“You should go,” I tell Nolan’s dad.
“I’m not going anywhere until my son listens to reason.”
“She asked you to go,” Scott grumbles.
Ricky crosses his arms over his chest. “I’d listen to her if I were you.”
“In case you can’t count,” Scott grins, “you’re outnumbered, and we’re highly motivated.”
Smoking smugglers. This isn’t good.
I step forward. “Please, Mr. Allen. Don’t make this situation worse.”
He stares at me for a long moment and I hold my breath. My brothers can be violent when it comes to protecting me. I have no desire for there to be a fight on my front lawn this morning.
“I’m going, but this isn’t over.” He stomps to his car.
“This is over,” Nolan hollers after him.
His dad slams the car door and drives away. My shoulders fall. “Glad that’s over.”
“What’s over, sis?” Scott asks.
I roll my eyes. “The threat of violence.”
Ricky smirks. “The violence has yet to begin.” He points to Nolan. “This the man who knocked you up?”
I try to push my way in front of Nolan, but he refuses to move. “Stay safe, sprite. Think of our little mermaid.”
“You don’t understand. These are my brothers, Ricky and Scott. They’re going to beat you up.”
Nolan grins. “They can try.”
He whips off his sweatshirt and hands it to me before descending the stairs into my front yard. He rolls his neck and shakes out his arms.
“Ready when you are.”
“NO!” I shout.
“Stay on the porch,” Nolan orders me. “I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“And I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
I motion to my brothers who are now cracking their knuckles like this is some bare knuckles championship. “But my brothers want to fight you.”
“I’d want to fight the man who knocked up my sister, too.”
I throw my arms in the air. “It’s two against one.”
“And I’m a professional athlete. I’ve got this.” He winks.
“I had to fall in love with a crazy man,” I mutter.
He freezes. “Fall in love? You love me?”
The hope in those blue eyes I want our children to have nearly breaks me. “Of course, I love you, dumbass.”
Ricky elbows Scott. “She called him a dumbass.”
I ignore my idiot brothers. “Do you think I run around telling everyone about my mom? About how she died?”
“Dude.” Scott shakes his head. “She told you about her mom?”
Ricky offers his hand. “Welcome to the family.”
I hurry down the stairs and stand in between him. “He’s not a member of the family. I broke up with him.”
Scott snorts. “She ran scared on you?”
Nolan shrugs. “I’m fast. I’ll catch her.”
Scott barks out a laugh. “She’ll run a lot.”
“Good thing I’m a professional athlete.”
“She’s standing right here!” I shout.
Nolan wraps an arm around my shoulders and kisses my hair. “And you love me.”
I blow out a breath. I could deny it, but I admitted to it not five minutes ago in front of him, my brothers, and all my nosy neighbors who are pretending to water their plants. “I do love you.”
“Our work here is done.” Scott kisses my cheek before sauntering to his car. Ricky winks at me before following him.
“You better stop by and see Dad,” I yell after them.
“Who do you think sent us?” Ricky slams the door and they drive off.
Nolan smiles down at me. “Are you done pushing me away?”
I huff. “I don’t want you to give up your career for me.”
He kisses my nose. “I’m not giving up my career. I’m pivoting. Growing. Playing it forward.”
“You really want to be a coach?”
“I do. I’ll still have to travel with the team, but the college football season is shorter. And I’ll be working with Knox. He’ll understand if I need time off.”
I chew on my lip as I stare up at him. Do I dare give him a second chance?
He only needs a second chance because you got scared and ran.
I hate it when my inner voice is right.
“Okay. Let’s do this.”
His smile stretches from ear to ear. “You’re going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, aren’t you, sprite?”
“I wouldn’t want you to get bored.”
“I love you. I can’t wait to begin our life together.”
Fear tries to push its way through my happiness, but I don’t allow it. Nolan has shown he’ll stay. He’s been there every step of the way. I’ve tried to push him away, but he didn’t let me. This is real. We’re real.
“I love you, too.”