Icing the Competition by CJ Bower

Author:CJ Bower
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781944270469
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Published: 2016-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Shawn drove into the Homestead-Miami Speedway four weeks later, wrestling with mixed emotions and a strong sense of déjà vu. He’d been disappointed when Peri had told him she wasn’t pregnant. He hadn’t realized just how much he’d wanted her to be pregnant until she told him that she wasn’t.

He punched the security code into the keypad with more force than necessary and entered his motor coach, slamming the door in frustration. Grabbing a beer from the fridge, he cracked it open and took a healthy swig.

His phone rang, and he snagged it from his belt, checking the screen. “Hey, Nick.”

“Hey, man,” Nick said. “Jacqui told me the news about Peri. How’re you holding up?”

“I guess I’m still processing.” Shawn sighed. “Still hurts. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to be a dad until she said she’d gotten her period while we were in Texas.” He shuddered, weirded out over discussing a woman’s cycle with his best friend.

“Want some company tonight?”

Shawn wanted company, just not Nick’s. Peri couldn’t get away from work due to the busiest holiday season the bakery had ever had. Hell, even Nick was going stag this weekend. The upside was Shawn had a legitimate shot at his first NASCAR Cup title.

“I’ll be okay,” he told his friend. “I’m gonna crash tonight, and maybe study the track a bit. Try to gain whatever edge I can.”

Nick laughed. “Who’d have thought it would come down to you and me for the title?”

“Had to happen sometime.” Shawn snickered. “You’ve got three of them already. No point in getting greedy. I’m gonna beat you out for it.”

“Likewise, old friend,” Nick replied.

“Who you callin’ old, dinosaur?” Shawn fell easily into the familiar banter as Nick chuckled. They traded a few more light-hearted insults before Shawn hung up and raided the fridge for dinner. Afterward, he called Peri.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Hey, beautiful.” Tension eased from his body at the sound of her voice. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better,” she said. “I’m sorry for just blurting out that I wasn’t pregnant.”

His breath caught. “It happens,” was all he could think of. “Though I kind of liked the idea of you being pregnant,” he confessed. “Would you be okay with trying again?”

Peri gasped, but she didn’t reply. In fact, she stayed silent so long he thought she’d hung up on him. He checked his phone. Nope. The line was still open.

“Peri?” he asked softly. “Talk to me, honey.”

Finally, after long excruciating minutes, she replied. And surprised him once again.

“I—I’d like that.” She paused. “But…can we wait a couple of years first? I’d rather not have children out of wedlock.” Her words tumbled faster. “I know you’re probably not ready for that next step, considering it’s only been a few months since your divorce, but I’m willing to wait for you.” She was talking so fast Shawn wondered if she was trying to keep up her courage to explain her feelings.

He smiled. He hadn’t lost her. “Of course we can wait, darlin’.”

“Thank you.” The relief in her voice was palpable.

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