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Marisol smirked. “Good. I hope you do.” She reached out and squeezed Blair’s hand. “Butpleasedo me a favor and protect your heart in the process. You could end up getting really hurt.”

It was too late for that. Blair had already given her heart away, and in the end, if Erin didn’t want her, Blair knew it would shatter her. “I will. I’ll protect it,” Blair said, knowing she had just lied to her best friend for the very first time.

“Good.” Marisol leaned in and gave Blair a kiss on the cheek. “Go have fun with those two. You were right about Nolan. That kid is completely feral, but he’s also the most amazing child in the entire world.”

“Right?” Blair couldn’t help but smile because she knew exactly who he got that from.

The smile didn’t leave her face as she said goodbye to Marisol and went back into the hotel room. “Someone looks happy,” Erin said as soon as she walked back in the door.

“Iamhappy. I’mveryhappy.”

“Bear!” Nolan bounced over to her and hugged her legs. “Mommy told me you guys had so much fun.”

“She said that, huh?” Blair smirked and lifted an eyebrow at Erin, who flipped her off behind Nolan’s back.

“Yep.” Nolan brought a hand up to his mouth and yawned loudly. “I’m really tired. Can we go to bed?”

“You’reaskingto go to bed?” Erin looked from Nolan to Blair. “We need to have Marisol watch him more often. Thisneverhappens.”

We.Blair loved the sound of that, but she also knew she couldn’t allow herself to read into it too much. Erin had been very honest about not being ready for anything.

After getting themselves and Nolan ready for bed, all three of them climbed into the one thathadn’tbeen used for the night’s earlier activities. Within minutes of laying down, Nolan was fast asleep.

Blair reached her arm over his head and wiggled her fingers on the off-chance Erin felt comfortable holding her hand. “I had a lot of fun on this trip,” Blair whispered to her.

Erin intertwined their fingers and squeezed Blair’s hand. “I’msureyou did.”

Blair chuckled at her tone. “Don’t get me wrong, tonight was amazing, but I meant the whole trip. It’s been wonderful, and I really don’t want it to end.”

Erin watched Blair for a long time without saying a word, and when she finally spoke, her voice was more serious. “Nolan and I were planning on leaving for my niece’s softball tournament as soon as we dropped you off on Saturday morning. Please don’t feel like you have to, but you’re welcome to come with us if you want.”

“Really? Back in your hometown? With your family?” Even though she was sure Erin didn’t see it that way, this was a huge step.

“Technically, she’s playing about an hour from my hometown, but yes, we’d be staying in my hometown on Saturday night between games.”

“Count me in.”

Erin’s face lit up as if Blair had just told her she won the lottery. “Really?”

“Really. Let’s do it.”

Chapter 20

Erin

“Have I mentioned how excited I am to see where you grew up?” Blair asked, as she bounced up and down in the passenger’s seat.

Erin couldn’t help but laugh at her. She looked so much like a child, fidgeting around like she was way too excited to sit still. “Only about a million times.”

“Well, good, because it’s true. I can’t wait.”

“Don’t get too excited. You have to sit through three long softball games first.”

Blair shrugged. “That’s okay. I’m excited for that too.”

Erin had to admit, the older her niece got, the more interesting her softball games were, but that still didn’t mean she was overly hyped about spending the day watching inning after inning of the same thing. Especially when most of the day was going to be spent chasing a restless Nolan around. “We’ll see how you feel once Nolan is crawling all over you asking when we can leave and it’s only one inning into the first game.”

“I don’t do that!” Nolan shouted from the back seat.