Page 68 of Clear Shot

“But that’s just it—we can’t buy anything together because I don’t have a job. Yes, I have some savings but I was thinking of using that for school. And anyway, these houses are all over a million dollars and my money won’t make a dent in that.”

“Save your money for school,” he says gently. “I can afford a house.”

“Yes, but if something goes wrong?—”

“Do you anticipate this not working out?” he asks abruptly.

“Well, no, but?—”

“We decided we’re in this for real. Buying a house is part of that. It’s the next logical step.”

“What if you get traded?”

“Guys get traded all the time. It comes with the territory. We sell it and buy something else. The teams help with that.”

“Oh.” I can’t think of any other reason to protest.

“Come on, get excited. House hunting is supposed to be fun.”

“Maybe we should buy something more modest.”

“We’re going to buy something we both like,” he says firmly. “I want you to start looking. I found us a jumping off point with the ones I sent you, and you can look at the one in Johan’s neighborhood, but it doesn’t have to be there. We can live anywhere in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. I’d prefer not to be more than thirty or forty minutes from the arena, but that’s really the only restriction.”

“All right.” What else can I say?

I’m starting to get excited.

“I have to get going to practice but I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Later, babe.”

He disconnects and I stare at the phone for a minute.

I basically have carte blanche to start looking at houses.

“Good morning.” Sloane comes into the kitchen looking refreshed and leans over to press a kiss on Joanna’s head. “How is she this morning?”

“An angel as always.”

“During the day.” Sloane rolls her eyes. “I don’t know how I’m going to survive if Lorna doesn’t come back soon.” The nanny has been dealing with the damage to her home and hasn’t been able to give Sloane a date when she might be ready to come back to work.

“Well, I’m here,” I say. “And I don’t mind getting up with her in the morning.”

“You’re a lifesaver.” She presses the button on the Keurig machine to make herself a cup of coffee.

“Guess what?”

“What?”

“Aiden wants us to start house hunting.”

Sloane cocks her head. “Yeah? Instead of finding another apartment?”

I haven’t told her about the development in our personal relationship so I pause a moment to gather my thoughts. “We’re, uh, making a go of the marriage. Like, for real.”

Her brows inch up toward her forehead. “Really? That’s wonderful.”