The Pool Boy (Nashville Neighborhood, #2)

by Nikki Sloane

But his wife had a right to know her husband wasn’t faithful, and I wouldn’t have hesitated if I’d caught him with another woman. I was a firm believer that once a cheater, always a cheater, and if it were me—I’d want to know. Better to deal with the hurt now than waste years with a partner who lied and didn’t love you.

I wanted to be what he was looking for.

“Fuck Tinder,” he uttered. “You don’t need it. I’m right here.”

She’d opened the door, so I wasn’t going to leave until she told me to. She wanted me to audition and I wanted her. That seemed pretty fucking simple to me.

“All I knew was that listening to you felt—I dunno—special. I wanted you to know.”

Us together? We’d be off the charts. And don’t act like you’re not interested.”

“Yeah, you’re my girlfriend.” He stated it as a fact. “My amazing girlfriend, who wrote me a song and got me an audition and said she believes in me.”

felt like this wasn’t just my dream anymore— It was ours.

He was all I could think about.

Troy: You wore them for good luck for me? Me: For us.

I want this woman, he’d declared. It was too soon for me to be having all these feelings, but they existed regardless, and I needed him to know the same was true for me.

What your ex did to you was beyond shitty, but I am not him. I don’t cheat. I’ve made it crystal fucking clear what I want, and it’s not someone else, not Stella, and definitely not some other dude. I don’t want anyone but you.”

I’m sorry. Troy: I know you’re scared, and you don’t believe in us yet, but I can believe enough for the both of us.

Maybe you could only reach a certain level of happiness for yourself, but . . . happiness for someone else? That was limitless. That was joy.

“You don’t have to believe for both of us. I’m all in with this.” I pressed my hand against his chest, wanting to possess the heart inside. “I’m all in with you.”

“Your lucky shoes,” he said. “Yeah.” I grinned. “I wore them for you.” “For us,” he corrected.

Maybe his purpose was to be the man I fell in love with.

This handsome, talented man was willing to give up everything, once again, just for a chance with me. “I want this,” he continued. “Don’t act like you don’t too.” His expression was so focused and determined, it made my pulse race. He leaned closer. “Yeah, it might not be easy, but I won’t give up.” He moved his hand, so it covered mine. “So, trust me, Erika, and say yes.”