Pulse: Sport Romance (The Boys of Winter Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

rich-girl insults for a decade now, but they still get under my skin. “This is why I kept it a secret. People think I have it all because I’ve got money. But you know what? A lot of them can’t seem to see past it to the person I am.”
    I try to stand, but Nick grabs my arm. “Wait.”
    I sit back down to glare at him. He says, “I’m sorry. That was a low blow.”
    I shake my head. “Do you realize that even though we live together, work together, and ski together, you’re the one I want to be with when you’re gone?”
    Nick squints at me. “Really?”
    “Yes, really. The idea of letting you go in April is crushing me. But I haven’t got a choice.”
    I take a deep breath. “My mother’s parents came to the United States with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. My mother honors them by hiring immigrants. Many of them are now working in upper-level management and sending their kids to college on the income.” I gaze into Nick’s eyes and see his compassion. “If I don’t go, the company will fold. How can I let those people down?”
    Nick nods at me but doesn’t say anything, so I add, “I didn’t mean to lie. By the time I should have told you everything, I was too afraid of losing you.”
    He searches my eyes, and I wonder what he’s thinking. I watch the mask he wears when he doesn’t want to talk cover his face, and he says, “Got it.”
    I stand because I’m not sure he wants me around. He gets up and pulls me against him by my waist to kiss the tip of my nose. “Babe, let’s try to make the best of our last months together.”
    The lump in my throat makes it hard to breathe, and I know words won’t come out, so I hug him back. And I wonder how I’m supposed to do this.

Chapter 5
    I hate fighting with Nick , and after a fitful night of sleep, I decide to do my best to get us back to normal until I figure out what to do. He’s still in bed when I get out of the bathroom, and I ask, “Eggs?”
    “Yes, please.”
    Butter is sizzling in the pan when Nick comes to the kitchen. He says, “I’m not working tonight. Want me to bring that salad you love to Rhinestone Cowgirl?”
    “That would be great.” I flip the fried eggs over and hold the pan as I reach for a plate.
    Silverware rattles in the drawer as Nick removes some, and he grabs the toast that popped up. We perform our usual morning routine with practiced ease, and it reminds me of how much I’ve taken for granted. Our life together has been fairly seamless. Sure, we have silly fights over who should clean the toilet, but I’ve never doubted us as a couple. Of course, Nick probably didn’t either. And now I’ve given him a very good reason to question everything.
    The knife scrapes over toasted bread as Nick applies butter as he says, “Stacy is trying out for dev team too.”
    “I know she wanted to. She must be thrilled she got it.” I hate thinking about them training together. Stacy is a bone of contention between Nick and me. When she first came to Breck, she decided he would be hers, even after she found out he lived with his girlfriend. Stacy also has an odd way of knowing just how to make me jealous, and I say, “I swear she’s doing it to try to steal my guy.”
    Nick says, “It won’t work.”
    I sit at our kitchen counter, and yellow oozes over egg whites when I stab my yolk.
    Nick sits next to me, and the scent of his deodorant mixed with musk makes me long to snuggle. I lean against his arm. I sigh, and Nick places his hand on mine. I flip my palm up and thread my fingers in his. I say, “I’m sorry.”
    “Me too.”
    My appetite is gone. I never imagined I’d have to leave the love of my life behind for a family obligation. I wish I could ask him to come, but I won’t make Nick swim in the shark-infested waters of my New York life. Not when he’s living his dream, because all I could offer him would be a job as a househusband and me as a part-time wife.
    Nick takes a deep breath and pulls