“I want to touch you, but I’d haveto move,” he says. I can tell he feels bad for how exhausted he is.
I crawl closer to him so that myface is right before his. “You don’t have to go anywhere,” I say, offering hima gentle kiss. He reciprocates, igniting a powerful sensation within me.
As I pull away and look into hiseyes, my thoughts return to the evening.
“What’s wrong?” Bryce asks.
“Tonight, Kiernan was talking aboutnext year’s contract with some reporters. It just reminded me that all this isgoing to start all over again.”
“That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know that my life canaccommodate what I want now.”
“What do you want?”
Does he want me to say it?
“Because I know what I want,” hesays. “I want to be with you.”
Sweet ease washes over me—an ease likesomething I would feel when we’re sharing a release together.
“I want to be with you too,” Iconfess. “I just don’t know how we can make it work with our lives the way theyare.”
“I’ve been trying to figure thatout. I haven’t come up with shit, but I do care about you, Tad. So much. And ifI believe there’s something worth fighting for, it’s whatever there is betweenus. We don’t have to figure it out tonight, though. We just have to take it oneday at a time, and find a way to—”
“What? Have a long-distancerelationship?” He must know I’m skeptical about making that kind of arrangementwork, considering what went down between me and Jordan. But what other choicedo we have if I continue down this path?
“For the time being, would that besuch a terrible thing?”
“I guess not.” Though he must knowI don’t believe that. I know where that leads.
“Speaking of which, I’m going tohave to be in D.C. for a few days. Don’t worry. I’ll make it to the clinicopening. But they need me in D.C. to wrap up this case.”
He says it like it’s just for afew days, but soon, I know it’ll be for a lot longer.
I nod. I don’t want to argue ordebate with Bryce tonight, especially considering how tired he is. Instead, Iwrap my arm around him and pull him close. I rest my head on the pillow besidehim, and we gaze into each other’s eyes.
Sixty-Eight
Tad
It’s two-thirty in the afternoon when we arrive at the HopeFoundation Clinic.
Carson, who we contracted for thisevent, guides Kiernan, Darren, and me through a mob that’s gathered between theorange-coned road blocks on either side of the street. Food trucks and standsare set up along the sidewalks. The place looks more like a festival than theclinic’s grand opening. Being headline news because of my recent attemptedassassination has clearly increased people’s awareness about the event. Nicethat I can use my fame to shine some much-needed attention on an importantcause for a change.
We start up a set of steps thatlead onto the stage that’s been rigged in front of the clinic. Brent stands onthe other side of the stage, taking a picture with a small cluster of his peers.As he turns, he spots me and says, “Wait, wait. Get in here, Tad.”
I dash over and join in. When theyfinish taking the picture, Brent turns to me, and I can see the excitement inhis expression about knowing that our dream has finally come to life. I only wishBryce could be here with me. He was supposed to arrive in time for the opening,but his flight from D.C. was delayed, so I doubt he’ll be here in time for myspeech.
A cool breeze in the air contrastssharply with the warm sun. It’s a beautiful day for new beginnings—for thisclinic and for myself.
For the past few days, I’vedebated about quitting the NFL. I want to be with Bryce, and I don’t mindmoving to D. C. if that’s what I have to do so that we can be together. But ifI give this up, I’m not just giving up on my dream, but Kiernan’s dream, too.We worked so hard to get here together, and in some ways, I feel like I owe itto him to milk this for everything it’s worth. But after all this hard work…afterall this labor…don’t I deserve something for me? Isn’t that what this was all aboutto begin with—us being happy?
Brent approaches the podium andtaps the mic. “Testing, testing,” he says playfully.
The audience applauds and thensettles, allowing Brent to offer a friendly greeting and thank everyone forshowing up to offer their support for this new venture.
I check my phone to see if Bryce might, by some miracle,make it to the event. He’s sent a text that reads:Just a few minutes away.
