She looks at me with doubt on her face, but when she sees I’m dead serious, she manages a weak smile. “Dad’s got it covered. Ma offered to tweet about it, and Dad wants to take a mallet to his knees.”
“Give me a turn with the mallet,” I offer.
She sighs and folds her hands in her lap. “Maybe this is a sign, Ryder,” she says. “A sign that your future is in Columbus. Maybe we shouldn’t be together. What are the odds that—”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up. You think what that fucker did has anything to do with what’s happening between us? The odds that an asshole ballplayer gets canned and comes running home with his tail between his legs to hide out? Pretty high, actually. Our actions always catch up to us, Gracie. Even though, for some people, it takes a while. Look. The fact that the guy is from here is the only reason why you ever met him. If he hadn’t been in town for a wedding, would he have ever come through The Body Shop?”
She shakes her head. “Unlikely.”
“All right. So that’s small-town life. For better or worse, you know everybody, and everybody knows you. The real question is, are you going to be okay when that waste of human flesh comes back to town? Maybe we shouldallmove to Columbus.”
I’m not sure how’s she going to react to that, but I’m surprised when she scoots closer to me. She laces her fingers through mine and squeezes. “I don’t want to run from anything,” she says. “Look, he didn’t hurt me. Not physically. He ghosted me. Bailed on his responsibility. Was a colossal asshole, but not completely surprising. But other than make me feel like shit about myself, he is nothing to me. Not then, and not now. I’ll handle it in the future. I don’t want to run away from anything ever again.”
I raise her hand to my lips. “I won’t have anything to do with the gym if Austin insists on working with the guy. There are some good, principled men out there, Gracie. Your father is one. I’m sure your brothers are. I’m one of them too, Gracie.”
“Meh,” she quips. “I’m not so sure about Benito.”
We both crack up, but then I take her face in my hands. “You just made a tough decision a lot easier. I’ll tell Austin no. I’ll be here for you when that asshole comes back to town. I’ll figure out what to do with my career eventually. This matters to me, Gracie—how you feel about what I choose to do with my life. That’s what a real relationship looks like.”
We kiss again, but the heat isn’t there. It’s reassuring and loving, but we’re both exhausted.
Despite everything we’ve talked about in this crazy hotel room, I’ve never felt more at home in my life.
18
RYDER
I’d cometo a decision before we parted ways at the hotel early this morning, but I hadn’t shared my decision with anyone, including Gracie. Not yet. I wanted to be one hundred percent certain about that decision before I told anyone.
What did I decide? I’d be fucking bananas if I quit my job to join my buddy in a new start-up. No matter how great his vision is…it may amount to nothing. I’m not a single man with no responsibilities. I don’t have the luxury of taking risks that very well could affect our happiness and financial means.
Even if I were able to take a huge financial risk, there is Gracie to consider. I’ve barely touched the woman, but none of that matters. I know her on a different level; I don’t think I know any other female in my life in quite the same way.
And in a short amount of time, I’ve allowed myself to dream of future possibilities. And every single one of them includes Star Falls and Gracie.
My love for coaching and teaching will come back eventually. There’s an ebb and flow to everything in life, including work. Once I get accustomed to life in Star Falls and get to know more of the people and kids, that vigor I felt before will return.
The gray cloud of grief that has been over my head for what feels like forever has started to break apart, allowing me to see things in a new light.
My life isn’t over.
Gracie has shown me that.
My time for love and happiness hasn’t passed.
The world is filled with possibilities.
But every single one of them is in Star Falls.
“I don’t want to pressure you, man,” Austin says as we stand in the park with the kids, giving them something to do this morning to burn some energy. “If you’re out, I do want to start talking to some of our other friends. Maybe start looking at talent recruitment companies to get the best of the best.”
I shake my head and give Cora a little boost, and I watch her ladybug-patterned sneakers kick high in the air. “I don’t know,” I tell him. “The idea is intriguing. I just…” I decide to tell him as little about Levi as I can. “I asked Gracie what she knows about this Olson guy, and…” I shake my head.
Austin moves around to the front of the swings to face me. “What did she say?”
“He sounds like bad news. I don’t know what kind of trouble he’s in, but if you’re fixed on getting a guy like him on board, you’re asking for a world of trouble.”
Austin looks shocked but nods. “He’s out, then. Anything else stopping you?”
