Theo gives us a look like we’ve lost it. “Are you two practicing metaphors now instead of drills?”
And that doesn’t help either. “We were just planning to do some extra sprints, right?” I say, clapping Miller’s shoulder.
“Excellent. More sprints. Less metaphors,” Theo says, then grabs the stairwell door, but before heading up to his second-floor office, he ducks back and looks at me. “I got your text about wanting to meet. Perfect timing. I have something to discuss with you too.”
The door swings shut, and he’s gone.
Miller gawks at me. “What the…?”
I go cold everywhere. “Shit.”
“I mean, this is it,” Miller says, frowning. “He knows.”
My gut twists. It’s not like I’ve been Mister Secretive. I’ve taken Mabel out to lunch, kissed her in the bakery, fake-dated her. I’ve basically stopped hiding.
And yeah, it’s not his business and all, but my stomach curls with the realization I should have had this talk sooner. A lot sooner. “He probably does.”
Miller claps me on the back. “It was good knowing you,” he says as we head to the locker room, the sound of sneakers echoing behind us.
In a second, Lake catches up to us. “Is Knighty Night retiring?”
“Yep. He’s going to bow out because he’s about to get traded,” Miller deadpans.
Riggs is next, and he joins us. “Shit. Seriously?”
“No, I’m not getting traded. I have a no-trade clause. I just need to—” I stop and shed all these worries. She’s worth it. That’s the point of telling Theo. “I need to see Theo and tell him I’m going to date his sister.”
Lake winces, a rare show of emotion. “Got a death wish?”
Riggs pats my shoulder. “It was fun while it lasted. Playing with you and all.”
I flip them the bird, then turn around and hustle down the hall. I was going to do this after practice, but since Theo’s free now, I guess it’s now or never.
I bound up the steps, and rap on Theo’s open door. He’s at his desk, holding a cup of coffee.
“Come in?—”
I barely let him finish the sentence. “We’ve been friends for more than a decade, right?”
His brow knits. “Yeah.”
“And I’m guessing you don’t think I’m a dick then.”
“No,” he says, then hesitates. “But should I?”
“Nope. Because I’m not. Was I there for you when Ginny left?”
“Yes. And what are you getting at?”
“Did I water your plants when you went out of town and your plant sitter flaked?”
He motions for me to spill. “’Fess up, Knight.”
“Did I root for you when you wanted to be GM?”
He heaves a sigh. “Yes. What. Is. It?”
Undeterred by his impatience, I square my shoulders, blow out a breath, and come this close to saying,I’m in love with your sister.
