Chapter 28
Ollie
Backseat Driver by Kane Brown
The Bridger Falls middle school gymnasium smells like popcorn and varnish that they use on the floors like they’re trying to cover up the smell of stinky middle school boys. Because there’s plenty of that smell, too. The bleachers are half full of families yelling and cheering. The energy in here is jittery, chaotic, and fun—the way a middle school basketball game is supposed to be.
I’ve watched the boys we’ve been coaching for the past few weeks grow into a team and encourage one another. I’ve watched them improve, smile, and be happy. And that’s something Principal Masters says didn’t happen when Coach Toddy was coaching.
Ellie’s tucked into the baby carrier on my chest, warm and perfect in her tiny baby way, completely unbothered by the noise. Her little head rests against my chest like she was meant to be there all along. And she has, I just didn’t know it.
Poppy’s sitting in the bleachers with Cami, Violet, Mack, and Maggie as Owen’s team runs onto the court. She’s trying to act casual, but she’s beaming with pride. She wanted to hold Ellie, but I couldn’t let her go, she was sleeping so well. The second Owen spots all of us, his whole face breaks open into the biggest grin I’ve ever seen. Not a middle school trying-to-play-it-cool grin. A full, unfiltered,that’s my peopleand they showed up for megrin.
And I swear, in that moment, standing there with a baby on my chest and the woman I love watching that kid light up because we showed up…
I’ve never felt more exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Not just a smile. A full-on, heart-bursting grin. He points at us, at Ellie, and pumps his fist before scrambling into position.
My chest tightens.
“That look,” Poppy says softly as she comes up beside me. “He’s so happy.”
I nod, not trusting my voice. “Yeah.”
We cheer like maniacs. I clap one-handed, careful not to jostle Ellie, and Poppy yells Owen’s name. He plays better because we’re all here. Like knowing we’re here makes him more confident.
Poppy leans in closer, her mouth brushing my ear. “You know you look ridiculously sexy right now, right?”
I blink. “Oh, yeah?”
She grins, eyes flicking to the baby carrier. “Oh, yeah. Holding a baby and coaching a basketball game. It’s unfair how sexy you look right now.”
“Good to know,” I say with a smirk.
“Yeah, just wait until later.” She grins and gives me a look.
I huff a laugh. “What’s going to happen later?”
She shrugs. “You’ll findout.”
I roll my head back and look up at the ceiling, “You can’t whisper this to me right in the middle of a game.”
“Just keeping you on your toes. I can’t help it that you look like a walking, talking sex dream.”
I laugh, then say softly, “I thought you didn’t want this life.”
She looks at me then, softer than I’ve ever seen her. “Maybe I just want you,” she says quietly. “And whatever comes with you. I just want you, Ollie Kendrick.”
My heart clenches at her words. Because deep down, hearing it means everything to me.
“Because I love you, Ollie,” she continues. “Ridiculously, obsessed, in love with you. I want to be your wife, mother to your baby, and do life with you. Because it’s a pretty great life.”
The gym noise fades into the background like someone turned the volume down on the world. I tip my forehead to hers without thinking, my hand finding hers automatically.
She’s right. It is a pretty great life.
The house is quiet, and the kids are finally asleep. And if you’d tell me that I’d be saying that very sentence just a few months ago, I wouldn’t have believed it. I shut the door softly behind me and peel out of my clothes, dropping them in a trail on the floor like I’ve been waiting all day to do this, because I have.
