Chapter Five
When I reach the covered bridge, I turn my flashlight on to light my way. Jenson’s there waiting for me. He picks me up and hugs me tightly.
“It’s so good to see you again,” he says in a low tone.
We just saw each other last night, but I know what he means. In a way, we haven’t really seen each other since I was seventeen.
Jenson puts his arm around my shoulders, and we sit down together on the pavement, our backs against the bridge wall and our legs stretched out into the empty road. I look around at the tiny one-lane road that passes underneath the bridge. Hardly any cars take this bridge in the daylight; this late, we shouldn’t even see one. I turn off the flashlight, and we’re immediately surrounded by the safety and escape of total darkness. Under the covering of the bridge, it’s like there’s nobody else in town. Nobody but us.
“I remember how we came here when we were kids,” Jenson says quietly.
“You kissed me for the first time here and the last time too.” I swallow hard. “If I’d known it would be our last time, I’d have asked you not to stop.”
He turns to face me, and my eyes, now adjusted to the dark, can make out his strong jaw and blond hair. His expression is somber.
“I’ve gone over that moment a million times since things ended between us. I wish eight years hadn’t passed since then.”
I exhale. “I know what you mean.”
“This whole thing’s been torture.” His voice is rough.
He’s never said it outright like that.
I inhale. “It has.” Reaching for an easier topic, I say, “Both the boys seem good.”
“They are.”
I smile at the pride in his voice.
“They’ve been enjoying coming to work with me lately.”
“Really?” I laugh. “That is so cute—do they know all the players?”
“Pretty much.”
I hear him suck in a breath. And then—
“I’ve been hired as an assistant football coach for Randolph College.”
“Wait…” I stumble. “What?”
“I’m working for Randolph’s football team.”
“But that’s where Dad teaches—Randolph is just outside Liberty Falls!”
“I know. I told you I’m moving back home, Olive.”
“You—” I drop the flashlight and then scramble to grab it before it rolls away. “How did I not know this? Randolph always announces their new coaching staff, and I don’t remember seeing your name on the website.”
And God knows I would have noticed.
“It was a last-minute opening, and they haven’t made the announcement yet. The coach called me up a month ago; I’ve known him since high school, but he wasn’t sure they had room in their budget for me. I’m going to work with the offense, study game tape and design plays. Today was my first day on the field; the announcement should be coming out tomorrow.”
“Congratulations. But isn’t that…a big step down from the Division I program you were coaching at out in Pittsburgh?”
He brushes my cheek softly with his hand. “Coming back to Liberty Falls is a million steps up, Olive. It can’t be quantified.”
I drop my jaw as I stare at him. “You’re willing to give up that coaching position for…”
