"I don't know yet. Maybe coaching clinics, maybe mentoring other young coaches, maybe developing the Timber Falls youth program into something bigger. I just know I want to keep building something meaningful."
"That sounds good. Thoughtful. Very you."
"What about you? What's next for Margaret's?"
Lucy had been thinking about this. "Long-term? I'd love to expand. Not into a chain—I'm not trying to be the next Panera. But maybe a second location in Burlington. Or a catering arm. Or a cookbook. Something that grows the concept without losing what makes it special."
"That's ambitious."
"Says the man who won a championship in his first year as head coach."
"Fair point."
They talked late into the night about dreams and futures and possibilities. And Jake realized something: they were finally aligned. Both building careers they loved in the place they wanted to be. Together. Committed. Real.
"Lucy?" Jake said around midnight.
"Yeah?"
"Move in with me."
Lucy blinked. "What?"
"Move in with me. You just got this apartment, I know. But—I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to comehome to you every night. I want us to actually live together instead of just sleeping over at each other's places."
"Jake, this is—that's a big step."
"I know. But we've already done the hard part. We've proven we can survive distance, survive doubt, survive our careers pulling us in different directions. Moving in together feels like the logical next step."
"Is it, though? Or are we rushing because we almost lost each other and now we're overcompensating?"
"I don't think we're rushing. I think we're finally ready. Lucy, I love you. I want to build a life with you. Not just date you, not just be your boyfriend. Build an actual life. Together."
Lucy was quiet for a long moment. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course."
"Not because I don't want to. But because—because I want to make sure we're doing this for the right reasons. Not out of fear of losing each other again."
"That's fair."
But Jake felt stung. He'd put himself out there, asked for something big, and Lucy needed to think about it.
Was she having doubts? Still not fully committed? Still keeping one foot out the door in case she needed to run?
"Jake?" Lucy said softly. "I can see your brain spiraling. Don't."
"I'm not spiraling."
"You are. I see it. But Jake—me wanting to think about it isn't me doubting us. It's me wanting to be thoughtful about a major lifedecision. We've been back together for five months. That's not that long."
"It's long enough to know."
"For you maybe. For me—I'm still rebuilding your trust. I'm still proving I'm staying. Moving in together feels like—like if I mess up, if I get scared and want space, I've nowhere to go. I'm just—there. Committed. No escape route."
"Do you need an escape route?"
"I don't know. Maybe? Jake, I'm being honest here. I'm scared. Of commitment, of being vulnerable, of trusting that this will last. And moving in together—that's a level of commitment I'm not sure I'm ready for yet."
