My heart thumps.
I think I love her already. I bring her hand to my lips, kissing her knuckles. "Thank you."
"Always." She nods toward the house. "Now let's go. I want to see Riley's face when she figures it out."
I can't help but laugh. "I should film it."
We walk up to the front door together, and I ring the bell before I lose my nerve.
Wade opens the door, his eyebrows raised. "Hey, man. What's the big?—"
He stops. His gaze slides from me to Sloane and back again.
I can see the moment recognition hits. He knows Sloane—he's seen her at practices, exchanged brief hellos on the sidelines. But he’s never really talked to her.
"Wade, this is Sloane Chandler." I settle my hand against the small of her back, and something in me settles too. "My…girlfriend." The word feels strange in my mouth. Too small for what she is to me. But it'll have to do for now.
Wade looks between us, then his face breaks into a wide grin.
"Well, I'll be damned." He extends his hand to Sloane. "Nice toofficiallymeet you. Riley thinks the world of you and only says good things."
"All exaggerated, I'm sure," Sloane says, shaking his hand with a warm smile.
"Somehow I doubt that." Wade shoots me a look—one that sayswe are definitely talking about this later—but there's only amusement in his eyes, and maybe something like happiness.
"Come on in," he says, stepping aside. "I just put coffee on?—"
"Dad! Who's at the door?" Riley's voice echoes from upstairs, followed by the thunder of feet on the staircase. "I thought I heard Uncle Ike's truck, but then I heard a girl's voice and?—"
She rounds the corner and stops dead.
Her eyes go wide as dinner plates.
"Coach Sloane?!”
"Hey, Riley," Sloane says, casual as anything.
Riley's mouth opens. Then closes. Her eyes track to where I’m holding Sloane’s hand.
"Wait. Are you—is she—UNCLE IKE! Are you and Coach Sloanetogether?!”
I clear my throat. "We are."
The scream that comes out of this fourteen-year-old girl could shatter glass.
She launches herself across the room, and for a second I think she's coming for me. But no, she barrels straight into Sloane, wrapping her in a fierce hug.
"This is thebest day ever!” Riley pulls back, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh my god, Iknewit! I knewsomething was going on! The way you guys looked at each other at practice?—"
"You knewnothing," I protest dryly.
"I knew everything.” She's bouncing on her toes now, unable to contain herself. "Wait until I tell the team! Wait until I telleveryone!"
"Maybe let's pace ourselves on that," Sloane laughs.
"This is so cool. SO COOL." Riley grabs my hands. "You have to come to my next match! During breaks you two can hold hands and kiss and be all gross and cute?—"
"Riley," Wade interjects, "maybe give them a chance to breathe?"
