“We’ll be able to come back home after college once I sign with the Wolverines. The two of us can live out all of our dreams right here just like we’ve talked about.” I don’t think I’m imagining the look of apprehension on her face when I set her down, but she quickly schools her expression before I can get a good read on it.
“I’m so excited for you!”
“For us, right?”
“Yeah, it’s almost too good to be true.” She pauses to worry her lip before she says, “I thought you had said that Nashville was really interested in you and New York had put out feelers. Even Boston, but I don’t remember you mentioning Minnesota,” she says and alarms start going off in my head.
“Those teams were all interested, but I didn’t want to tell you that Minnesota was showing interest because I didn’t want to get your hopes up if they didn’t end up drafting me.”
“Is this where you hoped you’d get drafted?” she asks, looking down at her hands.
“I mean, yeah. It’s a dream come true. Not only do I get to potentially play for my home state, but I also have the chance to play professionally alongside my brother. Do you know how rare it is for two brothers to be in the NHL, let alone on the same team?”
“I do. I guess that’s why I hadn’t even considered Minnesota as an option.”
I won’t lie. I can’t get a read on how she’s feeling and it’s scaring the hell out of me.
Taking her hand in mine, I walk her up the steps and sit on the front porch swing, patting the cushion next to me for her to take a seat. Once she does, I ask, “What is it about the draft results that worries you?”
She pulls my hands into her lap, turns them over, and begins drawing lines on my palms. “There are still so many factors up in the air, and I’m worried about what that means for our future.”
“The only questionable things are where we’ll end up and when. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no question in my mind when it comes to you and me that you’re my future. At least, that’s how it is for me. Do you feel differently?” I ask, panic evident in my voice at this point.
“What? No. No, of course not!” she assures me, squeezing my hands in hers.
“Then why are you worried?” I ask, mindlessly running my thumbs over the backs of her hands.
“I’m terrified that we’ll wind up another high school sweetheart cliché,” she admits, avoiding eye contact with me.
“What?” I question, ducking to meet her eyes.
She still won’t look at me, and I’m beyond terrified at how this has taken a turn. “That we’ll go away to college, try to make things work, and it’ll probably work until you get signed or something else happens that could pull us apart. I mean, in your scenario, things have to work out perfectly as far as timing goes. What happens if you sign mid-way through your collegiate career and I’m still in school?”
I freeze my hands in place. “Then we’ll make it work long distance, Taevin. Do you not want this to work?”
“Of course I do, Jackson. How could you even ask that?”
“Then don’t give up on us before we’ve even got any hurdles to overcome.”
“I’m not! I think I’m justified in being worried about what our future has in store for us. Not to mention, look at all the attention you get from girls now—won’t that only amplify when you’re at the collegiate level?”
I scoff because, no, that one doesn’t feel justifiable at all. I’ve never given her any reason to doubt my faithfulness. “I don’tknow, but that is a non-issue for me. You know you’re all I see. I’m crazy about you, baby. This isn’t some high school fling for me. You are my entire future. I’d quit hockey tomorrow if it was what stood in the way of our future.”
Tae shakes her head vehemently. “No. You promised you wouldn’t let me become a distraction.”
“Then tell me what I can do to make you feel secure in our relationship. You’re scaring the hell out of me, Tae.”
“I need to know that our entire future won’t only be about your goals and aspirations, but that I have a say in our future too. What happens if I can’t pursue a career in music while living in Minnesota?”
“Then I’ll request a trade to wherever you want to go as soon as my rookie contract is up.”
“It’s not that simple—you and I both know that.”
“Then I’d quit,” I say simply and without hesitation.
“I can’t ask you to do that. I won’tletyou do that.”
Shifting, I turn so I’m fully facing her. “Then we’ll make it work long distance for as long as we need to in order for us both to live out our dreams, T. I’m committed to making this work.”
