Before I can say anything in response, the waitress returns, setting our coffees down in front of us. I grab the creamer and dump some inside, mixing it with a black straw. I take a sip of the burning liquid, buying myself time.
Edward watches me with a look that tells me he sees right through the stall. “So you’re comfortable now? With the Comets? Last time we talked, you weren’t sure this place was for you.”
I press my lips together and rub my brow line. “I just … needed time. To settle in. To stop comparing everything to the South. I think I blamed the team for something that was really just me adjusting.”
Edward nods slowly, then rests his hand on the folio. “I hear that. But interest like this doesn’t come around every day. If I lean in, conversations happen. If I don’t, they cool off.”
“Then I want you to let them cool off.” I meet his eyes. “I don’t want you pushing. I don’t want my name floated. Not right now.”
He blinks. “You’re serious.”
“Yeah.” I shrug, my chest tight but steady. “Maybe that makes me crazy. But I’m not asking you to shut doors forever. I’m just asking you not to open new ones.”
Edward leans back. “You know you can’t control outcomes.”
“I know. But I can control what I’m willing to chase.”
He studies me for a long moment.
I pick up my coffee. “I like it here. I fit with this team. That matters to me more than I expected.”
“You’ve wanted Texas for a long time.”
“I wanted familiarity,” I correct. “Turns out I needed growth.”
“And the girl?” Edward asks carefully.
“This isn’t just about Nicole. But I’m not pretending she doesn’t matter either.”
He nods once. “Long distance works for plenty of guys.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But I’m not making career choices based on hypotheticals anymore.”
He’s quiet for a beat, then finally slides the folio back into his bag. “Alright. I won’t push. If something unavoidable comes up, we’ll deal with it then.”
“That’s all I wanted.”
Edward lifts his coffee, finally taking a sip. “You might not ever get another stretch like this. Are you okay with that?”
I nod. “Yeah. I am. Maybe I’ll get lucky and stay on the Comets indefinitely.”
“Okay.” He gives me a half-smile, genuine this time. “Then we stay put and let things play out.”
We finish our drinks talking about nothing important—weather, travel, the next road trip. When we stand, Edward claps my shoulder. “I’ll let Coach know you’re committed to being here,” he says. “He’ll appreciate that.”
“Thanks.”
Outside, after he leaves, I pull out my phone and text Marcus.
Me:Think I’ll be sticking to the City of Angels. See you at practice.
I press the send button and then head back to the apartment complex. I still have one more person to tell … and as much as Idon’twant to think about her leaving me for Miami, I have to make sure she knows that I’ll support her in whatever decision she makes.
I also need to tell her that I think I love her…
But one thing at a time.
Chapter Twenty-Six
