“I was just thinking about how much I love Stoneport,” she admitted as they continued walking.
“I feel the same way.” Sydney had mentioned earlier this week that her parents were putting their house in Florida on the market. For Reese, that was amazing news, given that at least now, Sydney’s time would only be split between two places.
Or two lifestyles, more accurately. One, where they got lost in small-town revelry defined by lazy mornings and everyone knowing their business. The other, where Sydney was jet-setting around the world, her star continuing to rise.
Reese hoped what they had together would be enough. That Sydney would look forward to coming back to Stoneport instead of resenting it. That the life that Reese had to offer her would continue to feel like enough.
And with that, she let out another quiet breath, steeling her resolve for whatever came next. “Have you given any thought to the contract?”
The official offer from The Tennis Network had come through this morning, by way of Sydney’s agent, and as far asReese could tell, Sydney hadn’t seriously looked at it. Then again, she had gone to MTC earlier to hit around with Brian, so it could be that she was running the offer by him.
Reese didn’t want to be too pushy, but the reality was, she was dying to know.
Sydney kept walking, but her pace slowed down as they rounded a corner and headed back in the direction of where Reese’s car was parked.
“I don’t want my decision to change things between us,” Sydney said quietly, their steps slowing to a crawl.
They stopped in front of a quaint rowhouse with the lights still on, some type of party going on inside.
“It won’t. I promise,” Reese responded, hoping she could live up to her words.
“I’m not taking the offer.”
It’s okay; we can do this, Reese was already telling herself as Sydney spoke, hoping to protect her heart.
But… what?
She met Sydney’s stare then. Sydney’s eyes were wide and unblinking, her lower lip pulled between her teeth. “I hope that’s okay. That it doesn’t have to change things between us. I certainly don’t want it to.”
Reese was trying to catch up at the same time that her heart was hammering in her chest, but she was struggling to make sense of things. “In what world would this change things between us?”
“You seemed like you really wanted me to consider the job. And I did, honestly, but it’s not what I want. I want to be in Stoneport, and well, Brian’s offered me a job at MTC, which will give me a much better schedule and work-life balance. Plus, I’d get to coach, which is something I’ve realized I love over the past couple of?—”
Reese threw her arms around Sydney, her girlfriend absorbing the weight with surprising grace, holding on to her tight as they only took a small step back.
Of all the wrong things that Sydney could think!
Reese let out something between a groan and a laugh, and she felt like a million pounds of weight had lifted off of her chest. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t feel held back, but I’ve always wanted you here. I needed it to be your decision, not mine.” She pulled back so that she could put her hand on Sydney’s cheek, cupping it gently. “The only changes that will come from this are good ones.”
“Yeah?” Sydney asked, a smile starting to overtake her face that made Reese’s heart stutter-stop.
Reese nodded. “I hated the idea of heading back to my house alone every night, missing you. Wondering what you’re off in the world doing. Whether you were thinking about me too.”
“Your house?” Sydney asked, lifting a curious eyebrow.
“Well… I’m not going to stay at the inn, considering I won’t be managing it anymore. I don’t think that really screams ‘executive oversight’ to Hallie if I’m in her space all the time. I was thinking of renting a little house on the coast, somewhere close by but that I could see myself staying for a little while.”
Sydney nodded along, picking up when Reese stopped talking. “So I guess I’ll live with my parents again…” She looked at Reese with the biggest, most innocent eyes, knowing exactly what she was doing.
Which meant that there was nothing for Reese to do but hold up her heart, mock offense written across her features. “Sydney King. Are you angling for an offer to move in? Out of wedlock and everything!”
Sydney shook her head. “No, I was angling for us to both move in with my parents. It’s more dignified that way.”
They laughed at the same time, and Reese pushed Sydney lightly, which didn’t work as intended when Sydney pulled Reese against her chest, holding her close.
“You’re mean. Toying with my emotions like this,” Reese said, her breath ghosting across Sydney’s exposed clavicle.
Reese didn’t know if she’d ever been this happy, her futureunfolding in front of her like it had been meant to happen this way all along.
