It was a huge opportunity. As much as I loved coaching high schoolers, moving to the college level would be incredible. I’d played in the pros until a career-ending injury left me sidelined for good. And I couldn’t deny that I wanted a taste of the big time again.
I opened it and the knot tightened as I read.
The athletic director wanted to meet with me. He was even offering to come to Tilikum for an in-person meeting the following week. There was only one reason he’d fly all the way out to meet with me. They were serious. I was really in the running.
I replied, letting him know that would be great.
Leaning back in my chair, I let out another breath. It was a great opportunity. A prominent school with a first-class program. Tons of responsibility. A chance to take my career to the next level.
But it would also mean leaving Tilikum.
I’d done it before. I left to play in college. Then I’d been drafted into the pros. But that had always felt temporary. Granted, I’d thought my pro career would last a lot longer than it had. Still, I’d gone into it assuming I’d play for as many seasons as I could and probably wind up back in my hometown after.
This would be different. More permanent.
With the very real possibility of a job offer on the other side of the country staring me in the face, I had no idea what I was going to do.
CHAPTER 2
Penelope
My feet hurt.
I’d worn a new pair of shoes to work and, cute as they were, they hadn’t done my feet any favors. That was what I got for trying to be stylish. Why had I even bothered? My shoes barely showed beneath the hem of my slacks. Who would even notice? Especially on me.
My pinkie toes, that’s who.
It was too bad. The shoes really were cute—lace-up ankle booties with low heels. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I flexed my feet and checked the red spots where my shoes had rubbed the skin. No blisters, so at least I had that going for me.
Fortunately, I could dress down for the evening. Sean and I had plans, but his friends were pretty casual. Except Chad’s wife, Jordyn. She always dressed like she expected paparazzi to follow her around taking pictures, even when we were just going out for drinks at the Timberbeast Tavern.
I stood and adjusted my glasses as I walked over to the closet. Speaking of dressing down—or up—I needed to figure out what to wear. Fall had settled over Tilikum, the little town in theWashington Cascade mountains where I’d lived for the last few years.
It had been a longtime dream of mine to become the art teacher at Tilikum High School. I loved teaching art, and my grandma—the only close family I had—lived in an assisted living home in town. Staying close to her was my priority. Several years ago, I got a job at Tilikum Middle School, and eventually the position at the high school had opened up. I was in my second year and absolutely loved it.
Standing in front of the open closet, I tilted my head. A sweater and jeans would work. I moved the rack of clothes aside to inspect a burnt-orange sweater. It was a nice fall color.
My THS hoodie hung right next to it. With a sigh, I fingered the sleeve.
Sean poked his head in the bedroom. He’d recently cut his blond hair super short—almost a buzz cut—and for reasons I did not understand, he’d grown a mustache.
“Hey babe,” he said, although the wordbabesounded habitual, not really like a term of endearment. “What are you doing?”
I glanced over my shoulder. “Picking out something to wear.”
His forehead creased. He was still in the jeans and T-shirt with his company logo he’d worn to work. “Why? You don’t need to change.”
“I want to.”
“Just don’t take forever. You already got home late.”
“I was trying to catch up on grading so I don’t have to do it this weekend.”
“Fine, just don’t take forever.” He turned and left, disappearing down the hall.
I was about to reach for the sweater when I paused and eyed the hoodie again. It wasn’t that it was any cuter or more comfortable than other items in my wardrobe. It was just ahunter green sweatshirt with a kangaroo pocket and the Tilikum Timberwolves logo on the front. But I wore it to the football games, and that was what I wished I was doing. Not getting ready to hang out with Sean’s work friends all night.
High school football over a night out with grown-ups? Maybe that made me weird—especially for a girl who’d never been into sports—but the Timberwolves football games were so much fun. I’d started going the previous year to show my support, and it had quickly become my favorite Friday-night activity.
