“I’m telling people that you’re mine,” I tell her, offering her a smile. “It’s about time everyone knew.”
“But what are you doing outhere?”
Dee leans in then, getting our attention. “I think I’m going to take Kyle to get a snack,” she says. “You guys want anything?”
Abby shakes her head at the same time I do, still lookingconfused. Dee shoots me a surreptitious thumbs-up from behind Abby’s head, taking Kyle’s hand and leading him through the stands toward the concession.
“I don’t understand,” Abby says. “Why aren’t you playing?”
“Because I scheduled the surgery,” I tell her. “It’s next week. I’m out for the rest of the season.”
Her lips part in surprise. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise?”
“Well, color me surprised.”
“Are you mad?”
“Mad? What?” She shakes her head. “Of course I’m not mad. I want whatever you want. I just didn’t know you’d made this decision.”
“I’ve thought about it a lot,” I admit. “And I mean, I could probably finish out the season. Risk fucking my arm up even more but make it to the conference finals. But I think I finally realized, I don’t need it as bad as I thought I did.”
Her gaze softens. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure,” I answer. “This is what I want.”
“And what will you do after?”
“Well, it’s funny you mention that, because I just had a long talk with Coach before the game started.”
“What did he say?”
“We talked about the possibility of me coming on as an assistant coach next year.”
Her eyes widen. “Jack, that’s amazing!”
And it is, I think. It’s not something I saw for myself, but the more I think about it, it feels like a natural progression for my career. I love my team, I love the game, and positions like this don’t just fall out of the sky.
“We talked about me eventually taking over for him in a few years,” I go on.
She throws her arms around my neck, wincing when she catches her bad arm but still holding me tight as she whispers, “I’m really proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I say. “I’m kind of proud of me too.”
She leans back, grinning at me with that smile that makes my insides feel warm and gooey, and I can’t help but press my hand to her cheek, pulling her in to feather my lips against hers. I can hear the crowd around us start to whoop and holler, and there’s a good chance this is up on a jumbotron somewhere, but right now, I can’t find it in me to care.
Kind of wish I could see Ian’s face right now.
“I have something I wanted to tell you too,” Abby says as she pulls away.
“Yeah?”
She looks a little nervous about whatever she’s going to say, chewing on the inside of her lip as she covers my hand with hers.
“I was talking to Lila just now,” she starts. “And…Well.”
She frowns as her brow furrows, and I can’t pretend there’s not a tremor of my own nerves that passes through me at her tone. “What is it?”
