Page 173 of The Backup Plan

Today, I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to ruin someone’s career.

What a weight off my shoulders.

The meeting ends without ceremony as the hallway outside my door slowly comes back to life—voices talking, laughter here and there, the rhythm of normalcy creeping back in like nothing monumental just happened.

There’s a knock at my door.

My heart swells. “Took you long enough,” I say as I look up to Lucas standing in the doorway.

He’s still wearing the sling, still moving carefully, but there’s something different about him—something grounded. Settled. Like a man who’s finally stopped running from the truth.

He closes the door behind him and doesn’t say anything right away.

Neither do I.

We just look at each other.

And in this moment, it doesn’t feel like we’re braced for impact.

“I didn’t see you in there,” he says finally, his voice low.

“I didn’t trust myself to be in there,” I admit. “I don’t think it would go unnoticed that the team doctor was crying tears of joy, pride, love, at her patient getting a second chance at the game he loves.”

“Yeah, that might have caught a few people’s attention.” He smiles. “Can you believe what they offered me? That I get to stay on?”

“Yes, of course. Your experience, your attitude, your track record is incredible. They’re lucky you accepted their offer.” I shake my head. “Look at them being greedy, trying to snatch you up before you went on the coaching free market.”

“Now you’re just trying to boost my ego.”

“It’s warranted.” I shrug. “When you’re good, you’re good, Hale.”

He takes a step closer, stopping just in front of my desk. Close enough my pulse races but far enough anyone walking by won’t think twice.

“I need you to hear something,” he says gently. “I accepted the offer, even though that’s a completely unexpected development. I stayed because this place is where you are.”

My breath catches so hard it almost hurts.

Lucas’s gaze doesn’t waver.

“I was ready to walk away,” he continues. “At least I told myself I was. I thought that was my only option. But when they offered this position, the chance to be here every day—this building, this team—and what I saw wasn’t the chance to stay on the field”—his Adam’s apple bobs—“it was the chance to start over and make a life with you.”

The room tilts.

“Lucas . . .”

“I get to make a choice, and I choose you. I choose this. I choose getting out of those shitty apartments and finding a place to live together.”

“You mean settle?” I tease.

“God, I still hate that word, but yes, settle. Because there’s no such thing when it comes to you.”

My heart swells at his words, at his confessions. “Shitty apartments or not, I choose you too.”

He laughs. God how I love that sound. “Deal. As long as we keep choosing each other.”

“I could kiss you right now,” I whisper, grateful no one is around.

“That would be one helluva way to let management know I’m sleeping with the team doc.” His eyes flicker down to my lips and then back up. “And the thought has definitely crossed my mind.”