Page 64 of The Coach

“How was work?” he asks, rubbing his hand over my shoulder as I eat the candy.

“Amazing,” I reply, looking at the candy where the caramel curls with each bite. “Erik said he wants to put word out to more of the veteran community to get me some clients after graduation.”

I look up at Tanner, and he lifts a brow at that news. He knew I was only considering staying with them for a year or two before looking elsewhere. “That’s great news, so you’ll be able to stay close then for longer than you thought?”

“Yeah,” I reply, smiling at him. “You okay with me staying close?”

“Baby, I want you close all the time.” His answer is very him. He’s made it quite clear to me he wants me to move in with him as soon as I can.

I’ve thought about jumping that gun, about throwing caution to the wind and diving into living together.

But the truth is holding me back, at least, the truth that we were hiding is.

As I lie there in Tanner’s arms, his warmth drawing sleep nearer to me, I think about how that would feel. How I would wake up to him being there, having coffee with him in the morning before we set off to work or class, how I could come home and make him dinner or vice versa, we could watch TV or read or just talk before sleep beckoned us.

It’s a nice thought, a beautiful picture that I would love to see come to fruition.

But I had to tell my brother first. I had to let him know that I was seeing his coach. I couldn’t very well drop that bomb on his lap followed by, “oh and we’re living together.”

That would be too much, too soon.

“You need rest,” Tanner’s deep voice tells me as my eyes fall closed, and I snuggle closer to him, my arm winding around his waist.

“Stay,” I whisper to his chest and his strong arms come around me.

“Always.”

That’s the last word I hear before sleep pulls me under, and I have the best rest I’ve had in a week.

Since the last time we slept in the same bed.

I wake the next morning with the overwhelming need to tell my brother. Soon.

twenty-seven

MICK

We were heading to dinner at Tanner’s parents’ house. Going out options are limited when you hide your relationship from the world, so the fact that we could have dinner with his parents or with his friends made it feel slightly less awful.

I felt both guilty and disappointed that I couldn’t share this part of my life with my family. I want to tell my mom about this man who takes care of me in ways I didn’t know I needed. I want to tell my dad that I found someone that I could count on, just like I counted on him. I want to tell my brother that he didn’t have to worry about me, that he could step back and live his life and stop shadowing my every dating prospect.

I would, soon.

I couldn’t keep it bottled up much longer. I could feel it itching at the tip of my tongue every time I saw any member of my family.

The only small saving grace was that my friends knew.

They were happy for me, happy I found a man as great as this one after the unfortunate boyfriends I’ve had in the past.

It was when Tanner pulls into his neighborhood that my mind clears, and I start to really pay attention. “Where are you going?”

He looks over at me and smiles. “This is where I grew up.”

This neighborhood is big, one that consists of probably two hundred houses, maybe more now. I look over at him, shocked. “This is where I grew up.”

Tanner’s smile falters for a moment, his eyebrows nearly touching his hairline. “You’re kidding.”

“No. Elm Street, two blocks that way,” I say, pointing to his left. He takes that left, his strong hand flexing on the wheel as he turns it.

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