Page 79 of The Coach

“I’m not,” I reply, taking her chin with my finger and pulling her face to look at me. “I’m not sorry for a second, Micayla. You are more than worth all of it.”

Her chin wobbles, and she shakes her head. “It’s not fair to you.”

“It’s not fair to you, either. You don’t deserve any of the hate your brother is giving you.”

“I still can’t believe he would do something like this. I mean, he didn’t even talk to me again after that first time, just went straight to Ed and blew it out of proportion.”

I couldn’t deny I was angry about that, too, but there was nothing I could do about it except make sure Mick was protected, both physically and mentally.

“What are we going to do?” She whispers the question to me, and her eyes lock on mine.

I was glad to hear the use of ‘we.’

“Well, I’ve got some feelers out.” I bite my cheek, wondering how much to share. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings or worry her, but then again, I wasn’t about to hide anything either. “There are some job openings.”

She swallows, somehow already knowing what I’m going to say. “Well, New York, for one. There’s one in Kentucky, and there’s one in Florida. I’ve only just emailed them all, so I don’t have any leads yet.”

Mick sighs into the couch, letting me and it hold her tight. “Florida might be nice. I never did go on spring break.”

I look down at her, smiling at the forced optimism. “I’ll take you on a spring break there, just us. Even if we don’t end up moving there.”

She looks at me then, and I see how vulnerable this is all making her. “So, you want me to come with you, right?”

“What?” I scoff out a laugh, holding her tighter. “Of course, I do. How could you even question that?”

“No, I’m not.” She shakes her head at herself, her eyes clenching shut. “I’m just making sure, you know. I don’t want to be presumptuous.”

“It’s me who’s being presumptuous. I can’t assume you’re willing to go with me just because I have to leave.”

Her eyes meet mine. “What’s the other option, though? Long distance?”

My gut clenches uncomfortably at the thought. “I suppose so.”

She turns so we’re lying on our sides, facing each other, her skin up against mine under the throw. “It’s not an option for me. I want to be with you.”

I lean forward, kissing her long and hard. “I want to be with you, always.”

“Ditto.”

We descend into silence then, both having those riotous thoughts take up every corner of our brains.

But at least, no matter what comes, I can count on the fact that Mick is just as desperate for me as I am for her. That has to count for something.

thirty-three

TANNER

Walking into the locker room was one of my favorite parts of the game. The room was quiet whenever I came because I tried to show up before everyone else.

Today, I didn’t get that lucky.

Mick’s brother was waiting outside of my office door, his arms crossed and a look of defiance on his face. I know exactly what he’s thinking.

If I weren’t his coach, he would have decked me by now.

Lincoln couldn’t have looked more irritated with me.

Part of me gets it. I understand that I’ve swooped into his life. I’ve become his coach, I’ve become his sister’s boyfriend, I’m slowly becoming friends with his family, as they invited us over for Sunday brunch. I get the hate.

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