Page 218 of The Coach

I place a hand on his knee under the table, grounding him.

“Why?” I ask, my voice surprisingly steady.

Kyle sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I was pissed.” His eyes flick to Jackson. “Jealous, maybe. I don’t know. I thought I was watching out for you. I didn’t think you two would actually make it. It was a shitty thing to do.”

Jackson exhales sharply through his nose, his nostrils flaring. “Goddamn right it was.”

I hold onto Jackson’s arm, appreciating that he’s not going full alpha mode and beating the snot out of Kyle right now, as much as I can feel he wants to.

Because then we might have arealscandal on our hands.

Kyle nods, rubbing his jaw. “Yeah. And I’m sorry.”

Wait, what?

I blink. “You are?”

Kyle nods. “Yeah. Look… I know I wasn’t great to you, Ivy. And seeing you with him? It messed me up. But that’s not an excuse.” He hesitates, then exhales. “I’ve been a jealous, bitter asshole for too long. And I don’t want to be that guy anymore.”

I study him, searching for deception.

For the first time, I don’t see it.

Kyle shifts, clearing his throat. “Anyway. I’m moving.”

Jackson’s brows furrow. “Moving?”

Kyle nods. “Heading to this little town in Oregon. Got a fresh start waiting for me out there.” He forces a grin. “Figured it’s about time I make a move.”

I exhale, tension I didn’t even know I was holding, leaving my body.

Because this?

This is closure.

“I hope it goes well for you, Kyle.”

He nods, then glances at Jackson. “Take care of her.”

Jackson’s grip tightens on my waist. “You don’t have to tell me that, buddy. Take care of yourself.”

Kyle smirks faintly, nods once, and then?

He walks out.

Leaving us to our coffee, our breakfast…

And our future.

Jackson exhales, shaking his head. “That guy…”

I squeeze his hand. “It’s over.”

He studies me for a long moment, then nods. “Yeah. It is. That seemed genuine.”

“Thank you for handling that in a mature manner,” I add.

A few minutes later, Jackson leans in, pressing one last kiss to my lips. “Alright, baby. I have to go to work. Being a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Chicago and all.”

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