Page 45 of The Coach

I frown. “What?”

She shoves it into my hands. “Open it.”

I narrow my eyes but do as she says.

And then I freeze.

Two tickets.

To next week’s Stallions home opener.

I stare at them. “Lauren.”

She claps her hands together. “We’re going.”

I blink rapidly. “You hate football.”

“I hatewatchingit on TV,” she corrects. “But a live game? With hot athletes everywhere? That’s a different story.”

I shake my head, still processing. “Lauren. Ican’tgo to this.”

She tilts her head, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, she leans in, voice firm but light. “You can. And you will.”

“Why?”

A slow grin spreads across her face. “Because your baby daddy is gonna be there, and it’s time to make a move.”

Dread curls in my gut.

“What, exactly, did you have in mind?”

She shrugs, all casual, like she didn’t just drop a bomb on my life. “I don’t know. But we’ll think of something.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “Our train leaves at 11 a.m. Saturday for Chicago. I booked us a hotel. This is on me.”

I blink. “Lauren.”

She holds up a hand. “Or, well, technically, it’s on Jacob.”

I let out a breath of laughter. Of course.

Jacob—Lauren’s slightly older, overprotective lawyer husband who, thankfully, adores spoiling her.

Lauren pulls out the tickets, flashing them in front of me. “I had to tell him the truth to justify taking the trip, and he went allfull lawyer modeon me. He couldtellI was hiding something. He’s sworn to secrecy. And honestly he thought it was amazing. He’s cheering you on.”

I stare at her. “You toldJacobbefore I even decided if I’m doing this? He’scheering me on? What does that even mean?”

“It’salreadybeen done.” She smirks. “Come on. And itmeanshe’s in the circle of trust now. Don’t worry. He won’t tell anyone.”

I exhale sharply, staring at the tickets like they might set themselves on fire.

“Lauren,” I say slowly, “this isinsane.”

She grins, completely unfazed. “Oh, babe. We passedinsanethe moment you got knocked up by an NFL coach. This is your life now.”

I let out a strangled laugh, half panic, half disbelief.

Lauren grabs my wrist, eyes sparkling with mischief. “So. Are you in?”

I swallow hard.

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