Page 97 of The Comeback Pact

“Shh,” I tease, pulling her in close and nibbling on her ear. “You’re terrible at keeping secrets.”

“I’ve not said a single thing, which is really hard because you don’t know Sydney like I do. She’s like a Chihuahua with her favorite slipper.” Backing away, she gives me a stern look. “And you know I’m fine waiting. We can just make this your day.”

I give her the same look I gave my phone. “I don’t need a day. I need us to be official.”

“Silly me, I thought we were.”

Her snark makes me grin. She always does this. Whenever I’m the least bit worried or stressed, she turns on her charm to get me out of my own head.

“Just know it’s not happening if you get dropped to the second round.”

I grimace. I’m not one for acting, but I try. “What if I go in the third?”

“Oh, then we’re officially broken up. I can’t have you ruining my street cred. McKenna Knowles doesn’t marry third-round draft picks.” She doesn’t even get all the words out before she’s chuckling.

“Maybe I should call my prospects again to make sure?”

My façade falls, and the worry creeps back in. No one really knows for sure when they’ll be drafted. It’s all about what position the team needs and what pick they get. Add in traded picks, and the whole day will be an absolute gamble on the player’s part.

I’ve spoken with a few teams and worked out with a few, but I’ve tried not to pick favorites. When ESPN starts discussing team strategy and which players they think will go one through twenty, I turn it off.

“Hey,” Kenna says, drawing me back to her. “For what it’s worth, I’ll always choose you as my number one.”

And this is why I love her. I pick her up, and she winds her legs around my hips as I grab the back of her neck to pull her in for a kiss.

Sydney walks into the room and groans. “Oh, this again. I swear something is up with you two.”

The doorbell rings, and instead of waiting to be welcomed in, a few of my teammates walk in, including Aidan. “Kenna, your parents just got here. Also, there’s about five reporters on the sidewalk.”

I place Kenna on her feet, and she stares up at me with round eyes. She hasn’t even told her parents our plan, but they love me.

She hurries to the door, scooting around my teammates as they come to greet me. The house is small to begin with, but with them in here, the living room seems so much smaller.

Sydney sets a few appetizers out on the coffee table, side-eyeing Aidan, and I check my phone again to see if my mom has texted. My relationship with her is strained still but moving in the right direction. I’ve set boundaries that she’s had a hard time adjusting to, but everything is improving, and honestly, I think they’re making her a better person, too. She even started seeing a therapist to deal with some of her trauma, and I can see the positive impacts. Maybe she won’t ever be the perfect mom I wished I had, but she’s trying, and sometimes, that’s all we can ask for.

Kenna ushers her parents in, and her dad comes right up to shake my hand. “Big day.”

“Yes, sir.” I squeeze his hand and hope he’s not furious with me when Kenna and I break the news. It’s what we wanted.

Her mom comes over next, giving me a hug. “I have a few dishes in the car.”

My teammates perk right up. “On the way.”

Kenna’s mom goes into the kitchen with Sydney, leaving Kenna and I alone again as her dad picks at the vegetable tray.

“How many more are we waiting for?” she asks.

“Coach,” I tell her.

“Your mom?”

“She hasn’t texted.”

“She’ll be here,” she says with more confidence than I feel right now. My mom isn’t known for punctuality.

“If she’s not here on time, we’re doing it, anyway.”

“If that’s what you want.”

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