Page 145 of Falling Stars

After we share a quiet dinner, we sit together on the couch. “I want to be up front about something. You mentioned being transparent with each other, and I never want to give you any reason to doubt me. So even though this might upset you, I want you to hear it from me.”

“You’re scaring me.” She lets out a weak laugh.

“It’s not scary. Not really. But I know how rumors get started, and while I don’t give a shit what other people think, I always want you to know you can trust me.” After she nods, I tell her about my apartment full of strippers.

Her expression flattens. “Of course they gave you a welcome home party with strippers.”

“All I did was wave hi to my teammates and head to my bedroom where I flipped on the lock and questioned my life choices.”

She chuckles. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Are you mad?”

“No. I appreciate you sharing that with me.”

I grab her hand and kiss it. “Just know I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship. You mentioned thatNicole was talking shit at the rodeo? What was that about?” Because Baylee never told me.

“She was trying to get under my skin, saying that you told her details about how you were leaving and the extent of your injuries.”

“Babe, I swear to you that she and I never had that conversation. I told Coach Taggert those details, and she must’ve eavesdropped.”

Nodding, Baylee squeezes my hand. “I believe you. And I’m sorry I let her worm her way between us like that. It really annoyed me that she got to see you coaching the kids, a side of you I haven’t. I need to get over it.”

I pull her onto my lap. “Or you could just come see me coach. Now, as I seem to remember, you said something about me settling for you ’cause I was injured?”

Covering her face with her hand, she shakes her head. “That was a terrible thing to say.”

Gently, I grab her wrist so I can see her. “I understand why you said that, and I’m sorry you felt that way. I never told you this, but… You know what? Maybe the past is best left there.”

“Oh my God. You can’t say that and leave me hanging. Now you have to tell me whatever it is you were going to say.”

I hope I didn’t just open a can of worms, but I nod. “The reason I was afraid to sleep with you in high school is because things didn’t go well with me and Nicole after we did the deed.”

“Go on,” she says slowly.

“I couldn’t stand being near her after sex. Like, I had to flee. I wasn’t a dick or anything. I said goodbye and that I’d talk to her later. But I literally jumped out of her window to get away from her.”

She snickers. “Is that when her mother caught you?”

“Christ, yes. It was humiliating. Did Nicole tell you that too?”

“No, Lorraine cornered me at the trading post and kindlyreminded me that you and Nicole were high school sweethearts.”

“That’s a fucking stretch.” Damn the Ashburys for meddling in my relationship with Baylee. “Anyway, by the time I realized I had feelings for you, I was scared I had some weird problem with intimacy and was worried I’d flip out on you too, and then you’d hate me.”

“Aww, that’s kinda sweet.” She grabs my face and kisses me.

“And Kira always told me I was emotionally unavailable, so I don’t think I ever got over that issue exactly. Until you and I got together.”

She rubs her nose against mine. “Are you sure it’s not because I got your dick to work again?”

I laugh and pull her closer so she’s straddling me. “I don’t think it was a quid pro quo.” I brush the hair out of her eyes. “But back to my point. I might not be a star high school football player or an NFL tight end anymore, but would you settle for the head football coach?”

Her smile widens. “You’re taking the job at the high school?”

“I’d like to, but I wanted to discuss it with you first because you and I are a team now. If I accept it, I’ll be gone to a lot of away games, and the season will still be intense. And high school players can be little shits, as I well know, so I suspect I’ll have to wrangle cats occasionally.”

“Will it make you happy?”

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