Page 56 of Misbehaving With Minotaurs
Rip cuts in, “No offense, old friend, but your dumbass nephew ain’t an issue I’d touch with a ten-foot pole. I’m calling about the Punishers.”
I cross my arms and shift from one foot to the other, brows scrunching. “I’m listenin’.”
Rip pauses for a moment, then clears his throat. “I’d deny this ‘til my last breath if asked, but I’m finally considerin’ retirement. I haven’t fully decided, but if I do, I’ll recommend the Punishers bring you home to take over, assuming you’d want that.”
My mouth goes dry as a ball drops in the pit of my stomach.
Oh gods.
Double triple quadruplefuckingshit.
“I…” I can’t manage to find a single godsdamned word.
“I know I said I’d die before I retire,” he continues, “but you know how grueling the pace of coaching is. I’ve got a new grandcalf on the way, and, honestly, I want more time with my grands.”
“Keep me posted,” is the only response I can manage. “I never let myself hope this role would open up, and I’m looking at other opportunities as we speak.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Understood, Manorin. I’ll let you know when I make my final decision, but, again, between us, I’m pretty well decided.”
We chat for another moment, but when we sign off, I stand in the forest and stare across the winding gulch into the distance.
This is my dream. Hasbeenmy dream since I first left Pine Gulch.
But Catherine’s never leaving Ever, and I’d never ask her to.
Not to mention this shit with Alarion is gonna come to a boiling point. If I was around more I could help my brother with him, maybe get him out from under the thumb of the Sidewinders and whatever the fuck they’re doing.
And yet this opportunity’s never coming back around, either. I’ve got one chance to take over my dream team, and this is probably it. Staring at the rolling hills, I close my eyes as sunshine warms my face. But all I can see in my mind ismySunshine, my Catherine.
I can’t keep this from her. It’s a conversation I don’t relish happening. I can’t imagine taking a job with the Punishers and picking that over her, but I also can’t imagine just saying no without looking at all the options and maybe finding some happy medium.
Grumbling at the way the gods are meddling in my life right now, I return to the Welcome Inn and our room. My Sunshine’s just waking, smiling sleepily up at me from the tousled sheets.
Better rip this Band-Aid off.
She throws the sheets aside and spreads her legs wide for me, shooting me a sultry smile. “Morning, Nor. Want to wake me up with that big tongue?”
I sink onto the edge of the bed and take her hand. “We need to talk, Cath.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CATHERINE
Ishoot back against the pillows, clapping my thighs together as I drop Manorin’s hand and sink against the headboard. Drawing the covers up over my chest, I level him with what’s probably a horrified look. “We need to talk” has never preceded any good news.
He shakes his head. “I didn’t come in to break your heart this morning, Sunshine.”
I curl into a ball and stare at him. “Then what do we need to talk about?”
It’s bad news, I can tell by the sorrowful look on his face. Even his horns seem droopy. I don’t even think that’spossible.
“Rip Shorthorn asked me to call him this morning,” he starts. “I thought he wanted to discuss Alarion, but he wanted to tell me he’s retiring, and he’s going to recommend the Punishers offer me the head coach position upon his departure.”
Ohgods. His dream job.
I suck in a deep breath and glance across the room to the only window. The roofs of the buildings across the street are barely visible, but I focus on what I can see as I fight to steadymy voice and handle this logically. But we said no strings attached, and that’s what this should be.
But how can it be, when I’m falling for him again? Because I am. I think I started to the moment he looked at me from the middle of the skyball field and smiled like I was the only thing he ever wanted to look at.
