Page 114 of Every Beat of My Heart

“You don’t have to keep apologizing.”

“I hurt you and Owen.”

“I think Owen understood you were upset, but he missed you.”

“I talked to him about us.”

I raised a brow. “You did?”

“I wanted to make sure he was okay with us being together. He’s had a lot of changes in his life the last year or two, and I didn’t want to add to that.”

“What did he say?”

“He wants you to be happy, and he likes having me in his life too.”

“That’s good.” It was what I expected, but hearing that Owen had confided in Jameson made me feel good about the future of our relationship.

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I want to be the man in your life.”

“I want that too.”

“I’m not always going to do the predictable thing. But I promise to always consider you and Owen when I do. We can talk it out and make decisions together.”

I ran a hand through the strands of his hair. “I love how you’re unpredictable.”

“I never want to be apart from you again. From now on, no matter what happens, we go through it together.”

I leaned into him. “Are you going to kiss me now?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He lowered his lips to mine, and I poured everything I was feeling the last few days into it.

“I’ll never stop loving you.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Our path wasn’t easy, and we didn’t have a conventional relationship. But that was Jameson, and I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else.

EPILOGUE

JAMESON

Over the next few days, I fielded several offers for new coaching positions, one even at the high-school level. I wasn’t sure I wanted to teach older kids. But I had time to make a decision.

It was all from the article in the newspaper and online and how the kids on the team supported me. It made me feel good. That what I had to offer was important and necessary.

The best part was that Mr. Miller and Mr. Elias had both called to apologize. Mr. Elias offered me the coaching position, but I turned it down, telling him that the kids had transitioned to a new coach and should finish out the season with him.

I talked to Owen about it and decided it would be best to coach a different team. That was the healthiest option for all of us. I wanted to create a family with Claire and Owen, and I didn’t want to deal with any questions about my loyalty.

It would be good for Owen to have someone else coach him. That way, I could be the father figure he needed at home. That was the dynamic I wanted with him. I could still coach him at home and be a fan in the stands at his games.

I could substitute teach at Claire’s school, but after talking with Claire, decided not to accept any positions there. That way, there wouldn’t be any more accusations about our relationship. We were free to be in a relationship and didn’t have to worry about it affecting our jobs.

I’d hired Cole’s contracting company to break ground on the house and hoped it would be ready in the summer. By next Christmas, we’d be living in the house we’d built together as a family, and I couldn’t wait.

For once in my life, I felt settled in my decisions and happy. I spent most nights at Claire’s place: cooking dinner, throwing the ball around, and helping Owen with homework. It wasn’t a particularly exciting life, but it was exactly what I’d always wanted—a family to come home to, one I loved with everything inside me.

In the evenings and on the weekends, Owen tagged along with me to work, and we often shared meals with my family. We’d fallen into a nice routine, and I couldn’t wait for the future. It was only going to get better.

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