He scowls at me and takes a seat behind his desk. “This isn’t the same.”

“No, it’s better. Tell them you knew, and I said I would announce it after the season. I’m a grown woman, Dad. Do not show them fear.”

He blinks at me and then averts his eyes.

Then he doesn’t say another word.

“Dad…this isn’t going to be all bad. It’ll pass. I promise—”

“Goodbye, Rory,” he cuts in, and my heart shatters at his abrupt dismissal.

This isn’t the time.

He’s upset.

I walk out of his office with a heavy heart, only to be greeted by a plethora of media outside.

They all want to know why I did it, how I did it, and if it’s for real.

It is.

To me.

I don’t know what this means for Wells.

After getting into my car and driving around a bit, I decide to pull over when I’m sure no one from the media is following me.

When I don’t get swarmed again, I stay parked in a strip mall parking lot and breathe.

Then my phone goes off.

WELLS: Are you okay? I’m worried about you.

I smile at his message. He doesn’t need to be. This will blow over eventually.

RORY: I’m fine. How are you doing over there?

WELLS: Got reamed by Coach. But he’ll get over it.

RORY: Was it bad?

WELLS: He just thinks I’m fucking around. I’m not.

RORY: I know.

WELLS: I don’t want to end this. I don’t want this to change things between us.

RORY: It won’t.

RORY: But we should stay undercover for a bit. You need to play and focus.

WELLS: That sounds like you’re breaking up with me.

RORY: I’m not. But I don’t want your team to suffer, and my dad just lost his shit on me.

WELLS: Bad?

RORY: Yeah.