Page 81 of Tangled with the Tight End

“Maybe.” Her lips curve upward as congratulations fill the room. “I found out this afternoon.”

As they continue to chat, I turn my head toward Gabriel after he rejoined me on the sofa. “This is nice. I’m enjoying your friends. I understand why this is hard to walk away from. The comradery. The team concept of working together. The competitiveness.” I straighten and turn to face him. The night we left Florida, he’d told me he was seeking a one-year deal. “Do you think you can play more than one year?”

“Sure.” He shrugs. “Physically, I’m capable of playing for the foreseeable future.”

“Then do it. We have our entire lives to live in Evergreen Lake, but this is your one opportunity to do a sport you love.” Adrenaline fills me as a new future spreads before me.

This wasn’t even on my radar, but now that I’ve seen it, I can’t get it out of my head. “I want to come to your games and watch you play. I want to bring Gino and let him see his father snatch passes out of the air. And…. I want to bring our baby to the stadium and know that he or she had the opportunity to be there, even if they’re too young to remember. We’ll know, and you’ll have the rest of your life to run a restaurant with Marco and to coach little league hockey and football.”

He cups my cheeks. “Are you sure that’s what you want? Because I’d gladly finish this year and call it quits if you wanted.”

I shake my head. “Finish this year and try for a two-year contract. Then when Gino starts school, we’ll be in one place all year.”

His thumbs run over my cheeks as his friends, soon to be my friends, chatter and laugh in the background. “I love you.”

“I love you.” I throw my arms around his neck and sigh.

When I met him, I swore I didn’t want to travel away from Evergreen Lake, and while I love it there, and that’s where I want to raise our children, I want to experience the thrill of cheering Gabriel on when he knows I’m in the stadium for him.

forty-four

GABRIEL

Two Weeks Later

The flightto Florida with Truman at my side had me on edge. Not that I’m uncomfortable around him. It’s actually the opposite. Working with him over the last couple of months has given me a different view of the strong, silent retired Navy SEAL commander. He’s not as grumpy as he seems and loves a good football game.

The issue is that I left Norah at home with Gino to make the trip. Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve grown closer, and I hate being away from them. I snap on the waistbelt as the pilot announces we’re prepping for landing.

What seemed impossible at the beginning has turned into a seamless schedule. Once I returned to the team, I’ve not been able to go back to Evergreen Lake, but we FaceTime when she’s back home. A smile tugs at my lips. FaceTime watching her use the small rose vibrator happens to be my favorite way to go to sleep.

She and Marco have settled into their own pattern when he takes care of the bistro from Thursday to Monday afternoon when she returns. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Seeing her at thestadium cheering me on from the jumbotron when I catch a pass is the best thing ever.

Coach Slater intends to give us an extra day off at Christmas so I’ll be able to return to Evergreen Lake and experience the holiday with them in the mountains. The only problem in my otherwise perfect life is Sloane.

“Are you ready?” Truman closes his laptop and deposits it into his briefcase.

“Yes, I’m ready.” I don’t want to see her, but I want this done.

Thirty Minutes Later

We enter a conference room where Sloane is already seated, wearing an orange jumpsuit and silver bracelets on her wrists–not the kind she used to wear.

Her hard eyes meet mine. Just get it over with. Do whatever it takes to ensure she can’t hurt Gino anymore.

“Sloane.” I nod at her, the attorney on her right and an officer on her left.

“Take a seat.” Truman points to the chair opposite of the attorney and lowers to the one opposite of Sloane. His eyes are hard as they sweep over her. “Sloane.”

“Asshole.” She grinds the word out between clenched teeth.

“Make sure your client doesn’t do anything she’ll regret,” Truman warns him without taking his attention from Sloane. She clasps her hands together to keep them from shaking.

“Don’t–” The man cuts himself off and clasps his hands together to mimic Truman’s posture. I bite back a laugh. They’re both intimidated by him, which is why I brought him rather than my attorney. Sloane’s attorney turns his attention to me as the jailer remains alert to everything going on around him. “We want you to drop the fraud charges and the charges back in Colorado.”

“Why?”

“That’s fucking stupid. I want to reduce my charges. Why else would I want you to withdraw them?’

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