Page 2 of Golden Rule

He isn’t out of my sight for long when he returns with a black gift bag clutched in one hand.

“For you,” he says, handing it over. Then, he rests against the rail beside me, and the ocean crashes onto the beach behind us.

I pull out the gold tissue paper inside first, and then the soft fabric underneath.

He laughs when I arch a brow. “Unfold it. It’ll make sense.”

First setting the bag on the chair beside me, I let the t-shirt unroll itself next. Yes, I recognize the logo, but unlike West seems to believe, things still aren’t quite making sense.

“I—”

“This could be our ticket home,” he cuts in, but his words aren’t registering. Especially with the hint of excitement in his voice.

“…What?”

A deep breath puffs from his mouth when he seems to realize I’m lost, not completely sure what to make of this. So, he slows down, laces his fingers with mine, then starts again.

“Everything we’ve faced recently has been… rough,” he says before pausing, and it isn’t lost on me how his mood seems to dip.

His words call attention to the sting of fresh emotional wounds, trauma I keep hoping will fade with time—the injury that most feared would end his career, our two failed rounds of fertility treatments—but that hasn’t been the case so far. I don’t linger on these thoughts, though. Both aspects of our reality are still too fresh, toounpleasant, to revisit for now. So, I don’t allow my mind to drag me in too deeply, choosing to focus on West instead. And just as quickly as that look came over him, he catches himself and pretends he never faltered.

“I couldn’t handle seeing you get your hopes up about this,” he continues. “Not without knowing it was a sure thing. So, now that itis… all I have to do is say yes. Allwehave to do is say yes,” he corrects himself. “Babe… the Cypress Pointe Emperors want me on the team.”

My brain short-circuits for a moment, processing what I’ve just heard. He’s right. The past several months have been hell. No one would know that from the outside looking in, but there have been lots of sleepless nights and tears when it’s just us. However, if there’s one thing that could dull that ache, make us feel a little more whole, it’s moving back to the Midwest with family and friends, back to mysister.

To say that I’ve needed her lately would be putting it mildly.

“H—how?” is all I can get out, because I’m getting choked up. West smiles and lets go of my hand, swiping his thumb across my cheek to catch a tear.

“There were a lot of moving pieces,” he says with a sigh, tucking both hands inside his pockets as he stares at the slats of our deck. “It started with my old coach from North Cypress U being brought on to lead the Emperors last season.”

I nod, recalling how shocked and impressed we both were when we heard the news. “Yeah, Coach Wells.”

“Right. So, it turns out he has a different vision for the team. And… that vision includes me taking on the role of starting quarterback.”

It’s as I’m staring at him that it finally starts to set in.

This could be real.

West brings me into his side as more tears stream down my face.

“No shit?”

He laughs at that. “No shit.”

Everything we’ve recently endured—especially the uncertainty surrounding West’s career—comes rushing back. After the injury, and the surgery and rehabilitation that followed, we worried that everything he’d worked for might be lost. But my husband is a fighter, and he fought damn hard to make a comeback. A comeback that resulted in his team allowing him to return as their quarterback in the season opener. Theyrealized that he’s just as strong todayas he was before taking that hit. Honestly, I’m convinced he’sstronger—physically, mentally.

And, apparently, Coach Wells and the Emperor’s franchisesees it too.

“I’m so unbelievablyproud of you,” I force out in between sniffles. “I’m not even surprised he wants you on the team. You’re a fucking badass.” The compliment leaves my mouth as I laugh and cry at the same time.

West laughs at the odd reaction to thisamazingnews, then kisses my forehead. “Thanks, but… my life wouldn’t have amounted to shit without you.”

He’s said those very words too many times to count, and it’s nice to know he sees me. Nice to know I’ve added some measure of value to his existence.

“Not to overwhelm you or anything, but… there’s actually more.”

My head pops up from West’s shoulder, trying to guess what that means. “More?”

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