Page 50 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

He studies me before he surmises, “It’s about me?”

I hesitate. “Dad warns me to be careful and Mom is full steam ahead,” I reply, shooting my arm out like a runaway train. “Mom wants me to find a man, what’s new?”

Jake stiffens, just barely. “Oh.”

I look down at my hands. “You’re leaving soon,” I murmur.

He is quiet at first, then he confesses, “That was always the plan.”

I force a nod. “Right.”

Jake runs a hand through his hair. “Sam?—"

“It’s fine. I mean, I knew you weren’t staying forever.”

“But?”

But nothing.I want you to stay. I want to wake up with you spooning me every morning and making me laugh is what I want to say. However, I have no right to ask that of him.

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “But I guess I just… thought we had more time.”

Jake exhales, his hand brushing against mine. I suck in a sharp breath at the warmth of it. He doesn’t moveaway. Neither do I.

“You could come with me,” he murmurs.

I turn to him, my pulse hammering. “Jake?—”

“I’m serious.” His fingers curl around mine, his touch firm, steady. “I don’t know what this is between us, Sam, but I know I don’t want it to end.”

My breath hitches and I level with myself. The thought of losing him outweighs my tendency to push him away. “I don’t either.”

He searches my face, something unreadable in his eyes. Then, slowly, carefully, he leans in.

Without hesitation, I meet him halfway.

And beneath the stars, with the whole world stretching wide around us, Jake scoops me into his arms and carries me into the house.

Ellie is asleep so we tiptoe past her room. I shut her door as we pass and we make our way to mine. Jake makes love to me but it’s different than before. Admitting that he has a place in my world has taken us to a higher level of connecting. We’re open and vulnerable in ways that I’ve never encountered before but the euphoria of my orgasms outshines all others.

I’m experiencing an all-consuming love. I’ve read about it and wondered if it was real. But nothing could be more real than baring my heart and soul to Jake.

Jake heads out for a morning run before breakfast.

15

JAKE

The morning sunspills over the horizon as I finish my last set of stretches. My body feels stronger than it has in weeks, but there's still an ache that serves as a reminder that I’m not where I used to be. Yet.

Rehab has been going better than I expected. I thought I’d be here longer, waiting for my body to catch up with my mind. But according to Dr. Reid, I’ll be released soon. The thought should excite me—I can finally start pushing myself harder, training like I used to—but instead, it leaves an odd hollowness in my chest.

Camp is ending this week. Ellie will be heading back to school, and the inn will go back to being just another stop for travelers until summer. The easy, slow rhythm of this place will ebb and flow with the tide.

Dr. Reid had smiled when he gave me the update during my afternoon appointment, patting my shoulder like he could sense my restlessness. “You can increase your workouts. Just keep easing into it. Don’t push too hard too fast.”

I nodded, but my mind was already elsewhere, thinking about everything waiting for me back in the city?—

And knowing I’ll be gone soon doesn’t look so appealing. I’m not ready for all of this to become a memory, which it will be unless I can convince Sam that I’m the one for her.

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