Page 185 of Say Yes to the Nemesis
I pretend to consider this. “I think I’d probably say yes.”
“Probably?”
“Definitely. I’d definitely say yes.”
“Good to know.”
“For hypothetical future reference.”
“Exactly.”
We fall back into silence, but it’s charged now. Expectant. Like we’ve just crossed some invisible line we can’t uncross.
My phone buzzes again. This time, Ryan reaches over to grab it.
“It’s Jay,” he says, handing it to me.
I swipe to answer. “Hey, big brother.”
“Hey, little sister.”
“Hey, you.”
There’s a pause before Jay speaks, like the words are hard to say out loud. “I’m proud of you, Wren.”
My throat tightens, and my vision blurs for a second. “For what?”
“For going after what you wanted. For not letting anyone tell you it was too risky or too crazy or too much. You always used to hide behind me. Not anymore.”
“Thanks, Jay.”
“I love you, kid.”
“I love you, too.”
“And tell Ryan I said congratulations on the coaching thing. He’ll be good at it.”
“How did you know about that?”
“Coach T called me, too. Wanted to know if you’d agree to let Ryan go to Seattle.”
“And what did you tell him?”
“I told him you love Ryan and practically worship the very ground he walks on. So yes, I think you would say yes in a heartbeat.”
“Well, he just asked. And I agreed.”
I can hear Jay smiling through the phone line. “I bet.”
After I hang up, Ryan looks at me with raised eyebrows. “He gave me a reference?”
“Apparently.”
“Huh. Maybe he doesn’t hate me after all.”
“He never hated you. He was just protecting me.”
“And now?”
