Page 101 of The One I Want
“So, something happened today that I wasn’t expecting, and I wanted to talk to everyone about it.”
No one makes a sound. Emerson looks back at me with the same confused look I’m wearing.
“When I was at pickup today, I ran into my old high school coach.”
“Coach Lockwood?”
“That’s right, Hank. Coach Lockwood. Well, like me, he’s apparently ready to retire.”
My senses start firing off. But I don't want to assume. That’s Wes’s role in the relationship.
“He was talking to me, and he thought that I’d be the perfect guy to take over coaching the high school football team next year. I told him I was flattered, but I had to talk it over with my family first.”
“I think it’s awesome!” Hank yells. “Can I be the water boy? I want to go to every practice. Can I?”
Wes laughs. “Easy there. I haven’t said yes to anything. But if I did, I’m sure that could be a possibility.”
“Why do you need to talk to us?” Emerson asks.
“Because, I thought I was going to be retired,” he says. “I wasn’t going to be jobless forever, but I thought I’d at least take a year and just relax. Hang out with all of you. This is a job that will take a lot of my time. Not as much as when I played, and the travel isn’t like it was, but during football season I’ll be gone a lot. Are y’all okay with that?”
“Yes!” Hank says.
“Can I be a cheerleader?” Magnolia asks. Oh, this child…
“Sure, sweetheart. I’m sure we can find you a Rolling Hills cheerleading uniform.”
He looks over to Emerson, who is clearly thinking about it.
“Do you want to?” she asks.
He nods. “I do. I’ve been weighing the pros and the cons all day, and I think I could be good at it. This was the plan after college if I wasn’t drafted. I guess it could be the plan for right now.”
“Then I think you should do it,” she says. “Plus, in a few months you’ll be bored. And I don’t think you’re cut out for being a social media influencer.”
This makes all of us laugh.
The laughter settles, and our eyes meet. I can’t hold back my smile, because I know he hasn’t said it out loud, but he wants this. He wants it bad.
And I’m going to be by him every step of the way.
“Betsy? What do you think?”
I stand up and take the few steps so I’m now next to him. “I think Coach Taylor sounds pretty darn good.”
Everyone begins to cheer, and the idea of pizza is quickly tossed out the window and replaced with a celebration dinner at The Joint. Somehow, over the noise, I hear my phone notify me of a text, which I quickly check.
Dad: Did you get an email today?
I ignore the message and toss my phone down. In the midst of Wes’s news, I almost forgot about that. Almost.
I debated on whether to tell Wes, but I don’t see a reason to. What’s the point when I don’t even plan on responding?
Wes is here. And I’m going to be wherever he is.
If I wasn’t sure about my decision before, I’m damn sure now.
I open up my email and find the message from earlier.
