Page 70 of Wake Me Up
“Yeah, it really is.” His voice is off, like he’s thinking about something. “He, uh … he invited me to dinner to ask if I’d want to be an assistant coach.” The words rush from his lips quickly, and he pulls one hand away from mine to drag it up the back of his head nervously.
“Did he?” The words sound like a squeak, and maybe that’s because I’m afraid that this is when he tells me he’s leaving.
He probably wants a divorce so he can ride off into the sunset and go coach college hockey and meet young women whose skin isn’t starting to sag.
Yeah, that’s definitely it.
I slowly pull my hand away from his and drop my hands onto my lap, fidgeting nervously. “So, are you going to go then?” I can’t bear to look at him.
It’s been six weeks since Aviana’s surgery, and in that time, he’s been around my kids so much more.
He’s like a part of our family. And now, he’s going to leave.
“Well, it depends on how you feel about it.”
When I hear him say those words, my eyes fly to his to see if it seems like he’s bluffing.
“Really?” I peep.
“Yeah, of course,” he says, clearly aggravated. “I’m not going anywhere without you. I understand that this is your home and your family is here. So, if you don’t want to leave, I wouldn’t blame you. But it isjust under two hours away from here, so the travel to see your parents wouldn’t be all that bad.”
I stare at him with a completely blank look on my face. I think he’s saying that he wants me to go with him, but that would be crazy. We haven’t beentogether, together for that long.
I open my mouth in an attempt to speak, but he stops me.
“Before you tell me no, I do want you to have all the information.” He speaks quickly, like he’s afraid I’ll make my mind up before he can get everything out. “There’s a school ten minutes from campus with an amazing hockey and baseball program, and I talked to the athletic director and he said he’d love to have the boys on their rosters.” He smirks. “I may have told him how fucking talented they are, and he ate that shit up. But, it’s not a lie. They’d be lucky to have them in their programs for sure.” He points at me. “And before you say there’s nothing there for Aviana, you’re wrong. Ave has told me so many times she wishes her school did plays. Well, guess what. The school in Mass has a whole-ass drama department, and you know Avy would be in all her glory.”
I can’t stop staring at him. He really went through the trouble of making sure that my kids would be happy with the move before even bringing it up to me.
At first, I’m shocked, and then I’m happy. Suddenly though, I look around the bakery, and it hits me that Gramp probably thought I would take this place over. How can I take off when I’m supposed to do that?
Tripp’s eyes burn into mine, and he gives me a knowing look. “I know, baby,” he whispers. “I know you won’t want to leave your grandfather, and that’s okay. If you can’t leave, that’s okay. If you’re not going, I’m not going either.”
“You can’t say that,” I say softly, taking his hand in mine. “You can’t play hockey forever, Tripp. This may be the next chapter for you.”
Unfazed, he shifts his lips into a crooked grin. “No, darlin’. You and the kids are my next chapter. All of my next chapters. Anything else I get to do will just be a bonus as far as I’m concerned.”
“Tripp, if this is something you want to do, you need to do it,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice from cracking. The very thought of him leaving Maine makes me feel like someone is ripping my heart out, but I’ll survive.
I always do.
“Come here,” he utters, nodding toward his lap.
I inhale before shifting my gaze to the clock. The bakery closes in a few minutes, but I’m shutting down early. Standing, I walk to the door and turn the sign before locking the door, turning out the lights and pulling the blinds closed. Right now, the last thing I want to do is deal with customers or people passing by, looking in at us.
I make my way to Tripp and plop down onto his lap, where he grabs my leg and lifts it so that I’m straddling him. I run my palms against the stubble on his cheeks and sigh.
“Well …” I whisper.
“Well, nothing.” He runs his hands up and down my thighs. “If you’re staying in Maine, I’m staying in Maine.”
“And what will you do here when you retire, Tripp?” My eyes dance between his sadly. “NE University is a huge opportunity. One you won’t find here.”
“I know,” he says faintly. “But I’m not leaving you and the kids behind. You guys are my family.”
“I just don’t know what to do.” I shrug, tears blurring my vision. “This bakery needs me. Gramp Frank needs me.”
“I know, baby.” He tilts his chin up, brushing his lips across mine.
