Page 103 of One on One
“That’s goaltending. It’s different.”
“Yeah, yeah. How was your trip?” He ambles toward the sideline to grab the ball.
“Cathartic,” I say. “I went to Arizona.”
“I heard. I’m glad you got to do that.”
I reach to take the ball from him, but he pulls it back. “Nope, my shot.” He nudges me out of the way at the free throw line. Even the brief contact with his elbow makes my stomach flip. The shot goes up and in, his form textbook. “Are you staying at Ardwyn?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say. “Tentatively, but optimistically. I want to see how the investigation goes and what happens when the dust settles. JJ did reach out to me a couple days ago about a potential opportunity at ESPN, so that’s my backup plan, but I want to work here if I can.”
I can’t promise that I’ll want to stay forever. I don’t even know if I’ll want to stay past next year. It won’t be the same. Williams is leaving, JGE and Gallimore are graduating. There are rumors that Thomas has had NBA offers, although I don’t think he’ll take one—at least not yet. Even Eric’s name is starting to circulate on lists for head coaching candidates at smaller schools.
I got a perfect season, and I’ll always have that. Even if next year is different, even if it’s never as good as this.
“ESPN. Iknewit,” he says.
“It’s in Connecticut. That’s two hundred miles away.”
“Numbers aren’t real, Annie,” Ben says. He gestures between the two of us. “But this is.”
Before I can respond, he raises the ball, and I hold up my arms, jumping up and down to defend the shot. He dribbles,backs up a couple steps, and makes a tidy basket from the three-point line.
“Show-off,” I grumble.
“Okay,” he says. “While I thoroughly enjoy trying to keep up with you while you put on a clinic out here, let’s hear it, because I’m dying a little. What’s it going to be?”
He’s been patient for long enough. The little shrieks of toddlers float over from the playground. I draw in a breath, and the fresh air smells like warm grass.
“Well,” I start. “The first time I saw myself falling for you was Valentine’s Day, when you wrote a thesis about a reality show on a napkin and gave me the best hug of my life. Then, I saw your throw pillows for the first time, and I actuallystartedto fall for you.”
His head tilts. “You like my throw pillows?”
“No.”
He breathes out half a laugh.
I go on. “I fell for you, for sure, on Selection Sunday.”
“Great night,” he says softly.
My teeth find my bottom lip, worrying it between them. “I knew I was falling inlovewith you when I had to decide whether to do the story, and I realized how shattered I’d be if you hated me for it. It only took hundreds of hours of working together and walking together and staying up late talking in bed for me to appreciate that you’re the best person I’ve ever known. For me to make it through every stage of theBeach Houseflow chart.”
His mouth edges up at the corner. “All of them?”
“All of them,” I confirm. “I don’t know what’s next, but now we’re here, and I don’t want to be anywhere else. Because I love you.”
His smile cracks wide open. “Wow,” he says. “The whole journey, and you’re speaking my language.” He presses his fingertips to his eyes for a breath. When he looks at me, his eyes are shining. “That settles it. If I don’t get the coaching job, I’ll stay in my current position for another year. My sources in the finance office have only good things to say about the budget.”
His current position.My heart sinks. “What? Ben, no. You need to be coaching. I’m sure you have a ton of options right now.”
His face is serene. “One year,” he says. “And then we’ll figure it out together. You had to wait long enough to get what you deserved. I can wait a year.”
Guilt pricks at my conscience. “I was supposed to be encouraging you to put yourself first more.”
“It’s not entirely unselfish,” he says, collecting the ball from where it’s settled behind the basket. “I’ll get to see Natalie’s meets. And what I want most is to be with you. I love you so much.”
His smile is obnoxiously moony, and I can’t get enough of it. I’m at risk of turning as mushy as an environmentally friendly straw right here if I don’t put a stop to this.
