Page 119 of Third and Ten

She looks apologetic. “I figured something must have happened since he’s been looking so miserable, but maybe he was just sad about it being his last day in the classroom.”

“Right.” My eyes begin watering against my will at the thought of him leaving, not to mention the fact that I’m the cause of his misery.

“Uh, yeah.” Loren speaks up. “I wasn’t sure if he’d told you about his new position before everything else happened.”

I swallow hard. “He mentioned it.”

Caidence excuses herself to tend to her other tables, and Loren turns to me again. “I’m sorry, Ten. JD made it sound like the assistant-principal offer was a surprise.”

I nod and look down, my pulse still racing. And then it registers with me. “Assistant principal?”

She regards me strangely. “Well, yeah. Yesterday he announced that he was taking over for Mr. James, starting tomorrow. It’s Facebook-official and everything.”

I drop my head into my hands as I breathe out a huge sigh of relief. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.

And then I realize that, although I’ve finally started addressing some of my big, scary issues for JD, like tackling my insecurities and admitting that I do want marriage and kids, I’ve skirted thinking about if and when I might want those things with JD.

At the risk of looking ridiculous, I leave my head down as I attempt to stretch the rubber band I’d rewrapped tightly around my heart and consider what a long-term plan with JD might look like. The corners of my mouth curl up involuntarily, because for the first time, I know exactly what I want. I’ve run out of excuses, and I can’t come up with a single reason why I should hesitate to commit to JD and eventually start a family with him.

And just like that, the rubber band pops. Try as I might, I can’t imagine any tolerable version of the future without him. I may be stubborn, the kind of overthinker who takes a while to arrive at a conclusion, but once I’ve seen it, I can’t unsee it. And now that I’ve landed on the truth that I am senselessly in love with JD Bourgeois, I know I need to not only earn his forgiveness but to convince him we should do all that forever stuff together, too.

“Are you all right, Tenley?” Loren asks hesitantly.

“Mm-hmm,” I return, picking up my head. “I’m just processing. I misunderstood. I thought JD was taking a different job, that he was leaving town.”

“You did?”

I nod. “I’ve been worrying I’d never get to play tennis again, just when I’d figured out how badly I wanted to get better at it.”

She chuckles. “Because you love tennis, right?”

“Gah, I do. So much more than I ever thought I could love a sport. And what was I thinking, asking him for space? He’s been nothing but amazing so far, and all I’ve ever done is make him chase me. That seems insane now.” I shake my head in disbelief. “Hell, look at the guy! Was I really willing to just let that go?”

She laughs, seemingly entertained by my newfound enthusiasm. “I mean, he’s not my type, but if you’re into tall, kindhearted, funny, athletically built, great kissers, then…sure.”

I inhale sharply and narrow my eyes at her. “I’m sorry, what?” I don’t mean to snap, but I can’t help myself. JD and Loren have both maintained that their relationship has always been completely platonic, but my heart is still admittedly sore from having enlarged a few sizes only a minute before.

She throws her head back and laughs loudly at my expense. “Your words, Ten, not mine. Like I said, not exactly my thing.”

“Oh…I’m sorry,” I say, blinking slowly. “It’s just…you’ve been saying JD’s like a brother to you, so that would have made things even more awkward, right?”

She presses her lips together, biting back a smile. “Totally. Even worse than that party in middle school where you ditched me for my actual brother.”

I cringe as my face heats up. “I guess I deserve that.”

“You know what I think you deserve?” I shake my head and she continues. “A hot make-up session with your amazing boyfriend before you figure out how to get your nephew back.”

My stomach flutters, and I bite my lip. “I think I really like the way that sounds,” I say, my voice thick. “Thank you for helping me realize that, Lo.”

My phone chimes, and I involuntarily glance over to see Ethan’s name. I grab it hurriedly and apologize to Loren as I reply to his message.

Ethan

hey. i just wanted to say that i miss you.

Tenley

I miss you, too, kid. How’s it going?

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