“I will be so damn good to her. You have my word, Olive,” I say from the bottom of my heart.
Olive lifts her chin and holds my gaze. “Good.” Then she turns to Katie. “Now, you’re excused from the meeting. Zachary and I can handle it. We’ve got this. Go be with your man.”
Katie gasps. “For real?”
Olive rolls her eyes. “For real. Seriously. Go.”
“Tell Lacey I’m so grateful for the opportunity. That I loved it,” Katie says, her voice brimming with excitement.
“Tell her I loved it too,” I say drily.
“Somehow I doubt the team will be upset with you about a thing.” Olive’s tone is equally dry.
“Tell her anyway,” I add.
“I will,” Olive says.
“You guys are the best. You really don’t mind?” Katie asks.
“We’ll take it from here.”
“We’ve got this covered,” the guy in glasses chimes in. Then to me, he says, “Good luck Sunday. I’ll be rooting for you to clinch.”
“We all will,” Olive says, then grabs the guy’s arm, and they take off.
I return my gaze to Katie, but not before I do a quick sweep of the lobby. A receptionist tries to keep herself busy at the desk, but I can tell she’s also trying just as hard to listen.
The elevator stops, lets off passengers. Someone enters through the revolving door.
“Let’s get out of here,” I say.
***
Fifteen minutes later, we’re at my home, since it’s closer.
The second the door shuts, Katie parks her hands on her hips. “Spill. I waited during that whole Lyft ride. And it was hard.Reallyhard.”
I laugh and loop an arm around her waist, tugging her close. “I’m so proud of you, my sexy, impatient, brilliant, tough, gutsy woman.”
She rolls her eyes. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere.Talk.I amdying to know what you decided. I updated you on my day the whole ride over. I told you every detail.”
I swipe my thumb along her jaw, laughing at her greedy heart.
It matches mine.
And my greedy heart doesn’t want to wait a second longer. I won’t let timing rule my choices. I’m done with waiting, and planning, and hoping.
“Sometimes, you have to make your own time,” I say, turning more serious. “That’s what you did for us today, and I love it. And I love you, Katie.”
She shudders out a breath, roping her arms tighter around my waist. “I love you too, Harlan. So much.”
“And I love what you did. Because I learned you have to stop looking for the perfect moment and just seize it, instead. So that’s what I’m doing now.” I take a big gulp of air. Dear God, I hope she likes my plans. I truly do. I hope they aren’t presumptuous. But here goes. “At the end of the season, I’m going to retire.”
Her mouth falls open. Goose bumps rise on her arms, and her eyes widen to saucer size. “What?”
I smile, feeling so damn good about this. Feeling resolute. “I’ve had a great career. I’m healthy and injury-free. I’ve won more games than lost. I have two rings, great stats, and amazing memories with incredible teammates.” I take a beat—my throat tightens with emotions, but I push through them. “But the thing I don’t have that I want more than anything, more than football, more than winning, is time. Time with my little girl, and time with the woman I love.”
Her lips quiver, and her eyes shine with tears. “You’re not going to open…?”
