The was a ball of fire burning through my heart. “You and me.”
Evie grinned. “I knew it. Captain-to-captain was always endgame.”
Endgame. I liked the sound of that.
49
Teddy
“How am I back in your office months later, and you’re still asking me about the Knights?” I laughed, dropping into the chair opposite my coach.
She smiled this time. She had no reason not to. We were less than a week away from the final game of the season, and we were going to win, so this wasn’t anything like the last time we talked about the men’s team.
“If it helps, I’m just as tired of talking about them as you are.”
I snorted.
“But…” she added, leaning back in her chair, hands steepled on her chest, “this isn’t a stadium headache. This one’s actually… good.”
“I think we all need more good news.”
“We want to host a charity match after the finals, a few weeks later, at least, as a one-off. Valkyries and Knights together.”
I blinked, that familiar mix of déjà vu and inevitability settling in. Except this time, the idea of sharing a pitch with Connor made my fingers tingle. I could tackle him in front of everyone.
“That is a very different response than the first conversation we had here,” she mused.
I covered my laugh. “I just love the idea of tackling the lads and winning.”
Her mouth twitched. “I’m sure that’s theonlyreason.”
“Obviously,” I said, straight-faced. “Purely competitive.”
“Well, the proceeds are going straight back into community rugby.” She paused, eyes pinning me. “And yes, before you ask, Connor’s already been looped in.”
Exhaling through a smile, I leaned back. “So this is the part where you tell me it’s a great idea, and I pretend I’m not already on board.”
Her grin widened. “You’re learning.”
I loved this idea.
“There is something I need to tell you.” She paused, and it caught my attention. “Delany has given me her retirement.”
Something tight pressed in behind my ribs. “Delany?”
Coach nodded and moved a few pens around her desk. “She came to me last week. It wasn’t an easy decision, but she wants more time with her kids.”
Having kids in this industry was tough—the physical demands of training, time away from them, scheduling. I could understand why she wanted to be home more.
“We’re handling the admin first,” she said gently. “But probably at the end of the game next week.”
Delany had never liked the spotlight, but that didn’t mean it didn’t suck. I nodded slowly, forcing myself to breathe through the sting of it. “She’s earned the right to walk away on her own terms.”
“She has. Annnd,” she dragged out, “her retirement opens a spot.”
My head tilted.
“I’ve been sent tapes I can’t ignore. It doesn’t confirm anything. We still have the declaration to consider next year, too.”
