“Yes, Coach.” Weight rolls off my back and for the first time in two days I feel some relief. I lean back in my cubby and close my eyes. “I’ll call you later.”
“I look forward to it.”
As the line clicks off, I hear the door to the clubhouse open.
Great. I got one minute of peace and now I’m about to get an ass-chewing.
“Adam?” Much to my surprise, I hear Mia’s voice.
My eyes blink open to find her cautiously making her way toward me.
If she would’ve come in here before that phone call, I might’ve had a hard time finding a light tone, but I’m so happy to see her now.
“Hey, honey, what are you doing here?”
I watch as all her hesitations drain from her body. “Well, when you start forming friendships with the team secretary, you can force her to bring you back here.” She sits in the cubby next to me. “I know I can’t stay long, but I had to check on you.”
I rest my hand on her thigh. “Thank you, I’m glad you did.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Nah, it wasn’t important. The guy must’ve been having a bad day. I’m not going to stress over him.”
“Good.” Mia takes my hand in hers. “What happens now?”
For us? So much. With the game—I shrug.
“I might get a fine or a game suspension. Olsson will let me know what the league says, but it wasn’t anything too crazy. I’ll hang in here until the game’s over, then take you home.”
“Then stay the night.” The smirk on her face tells me it wasn’t a question.
Maybe that phone call did a little more than just get my fears off my chest. For the first few days, I think I have genuine clarity.
“Mia, would you marry me?”
Her breath hitches. “Adam…”
I note the quick rise and fall of her chest and correct myself. “I mean…would you want to marry me? To get the house—at first, at least. I told you I would, but would you?”
“Is it crazy to say yes? It’s just a house, right?”
“It’s a lot more than that. And the way I feel about you is a lot more than this decision. I just need to know, would you?”
Everything around me disappears while waiting in Mia’s silence. Her eyes stay locked on mine, and the moment she makes her decision, I see it.
“Yes, I would.”
Chapter 23
Mia
Today I wore the damn loafers. I didn’t even look at my heels.
I was worried it would send Adam into his overprotective caregiver mode, but when I came downstairs this morning, he looked at them and laughed.
I doubt I’ll get that reaction two days in a row, and I’ll force myself back into them if I have to. I don’t want to lose who I am through all this, but just as I’m going to have to prep myself for several changes…I might as well ease everyone in on them, too.
My mother, specifically. She’s called me no less than twenty times since we left yesterday.
