Page 136 of On His Team

“What?”

“I was going to ask if you’re happy.”

I adjust my grip on the coffee. “Yes.” I suck in my bottom lip again. “Very.”

She smiles.

There is still uncertainty around Rowan, but it isn’t eating at me the way I thought it would. He told me he likes me. He wants to see me. He wants to kiss me. He apparently wants to do significantly more than kiss me.

I don’t need to take all of that and immediately demand a five-year plan.

For once in my life, I can just enjoy something while it’s good.

Mara bumps her shoulder into mine. “Does Lucy know?”

I scoff. “No.”

“Still?”

“Still.”

She considers that. “And you’re okay with it?”

I nod with no hesitation. “Yes.”

I answer quickly enough that she doesn’t ask again. The truth is, not telling Lucy still feels strange because I tell Lucy everything. I told her when I had a UTI freshman year before I told my mom. She knows which bra I hate, which professor makes me want to commit minor property damage, and exactly how much money is in my checking account because I made her look once when I was too scared.

Keeping Rowan from her feels unnatural, but it still feels right. For now. Not because I’m ashamed. Not because Benson scares me. Because the second Lucy knows, this becomes a thing outside of me and Rowan. And I like having one part of my life that belongs to us before everybody else gets their hands on it.

“I won’t say anything,” Mara says.

I look at her. “That might be the nicest thing you’ve ever done for me.”

“I’m capable of discretion.”

“You texted Rowan from my phone.”

“That was before I understood the gravity of the situation. I wanted to mess with you.”

I laugh. “You are insane.”

“Yes.”

She takes my arm again as we walk into the student center. “But you love me.”

“Unfortunately.”

“See? You and Rowan are basically married already.”

I shove her away.

She laughs all the way to the stairs.

Sport Law spends forty minutes on waivers and assumption of risk, which is possibly the first time this semester that something in class has directly applied to both my professional and personal life.

I take a picture of one of Ottley’s slides.

Negligence: Foreseeability.