Page 254 of On His Team

I have been thinking the same thing.

The difference is Gianna says things before they turn into a problem.

I reach for her hand.

“What happens next year?” she asks.

It isn’t really a question about next year.

“Benson’s gone,” she says quietly like she’s still processing that.

“Yeah.”

She swallows. “Stanley too.”

“Yeah.”

“Penelope.”

“Yeah.”

She runs her thumb across my knuckles. “And maybe you.”

I look at her.

She immediately shakes her head. “I’m not asking.”

“You kind of are.”

“No.” She says it faster this time. “I mean, obviously I want to know. But I’m not asking you to make a decision because of me.”

“I already applied. And I wanted the program before we were together.”

“I know.” She glances down again. “I just don’t know what I’m allowed to hope for without making it weird.”

I turn toward her fully. “You can hope I stay.”

Her eyes lift.

I grab her. “It doesn’t make the decision yours.”

She searches my face like she is checking whether I mean it. “Well, I do.” She nods. “I hope you stay, Rowan.”

“I know.”

“I hope a lot.”

I smile. “Figured.”

“But if something better happens—”

“G.”

She stops. Her brows draw together.

I tighten my hand around hers. “If hockey gives me something, I’ll figure it out. If grad school gives me something, I’ll figure that out too.” I pause. “But I’m not making plans like you’re not part of them.”

She goes very still.