Page 76 of I Want to Know What Love Is

Unless Dylan beats me to it.

Shit.

“Can we make the appointment for first thing in the morning, Reverend?”

“If you think it’s necessary, Amanda.” He doesn’t question me. I know he can hear the distress in my voice and god only knows what he’s thinking.

“It is.”

“Then we’ll meet at 7:30 a.m. before the day starts.” He pauses and then asks, “Are you alright?”

“I am now.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Dyla

When I get back to BMOC House, I find Shelby with Heather in his room and I tell them—because I have to tell someone—what happened and that I’m going to talk to Reverend Church in the morning.

“Don’t do it, Dylan. Don’t admit to anything. I’ll call my dad and—” Heather stands and cuts him off.

“Shelby’s right. You shouldn’t confess to a problem without a solution.” Her voice is confident as she paces a small circle. “How about if you offer to transfer to another college? Wouldn’t that help?” I’m too surprised to speak. I glance at Shelby to see his reaction. I can’t admit to my plans for a transfer to him, not yet, because it feels too much like a betrayal right now.

“You could go somewhere not too far away so you and Amanda could see each other.”

I laugh, deflecting the need for comment one way or the other. My plan to transfer is too big a deal to blurt out now to my best friend and team mate. I’ll need to have a long talk with him. With all the guys. Right after I talk to Coach Radz. As soon as I get confirmation from the BC coach that it’s a go. Whether or not it’ll do any good now, I don’t know and that’s what causes the deep-seated ache in my chest, uncertainty gnawing in my gut.

“Don’t listen to her,” Shelby says. “She’s crazy. She doesn’t know a thing about football and how risky a move that would be.” I nod, desperate to change the subject.

“What are you two up to? Something serious going on between you? “I ask. Shelby says

“No,” Shelby says with a quick shake of his head and a flash of panic in his expression, “of course not.”

“Maybe,” Heather says. They look at other and she nods. “I was too preoccupied with Dylan before, but I’m over that.” She sits next to him on the bed. “My crush on him was shallow, especially compared to how truly in love he is with Amanda—Coach Lake.” She turns to me and says, “I’m a romantic at heart and I know true love when I see it.” I nod and flick my gaze to Shelby.

I see the stars in Shelby’s eyes even if he’s not ready to admit to them. Fuck, since when did I get to be such an expert? Aren’t I the one about to make a Romeo move and fall on my sword? Not exactly a happy ending.

But maybe Heather is right. Maybe it is true love. It feels like nothing I’ve ever felt before. One thing’s for certain, Heather is a true romantic and sweet enough to convince the worst cynic that love is real and important.

“Heather, can you do me a favor?”

“What is it? I’d love to help you—”

“What the fuck, Dylan. What are you going to ask her to do?” Shelby’s protectiveness pushes him to stand between us.

“I was going to ask her to call Emily and have a talk with her.”

“Oh… I think she could do that.” Heather pushes him aside.

“Of course I can. I’ll do my best to make her understand, Dylan. You can count on it.”

* * *

The first thing in the morning, I call Reverend Church’s secretary to make an appointment. “The earliest I can do is nine. He has an appointment in progress already.” Something about the way she says it, or maybe because I know Amanda too well, the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “Who is the appointment with?”

“Sorry, Dylan, I can’t say.”

“It’s Coach Amanda Lake, isn’t it?” There’s a silent pause, just enough to confirm my suspicion before she gathers herself to repeat that she can’t say.