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“I thought you were going to be mad at me.”
“Is this what you want?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m happy for you. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for our kids is for them to be happy.”
“What does Griffin think about all of this?” Mom asks as we all take our seats.
“He doesn’t know.”
“What?” Dad asks. “You mean to tell me you’re uprooting your life to go to school with him, to be closer to him, and he doesn’t know?”
“I know Griff. He would have tried to talk me out of it. He would have told me that we can make this work and that it’s just a few more years, but I don’t want that. I want to be where he is.” I pause, taking a deep breath. “He’s mentioned moving here before, and I shut him down. He has a full ride, and he’s kick-ass with his team. Starting pitcher as a freshman is a huge deal.”
“What about your team?” Mom asks.
“The only one I’m close to is Karina, and the others are all catty. They know who our family is and assume that’s why I’m on the team. I hate it. The camaraderie that was there in high school just isn’t there for me this year.”
“We didn’t know that,” Mom says.
“It’s not a big deal. Honestly, had I not met Griff, I would have just let it go, but I did, and that changes things.”
“Where are you going to stay?” Mom asks.
“Coach Stone, she’s the head coach. She said she’d make sure I could live in a dorm, but I don’t know yet. I need to talk to Griffin.”
“Are you moving in with him?” Dad asks.
“Maybe?” I shrug. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but if we can make it work, then probably.”
Dad picks up the papers again and reads over them. “They gave you a full ride.”
“Yes.”
“And you already signed with them?”
“Yes.”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes.”
He studies me. “Then why the tears? Why does it look like someone just kicked your puppy?”
“I don’t have a puppy,” I counter.
“You know what I mean. What’s going on, lady?”
I take a few minutes to get my emotions under control. It’s stupid, but it’s the last piece of the puzzle that’s holding me back. “I feel guilty.”
“Guilty?” Mom repeats. “What on earth do you have to feel guilty about?”
“I’m messing up a Monroe family tradition.”
“What?” Dad asks.
“You, Mom, Paisley, Parker, and me. We all attended the same college, and now I’m leaving. I feel like I’m abandoning my team.” I wipe at my eyes. “You, my family, you’re my team, and I feel so guilty for messing up a family tradition and leaving all of you.”
My phone rings, and I see Griffin’s face. I was supposed to call him an hour ago, but I came here instead. I needed to talk to my parents. “I’m sorry. He’s probably worried. I was supposed to call him, but I wanted to come here first.”
“Answer it,” Dad encourages, which surprises me.
I hit answer and somehow end up putting the call on speaker. “Hey.” His deep voice fills the room.
“Hi.”
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“What makes you think something’s wrong?”
“I can hear it in your voice, baby. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m with Mom and Dad. I had to stop by and give them some news.”
“What news?”
I look at my mom, and she nods. My gaze moves to my dad, and he does the same. “I needed to tell them about something I did. Something I was worried they would be mad about, but it turns out I was wrong.”
“Of course you were. They love you.”
My dad smiles at that.
“I know they do, but I was still worried about their reaction. About disappointing them.”
“I don’t know them well, but from what I do know and from what you’ve told me about them, that would never happen. Do you want to talk about it? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
He audibly sighs. “Good. Now, tell me what’s got you upset.”
“I’m just emotional.”
“I hate that I’m not there with you, but they are. They love you. Let them get you through this, whatever it is.”
“I want to tell you.”
“I’m all ears, baby.”
“Are you sitting down?”
“Are you pregnant?” he blurts out, and I feel my face flame. “If you are, we’ll figure it out. It’s sooner than what I had planned, but I love you, and we can do this. I know we can. I talked to Coach Hopkins earlier. He’s going to call the head coach of the boys’ team at your school and explain that I need to be in Tennessee and see if they have room for me on their roster.”
“You did?”
“I can’t live this far away from you. I’m already hoping to go pro, and that’s going to have me gone all the time, and yeah.” He sighs. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but I wanted to see if it was even possible first. But if we’re having a baby, that changes things. I’m coming to you no matter what the coach says.”
