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“I get it, son. This is a big moment. One you’ve probably been dreaming of your whole life.” I nod at him, because he doesn't need to know the truth. That my nights are filled with nightmares, not dreams. He doesn't need any reason to change his mind about this right now. “Here’s my card,” he says, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a black card with the Colts horseshoe on it. “Let me know if you can make it this weekend.”
After telling Hadley about the possibility, we sat together on my bed and looked up the university. We looked at the team and I tried to picture myself running out onto a field wearing black and listening to the crowd in the one-hundred-thousand capacity stadium.
We looked at courses, discussed what our majors might be, and had our first serious conversation about what our future together might look like.
I expected her to tell me that she had a college lined up. Her parents seemed to have a plan for her, so I was expecting something to be in place, but it seems she’s as clueless about her future as I am. The only thing we agreed on was that wherever we end up, we’ll be together.
“Thank you.”
His hand lands on my shoulder, and I immediately stiffen at his unexpected touch.
“You should get back out there,” he says, seemingly unaware of my reaction to him.
Pushing from the bench, I pocket his card and jog over to where the guys are running drills. I pass Coach who nods at me as I join in before he heads over to Chris.
They fall into easy conversation, and I wonder if they actually know each other, if Coach had anything to do with this.
I start sprinting, and the next time I look over, Chris is gone, and Coach is standing alone, watching us.
All the guys moan around me at the intensity of the session, but I barely feel it. I’m too lost in my head, trying to imagine a future for me, my girl, our baby, and Colton U.
“Hey,” I say, pulling Hadley into my arms. She’s been waiting for me on the benches in the last of the day’s winter sun while I finished up practice.
“Mmm, you’re so warm,” she says, nuzzling into my neck.
“If you’re cold, you should have gone in.”
“I like the fresh air,” she argues. “I feel like I’m always stuck in my dorm room with a window that hardly opens.”
“I wish you could move in with us.” I don’t realize the words come out loud until she turns to stone in my arms. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“I know,” she says on a sigh. “One day, Cole. One day, it’ll just be us.”
“I can’t wait.” My hold on her tightens and I drop my lips to her hair. “How about a whole weekend?”
She pulls back, and her huge green eyes stare up at me. “What about a weekend?” she asks hopefully.
“That scout I told you about was at practice just now. He invited me to spend the weekend at Colton U. You down for it?”
“The whole weekend?”
“Yep. I was thinking we could head up after the game Friday night and spend it together.”
“In a hotel?” she asks, her eyes darkening.
“In a hotel,” I confirm. “Can you get away?”
“Yes. I’ll figure something out. Oh my God, I’m so excited. A whole weekend with no school, no Sterling Bay, no one else apart from you.”
“Sounds like heaven to me, Little Dove.”
She stretches up on her tiptoes and brushes her lips against mine.
A feeling I’m becoming more and more used to tightens my chest before warmth seeps through my entire body.
“I’m starving,” she whispers against my lips.
“Let’s go get dinner then. What does the raspberry desire?”
