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"Ciara toldme that you've known about us for a while." I glance at Todd after practice the next afternoon as we exit the athletics building.
He turns to smirk at me. "You two suck at being discreet, Coach."
"How do you feel about it?"
"So long as you make her happy, I'm good with it," he says. And then he stops walking, sobering. "I know you're my coach and all, and I'm supposed to respect you and all that shi—stuff, but I need a free pass for a minute."
"Shoot," I say, fighting a grin.
He hesitates for a long moment, clearly searching for words. "I'm just going to say it," he finally mutters. "Ciara is special. She dropped everything to take care of me after our parents died. I know not many people would have done that, and I know how lucky I am. So if you ever break her heart, I will fuck you up. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but one day when you least expect it, I'll be there, making sure you pay for it."
"Fair enough." I don't laugh or downplay what he said. It came from the heart, and he means it. His sister is important to him. I think if I ever hurt her, he would find a way to make sure I pay for it, even if it took the rest of his life. "But just so you know, that won't ever happen. She is special. I'm crazy about her. Have been for a while."
Todd laughs abruptly, rolling his eyes. "Uh, yeah, I know. You have not been hiding it well."
"You knew?" I ask, surprised.
"Coach, everyone on the team has known for a while.”
Well, shit. I process that as we take off toward the truck again. Kids are a lot more perceptive than we give them credit for. They see things a lot more clearly than we do sometimes. It's never as complicated through their eyes as we tend to make it. It's just… pure.
"Hey." I hold my arm out, halting Todd again before he jogs around to the passenger side of the truck. "If your father were alive, I'd be having this conversation with him," I say quietly. "But since he isn't, and you're the man in your family, it's important to me to have it with you."
"Fuck," he whispers.
I let that slide.
"I love your sister. I'll always love your sister. Taking care of her is the highlight of my day, every day. I'd like your blessing to marry your sister and become part of your family if you'll have me."
He swallows hard, his expression overtaken by emotion. "Yeah," he says, his voice choked as he pulls me into a hug. "Hell yeah, Coach G."
I exhale a breath, relieved as hell he didn't tell me to go kick rocks or something, and pat him on the back. He steps back after a moment, composing himself.
"You're good for her. She hasn't been this happy since…" He trails off.
"Since before your parents died?"
"Yeah."
"What about you? Are you happy?"
"About you and Ciara?" He tilts his head to the side. "Yeah, I'm happy for you."
"Nah, I meant are you happy in general? We haven't talked much since you started helping out at the compound," I remind him. "You keeping up with everything okay? Getting all your schoolwork done?"
"Is this a brotherly chat?" he asks, smirking at me.
"This is me checking in on you."
"I'm good, Coach G. I'm keeping up with everything. The MC makes sure I get my schoolwork done and keep my head down. They're good people." He eyes me critically. "Think you can talk Ciara into letting me get a motorcycle?"
"Uh, sure, when you're about ninety," I say, laughing. "Until then, good luck with that one."
His face falls. "Figured you'd say that," he grumbles good-naturedly.
"You interested in riding?"
"Maybe."
