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She nods.
“So…you’re moving to Vegas?” I clarify. Why does the thought send me into a panic?
Oh…I can think of a reason or two. Building trust with my teammates. Being there for them even when I don’t have to be. Being a leader in the locker room. Staying true to my word with my coaches.
I’m supposed to be at home resting up ahead of practice tomorrow, and instead, I’m driving across town to take this woman on a date.
How much more will I do that when shelives here?
“I am,” she says carefully. “Is, uh…is that okay?”
“Of course. It’s incredible news, Des.” I say the words, but the thought pulses a fear in me anyway. How will this change things between us?
“And I’ll be looking for a place because I don’t want to live with my parents—” She freezes for a beat. “Oh. Sorry. I mean, well, you know what I mean. So we won’t have to sneak around at hotels or find unlocked conference rooms or whatever.”
“Right,” I murmur, keeping my focus on the road. “That’s great.”
“Are you sure?” she asks, and she sounds nervous.
“Yes. Of course I’m sure. I can’t wait. And you won’t leave me at one in the morning to get back to your parents’ house. We can spend the entire night together.”
She nods, and an awkward silence falls over the car. I should be excited about this. I should be happy. And I am, but I’m also anxious about what this means and how we’re going to handle it all moving forward.
It’s good news. This is great news. I’m falling in love with this woman, and she just unlocked the way for us to find more time to be together.
So why the hell is it making me want to run?
Chapter 35: Desiree Dixon
It’s Okay, Buddy
Maybe I shouldn’t have told him. Something shifted when I said I’m moving here, and I’m not sure if he’s excited about it or not.
He fell quiet when he’s normally not. He just invited me to his mom’s goat farm and then backtracked.
I think he’s getting in his own head, and I’m not sure what to do about it.
We pull onto a fairly deserted road as the sun dips behind the mountains, but the scenery is pretty and still lit as we drive in the desert toward what I’m guessing is Lake Mead. I discover I’m right when he pulls into a parking lot that’s probably filled with cars on the weekends but is empty right now, and we hop out of the truck and head toward the dock.
He grabs my hand, and we walk down the narrow cement walkway toward the slips where the boats are parked. I don’t know much about boats, but they look mostly like sport boats and fishing boats to me.
“You’re quiet,” I say as we stop and look out over the water as the skies continue to darken. “I feel like something changed when I told you I’m moving here, and now we’re stuck out here with all this awkwardness.”
He turns toward me and pulls me into him, and I rest my head on his chest, feeling comforted in his strong arms. He draws in a deep breath. “Something did change, Des. This is big, and it’s exciting. But it’s also scary.”
I nod against him. “I agree. But why’s it scary for you?”
He shakes his head and clears his throat. “I had a heart-to-heart with your dad after practice today.”
He lets go of me and wanders over to the next row of boats, and I walk a few paces behind him.
“What did you talk about?” I ask carefully.
He turns toward me. “Not us. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
A bit of relief filters through me at that.
He clears his throat and heaves out a sigh. “Austin Graham was a starter before my brother took over as head coach. He brought me over and started me over Graham, and Graham holds a grudge because of it. He’s been giving me shit about every single mistake I make. Then Terry Lawrence fucking laid me out at practice today, and I saw him laughing with Graham on the sidelines, and it felt like my entire team was against me.” He hangs his head a little at the end.
