Page 163 of Made Better Together

“So,” she finally says. “How did Milo leave it?”

“His offer of postseason employment is officially withdrawn. That’s pretty much it. He wasn’t unkind in the end.”

She looks over my shoulder, eyes unfocused.

I play with the tuft at the end of the cushion. “I guess it’s good I’ve gotten a foot in the door of the NFL.”

Her eyes snap back to mine. “Well, wait. Does Del know? What does he think?”

“That’s my next stop.”

“Jeez.” Her voice is fainter. “Hard day for you.”

“I earned it.”

“Rawley doesn’t know? Landon?”

“Nope.”

“This is crazy. You were living with Rawley until three weeks ago!”

“I’m not worried about him. About either of them. Just you, Del, and before, Milo.” I cock a brow. “I guess Landon will be happy about my extra motivation to stay in the NFL long term, now that I’ve lost the job offer.”

She half-heartedly laughs—only superficial amusement, but it’s progress.

“So are you telling Landon and Rawley now?”

I puff out air. So many considerations. “Can we…can you let me have some time to work out with Eden when we’ll make things official? I don’t even know how everything is going to land after all these conversations.”

She bites her lip. “Fine. Hopefully it will be okay with Del, and it’s a non-issue for the secrets to end. Report back.”

The conversation with Grace went okay, if not great. The best I can hope for is the same with Del. As I park at the Waves facility, I hold out hope he’ll have eased off the emotional reaction Eden reported.

My optimism is proved unfounded, however, as soon as I walk into his office. His voice is stony, and the anger pouring off him seems firmly directed at me.

“Connor. Sit down.”

“Yes, okay. I’m so sorr⁠—”

“I don’t want to hear apologies right now. My daughter told me enough. What I want to talk about is what comes next.”

His voice leaves no room for debate. But I’m unsure what he means. “Next?” Is he going to boot me off the practice squad?

“Next for Eden, and you.” He leans forward, arms on his desk.

What? “Del…Coach—I hope what’s next is more of the same, only now we don’t have to hide. I really care about her.”

“You care for her?” His voice is livid, so I’m not sure what he wants from me.

I go with honesty. “Yes, I do.”

“You care for Eden, except you made it so she has to lie to her parents?”

Fuck. I didn’t think of it that way.

“You care, yet you made her sneak around when she’s already overwhelmed by school and soccer?”

Shit. He’s…right.