Page 178 of Offside Rules

"I’ll follow you," she tells us, lifting her rental keys.

He nods toward me. "You taking him?"

She glances over at me. "If he behaves. He knows I have rules."

"You already know he’s a rule breaker and there’s no chance he’ll behave. But he’s due for an ice pack, so that should keep him occupied at least."

I look over to see an large envelope my dad got out of the office before he locked up.

"What’s that?"

He glances down. "Paperwork for the shop. My head mechanic and I finally agreed on a price."

I stop beside the truck. "You’re selling?"

"Lawyer still needs to go through it, but that’s the plan."

"What changed your mind?"

"Marcy keeps sending me pictures of Italy. Figured I should take her while she still wants to go with me."

I laugh, then look at the envelope again. I’ve spent months trying to get him to consider this, and he’s telling me in the parking lot like he remembered to buy milk.

"I’m glad, Pops."

"Don’t get excited. I’ll still come in occasionally."

"Of course you will."

He points toward Baylor’s car. "Go. You’ve got better things to do than supervise my retirement."

Baylor takes my hand and leads me toward her car.

I still have appointments and physical therapy before I can leave Boston. Dad still has paperwork to sign, and I’m sure he’ll find several reasons to check on the shop after he does.

But Baylor came for me.

Baylor came for me.

And when I get back to Seattle, she’ll be living in my apartment, probably with a longer list of offside rules and a bigger fine jar.

I can’t wait.

Chapter Thirty

Wolf

TWO MONTHS LATER….

The glass door to Baylor's shop is wide open. The smell of new paint and freshly baked desserts fills the space. A grand opening banner sweeps above the entry.

My girls' open house is today and I couldn’t be more proud or relieved to be here with her, helping make her dream come true.

"To the left a little," I say to Olsen.

He shifts then in the corner of my eye I see Baylor.

"What are you doing? You shouldn’t be moving that Wolf," Baylor practically shouts coming down the hallway from the tasting room in the back.