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“No.” Cole locked his phone and faced him. “We’ll make Wednesday work.”

“You’ll be halfway across the state.”

“I know where I’ll be.” The strain around Ford’s eyes stopped Cole from saying it more sharply. He moved in close and rested both hands on Ford’s waist. “I also know what waiting another two weeks could cost you.”

Ford’s shoulders softened beneath the weight of that truth, but he shook his head. “I want you there.”

Cole’s throat tightened. Ford was finally asking him to stay close at the one moment the schedule made it impossible. “I want to be there more than anything. But we have people who love us. We call Nadine. We ask if she can drive you and stay afterward. If she can’t, we find someone else.”

Ford studied his face. “And if I wake up before your game?”

“Then Nadine calls me, and I answer.” Cole slid one arm around him. Ford came willingly, pressing his face against Cole’s shoulder as Cole held him tighter. “Before warm-ups, during warm-ups—I don’t care. You don’t do any of this alone just because I can’t be at the hospital.”

Ford’s fingers gathered the back of Cole’s shirt. “I hate that you won’t be there.”

“So do I.” Cole pressed his mouth to Ford’s temple. “But we’re not giving up two weeks. Take Wednesday.”

Ford unmuted the call. “Wednesday morning works.”

“I’ll schedule it,” the nurse said. “You’ll need an adult to drive you home and stay with you after the procedure. Can you arrange that?”

“Yes.”

She reviewed the remaining instructions and promised the hospital would be in touch. Once the call ended, Cole added the surgery to his calendar beside the road game he couldn’t miss.

Ford watched him save it. “Call me before you play.”

“Try stopping me.”

That pulled the faintest smile from Ford. He caught the front of Cole’s shirt and drew him in until their foreheads met. It wasn’t enough, but with the locker room door unlocked, it was all they could risk.

Once Charlotte was asleep, Cole went upstairs and sat on the edge of the bed to pull off his socks. Ford followed him into the bedroom, closed the door, and took the spot beside him. Their shoulders touched, and Ford didn’t move away.

Cole bumped his shoulder against Ford’s. “I’m proud of you.”

Ford glanced over. “For making a phone call?”

“For finally making the one you’ve been avoiding since June.”

“I wasn’t avoiding it.”

Cole raised his eyebrows.

“Fine,” Ford said. “I was thoroughly considering every available option.”

“For nine months.”

The corner of Ford’s mouth lifted. “I like to be thorough.”

The nerves were still there. Cole saw them in the tension around Ford’s mouth and the way his attention kept drifting before returning to Cole. But Ford wasn’t shutting him out or searching for another reason to delay a surgery he knew he needed. Cole could work with scared. Scared meant Ford was still letting him close enough to see it.

Cole slid an arm around his waist. “Come here.”

Ford turned into him and tucked his face against Cole’s neck. The tension slowly left his body as Cole held him.

“I thought I’d feel worse,” Ford said.

“Give it time. You’re an overachiever.”