Devon by Tessa Frank

Author:Tessa Frank [Frank, Tessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TR Publishing
Published: 2020-03-24T16:00:00+00:00

8

Devon

You. The word is said only in my mind, but it’s there. Loud and clear. I want Claire like I want sleep and a hard workout on the field that leaves me feeling the satisfaction of having done my best.

And telling her that fact right now would be the single worst thing I could do. So, instead, I look at the menu and pick something to eat.

We eat. We talk. I walk her home and kiss her on her cheek. Not where I want to kiss her. Definitely not where I want the night to end, but I have time. Not a lot of time, but some. And I need Claire to want me. I need her to be the one to ask. Because, if I ask, I wouldn’t know for sure if she’s actually forgiven me or not.

Monday comes. Then Tuesday. I manage to see Claire every day, working on rebuilding what I destroyed. Wednesday arrives.

The call from Coach comes early, catching me as I’m about to walk into the rehab center with a cup of Claire’s favorite coffee. I know I won’t be able to talk to her. Weekday mornings are crazy at the center. Everyone busy getting their sessions in. My plan was to drop the coffee at her station, knowing she’d appreciate it.

Instead, I barely see my way past the nurse’s station and into my mother’s room. Mom looks up from the paper when I slump into the only chair. “Everything all right, son?”

“Coach is retiring.”

Mom folds the paper. I absentmindedly bring the coffee to my mouth and take a sip. Gag. Mom laughs as I jump up, heading out the door. “Better go drop that off, son. Sure she’s probably looking for it.”

Exactly. Claire stares at me when I hand the cup over. “Sorry. I accidentally took a sip. How can you drink that? It’s so diluted. And sweet.” I swallow to get the overly sweet taste out.

“I can’t handle it black.” Claire tilts her head. “What’s wrong?”

“Coach called.” I reach for her, not realizing I’ve been holding myself stiff until her fingers wrap around mine. “He’s retiring.”

“How soon?”

“Immediately.” The pressure as she squeezes my hand is a balm to my reeling thoughts.

“Will you be okay?”

I stare into her eyes. I didn’t need coach to be a good quarterback, but I knew he could turn me into the best. I don’t have to be the best anymore. I know who I want to be with. Everything else isn’t as important.

Too bad I still can’t tell her yet. But I need to. Soon.

I smile, tugging her close. I drop one quick kiss on her lips. “I will be.”

One kiss. It would have been more had the other nurses standing nearby not cheered. Loudly. I shoot Brooklyn’s smirking face an annoyed glare. She doesn’t even flinch. If anything, her smirk gets bigger.

Claire uses that moment to pull back, straightening her scrubs. Her face is adorably pink.

“I’ll see you after work.”

“You still want to go out for dinner?”

It’s sweet that she’s worried about me.

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