The practice facility is mostly empty when I park outside. Brynn steps out and hesitates by the car.

“I don’t think I should be here,” she says.

“Why not?” I ask her.

“Your coach hates me, for one.”

“You don’t work in the media anymore,” I point out.

She frowns. “Huh. Okay, that’s true.”

“So who cares if you’re with me?”

“I’m with you?”

I nod and walk back to her. I take her hand and squeeze it. “You’re with me.”

“Okay then. Let’s go do whatever it is you need done.”

I laugh and lead her along. We head in through a back door. Security lets me pass right on through without a second look.

There are a few players here, cooling down from the game, getting some food in the cafeteria, visiting the training staff. I pass right on by all that, heading toward the back halls.

Coach is in his office, just like I knew he would be. I knock and he tells me to come right in.

Wood looks surprised when I step into his office with Brynn. He frowns and leans back in his chair.

“This isn’t what I felt like dealing with right now,” he says slowly.

“We come in peace, I promise.”

Brynn smiles awkwardly. “Hi, Coach. I’m not a reporter anymore.”

His frown deepens. “What?”

“She got fired,” I explain.

He clears his throat. “Why?”

“I wouldn’t write about Sean anymore. Soren didn’t like that.”

Coach stares at us for a second, not saying anything. Finally, he sighs, and gestures at the chairs in front of his desk. “Sit down, you idiots.”

I glance at Brynn and wink at her before we sit down in front of Coach’s desk.

“So what happened?” he asks.

Brynn tells the whole story, starting from the beginning. I hadn’t heard the whole thing yet, and I listen attentively.

I can’t believe how much stress she’s been going through these last few weeks. Between Coach and her editor, it’s like she was torn in half. No wonder it finally beat her, finally tore her to pieces.

“So you walked away, huh?” Coach says at the end.

“Just an hour or so ago,” she confirms.

He sighs. “Shit. Quite a decision to make like that.”

“I know,” she answers softly.

“I’m sorry you did it, I really am. If you had explained sooner…” He trails off, shaking his head. “No, I probably wouldn’t have listened.”

“I know,” she says, and smiles. “I don’t blame you, don’t worry.”

“Good. Just trying to protect my team.” He looks over at me, cocks his head. “Why come here right now, Sean?”

“I wanted you to understand something, Coach. I wasn’t seeing her because I wanted to undermine you. That’s what you thought, right?”

“Something like that,” he admits. “I couldn’t understand why you’d insist on seeing this girl when I fucking told you what would happen.”

I nod. “I get it. But it wasn’t about the interviews.” He looks at me. “We’re together.”

Coach cocks his head. “You’re… together.”

“Right,” I say. “It’s a real thing, Coach. Not some bullshit fling. I’m not throwing my spot away just for that.”

He sighs. “Damn it, Sean. Why do you need to complicate shit?”

“You know I didn’t choose it,” I say softly, grinning. “If I recall, you did something similar.”

He glares at me but his gaze slowly softens. “What happened with me and Leah two seasons ago…”

“Wasn’t so different,” I say for him.

He sighs. “Shit. I know you’re right. But you still have to follow orders. This isn’t a fucking movie.”

“I know,” I say. “I’m here to apologize. I brought Brynn so you’d understand. And I’m here to ask for my spot back.”

Coach looks at me for a long moment. I can feel Brynn tensing next to me.

“Well,” he says finally, “Carter sucked ass today, so I guess we’re stuck with you, aren’t we?”

I grin at him. “You are, sir.”

“Fine.” He sighs. “Anything else?”

“And a job for Brynn?”

They both stare at me like I’m fucking nuts.

“Are you fucking nuts?” Coach asks me.

I laugh a little. “Come on, have some sympathy. She got fired because of you.”

“Not because of me,” he grumbles.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know he was going to do that,” Brynn says quickly. “It’s okay, you don’t have to—”

“I’ll find a spot for you,” Coach says to her. “I’m sure we have a position you can fill. Just don’t be stupid about your relationship, okay?”

“Okay,” she says, looking stunned. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He leans back in his chair. “Now, I have work to do. Fuck off and leave me to it.”

I get up. “Thanks, Coach.”

Brynn follows me out of his office. We walk down the hall together, hand in hand, and she bursts out laughing.

“What?” I ask her, grinning.

“I can’t believe you did that,” she says softly.

“You needed a job. I saw an opportunity.” I shrug. “Just taking care of you, like I said.”

“God damn, Sean,” she says softly, and kisses me.

I kiss her back, and I know. I just know.

“I love you,” I say softly to her when we finally break apart.

“I love you too, you asshole,” she says, grinning despite herself.

We kiss one more time. It feels like slipping into fresh sheets.

We break apart. “You know, that shit with Felix,” I say. “That was a mistake. He was going to hit on you, someone said we hooked up, I didn’t correct them. I’m sorry. It was stupid.”

“It’s fine,” she says, shaking her head. “You should’ve cleared it up sooner, though.”

“I know. I fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did.” She grins. “You can make it up to me.”

“How?”

“Take me home, asshole.”

I grin at her, grab her hand, and pull her along behind me.

I love this girl. Here we are, finally together, finally past our issues. I’m back on the team, back in my spot. She’s moving on from her job, starting at a new job with the organization.

I have what I’ve always needed. My woman, my life. We’ll be together and I can finally breathe, for the first time in my life, I can finally breathe.

I never knew I was choking before. But now my lungs are full, full of her.

That’s what I’ve always needed.