"Hello?" I pick up the call right before it sends to voicemail.

"Carter Kane?"

"Speaking."

"Kane, it's Coach Anderson."

"Hey. How's it going?"

"Good. Good. I just wanted to let you know that Xavier High School just had an opening for Head Coach for next baseball season."

"Oh?"

"I recommended you."

"You did?" Incredulity colors my tone because although Anderson and I get on okay, I never thought he'd stick his neck out for me.

"Yep. Come on up to the head office on Tuesday. I'll be honest, we need someone to start immediately."

"I can start Monday."

He chuckles. "I figured as much. You're good with the boys, Kane. Real good. But I think you'd make an even bigger impact on the high school kids. You relate to them in a way some of us old timers can't."

"Thank you, Coach."

"Come on by Tuesday at noon. We'll discuss your contract."

"Wait, I got the job?" I hold my breath, nerves buzzing in my veins and hope swimming just out of reach.

"It's yours if you want it."

"Yes. I do," I say without hesitation.

"You don't even know what the salary is."

I laugh, knowing I'm going to shoot myself in the foot with my next words but hardly caring. All I want is the chance to make an honest living, to prove my worth to Taylor, and to do something I can be proud of. For once, money doesn't factor into any of those things. "It doesn't matter. I want the job."

Another chuckle. "Then it's yours. See you Tuesday." He hangs up.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, and then laugh, really laugh.

Guys like me aren't supposed to get second chances like this. We're not supposed to be given a do over, a fresh start. But ever since I met Taylor, literally collided with her, it's like I've been granted a new beginning.

I watch her through the window as she parks her X5 and climbs out of the SUV, opening the back door to unload groceries. Her long hair sways in the breeze, and she stops to fix a big gold bracelet that hugs her wrist and straightens her shirt. She's my real-life angel.

I'll never deserve her. Not truly.

But I'll be damned if I don't do my best trying.

If I don't do everything I can to savor my new beginning.

I jog to the front door and push outside. "Taylor!"

She looks up, her face brightening when she sees me.

"I'll get the groceries, babe," I tell her, walking down the steps and toward her parking spot. "Hi." I brush her lips against mine, reaching past her to grab a few bags.

"Hey." She kisses me back.

My fingers release the plastic bags and leave the groceries in the back seat of her SUV as I turn her in my arms. She wiggles against me playfully as I press her back into the SUV and kiss her, deeply and passionately.

Letting her know without words that the cherishing part is an everyday thing.

"I can't believe you're not going to be here for Thanksgiving," Daisy whines, pouting at me.

"I know, Dais, I'm sorry. But Taylor's family—"

"Goes to St. Maarten. I know. And you'd be an idiot to pass up on a trip like that." She kicks her feet up on the coffee table, her pink socks glaring at me along with her stink-eye.

"I'm paying my own way," I remind her, a little defensive of the fact that everyone, even my sister apparently, think that because I'm now with Taylor, my life has become a breeze financially.

With the craziness of the past few months, Taylor didn’t want to break her family’s tradition of spending Thanksgiving in St. Maarten so we decided to surprise her parents with a trip.

She waves her hand dismissively. "I know. I didn't mean it like that."

I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Are you going to be okay without me here?"

She nods. "Of course. I mean, it's not like we always spent the holiday together or anything. Last year, I was in…" She pauses, her eyes taking on a gleam of excitement.

"What?"

"I was in St. Barth's with Sierra and her family."

"I remember."

"I'm going to invite her for Thanksgiving," Daisy exclaims, jumping up from her seat and throwing her arms around me in a hug. "Thanks Carter!"

Shaking my head, I hug her back before she darts away to call her best friend. Glad that's settled. Sitting on the living room couch, looking around, it's weird to think I don't live here anymore. That somehow, finally, I managed to grow up and become an adult, of sorts. I'm now in a committed, monogamous relationship with a woman I cherish. In the spring, I'll be the head coach of Xavier High's baseball team. And I live in a kick-ass townhouse that doesn't include my siblings.

I chuckle at the thought. Even though I grumble about them, man, I miss them. More than they'd ever guess. At least this year, we have Christmas to look forward to.

A Kane family reunion.

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