Tonight’s the first home game of the season. Alan and I have been working with the team since early July, memorizing plays and strategy. We’re ready; we have a great team this year, good group of kids. Reminds me a lot of when Brad and I played. This is my third season with the team and I’m amped up about the fact that my girl will be in the stands. Takes me back.
“Coach, hottie, five o’clock,” Cody, our quarterback says.
“Dude, Ms. Stanton is—” Brian doesn’t get to finish that sentence because I slap him on the back of the head.
“That’s Coach Stanton’s little sister, asswipe.” Cody shakes his head like he himself didn’t just refer to her at a hottie.
“She’s more than that, boys,” I tell them. Their eyes lock on me, waiting to hear my remark about how fucking gorgeous she is. “She’s mine.”
At first they look as though I’ve lost my mind. When Avery steps beside me, she links her arm with mine and rests her head on my shoulder.
“Good luck, babe,” she says. Her voice is soft but Cody and Brian hear her.
“Coach Knight, give me some.” Brian holds up his hand for a high five.
As their coach, I have to be a professional role model, so I bring it in for five and a fist bump with Cody.
Avery chuckles beside me. “I’m going to say hello to Alan and then head up to the stands. I’ll see you after. Gentlemen,” she addresses my two players, her students who are still drooling over her. “Good luck tonight. Let’s bring home a win.”
I hold back my laughter as the two of them fall all over themselves to promise her a win. My girl has that effect on people.
Avery untangles her arm from mine, but I stop her. Bending down, I give her a chaste kiss. “Love you, Aves.”
Her face lights up just like it does every time I tell her. I started telling her as often as I could a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I can tell she wants to say it but she’s scared. I get that, and I’m good with it. As long as she knows how much I love her, that’s all that matters. I know where her heart is. She’ll tell me when she’s ready.
“All right, fellas, let’s do this,” I rally the troops. Alan joins us a few minutes later, gives his pregame speech, and we hit the field. The stands are packed and the student body—hell, the entire town—came out to support the team. I only care about one spectator. Avery. I smile up at her and she waves. Win or lose the game, I got the girl.
“Good game, Coach,” I tell Alan a few hours later as we sit in his office. We took home the win, 32–7. The last player just left, so we can finally lock up. “You and Kara going to celebrate?” He winks. “Right.” I laugh. “You going to dust the cobwebs off the diamond tonight?” He confessed several months ago that he bought a ring for Kara. I’ve been waiting for the announcement that has yet to come about their engagement.
“Me? What about you? You bought a house and she was back in town, what, a week or two before you bought a ring?”
“Three weeks. It was after Brad and Harley’s wedding.”
“I think yours has more cobwebs than mine.”
“You got me there,” I concede.
“So?”
“When she’s ready.”
“Exactly. I keep it close so when the moment happens, I’ll be ready.”
“You don’t have some big elaborate plans?”
“Damn it, if you tell her,” he warns me.
I throw my head back in laughter. “Why would I tell her?”
He runs his hands through his hair. “Fuck, I’m nervous as hell. I know she’s ready, but what if I’m wrong and she says no.”
“Does she tell you she loves you?”
He gives me an “are you crazy” look. “Yes.”
“Do you believe her? Do you love her.”
“Yes, more than anything.”
“Then do it. You can bet your ass, the day I know your sister’s ready, I’m dropping to one knee.”
“She’s ready,” he tells me.
“She’s getting there. I’m not pushing her. I know where I stand.”
“Where’s that?”
“Beside her. Always.”
“I approve.” He laughs.
“You coming?” I ask, standing from the chair across from his desk. “They’re waiting.”
“Finally. I didn’t think you’d ever shut the hell up. I’m starving.” He slaps me on the shoulder, laughing as he walks ahead of me.
Alan and I have become close the last four years. I look to him as an older brother. One day soon, he will be. Makes me sound like a chick, but I couldn’t care less. I consider myself lucky that we have her family’s support as well as my father’s. Makes life easier, although she’s it for me regardless of what they think.
I follow Alan out of the locker room and sure enough, his family and Kara are standing on the sidewalk waiting for us. In years past, this was always how it happened, unless Aves was home. We would all go out together. Tonight, it’s different. Better. She’s here and she’s smiling at me. I keep my eyes locked on hers as I step in front of her.
“Woo-hoo!” she cheers, throwing her arms around my neck. I bury my face in hers and wrap my arms around her. Tonight it’s better. Everything is better with Avery back in my life.
“I love you,” I whisper, kissing her neck before lifting my head and helping her settle back onto her feet, on solid ground. I keep my arm wrapped tight around her waist.
“You hungry?” She looks up at me.
“For you,” I mouth. Even in the dim lighting of the streetlamps from the parking lot I can see her blush.
“Come on, you.” She takes me by the hand and leads me to her car. “Good game, Coach,” she says once we’re on our way to the restaurant.
“Thanks, babe. I’m glad you were there,” I say, resting my hand on her thigh. Her lips tilt up in a smile. She’s happy that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
“So I think Alan is going to propose,” she blurts when we pull into the parking lot of the local steakhouse.
“Oh yeah? What makes you think that?”
“I asked him the other day and he just grinned.”
“So you think that means yes?”
“Of course it does.”
“You think she’ll say yes?”
“She loves him. She had it rough growing up. I’m glad she’s going to be a part of our family.”
Our family. I know she’s not referring to me. Not yet anyway. “What about you? You think about marriage?”
That has her full attention. Pulling the keys from the ignition, she turns to face me. “Recently or in the past?”
“Both.” I want to know it all.
“Yeah, I mean, back then I thought that would be our endgame, you know? After I finished college.”
“And now?”
“Now? Now I’m still trying to process the fact that we’re here sitting in this car together. It’s as though I’m living a dream. So many times I wished for this, for you.”
“And here we are.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“Here we are.”
A loud knock comes at her window, causing us both to jump. Alan roars with laughter as he walks by. “Come on, you too!” he yells for us.
“I swear most of the time I feel like the oldest child.” Avery shakes her head.
“Girls mature faster.”
“Of course, take his side.” She laughs as we climb out of the car.
“Who’s taking sides?” Kara asks.
“No one.” I laugh and pull Avery to me side.
“Where are you parents?” I ask Alan.
“They had to stop for gas. They’ll be here.” He gives me an odd look. I want to call him out on it, but that would be a dick move, so instead I hold my girl’s hand while the hostess leads us to a very large table in the back.
“Seating for six,” she says sweetly. We all take our seats. I pick up the menu and start looking it over.
“Can you believe her?” Kara asks.
“Right?” Avery agrees.
“What did I miss?” I ask them.
Avery just smiles and leans her head against my shoulder. “She was totally checking you both out with us right here.”
“Baby, I don’t see anyone but you.” I kiss the top of her head.
“What he said,” Alan tells Kara.
I study him and he seems nervous as hell. That’s when it hits me—he’s going to do it tonight. I sit up a little straighter in my chair. I need to take notes if he does it here.
The rest of the night, I keep a close eye on the situation without trying to be obvious. When Avery’s dad pays the bill, even though I try to grab it first. Still no proposal. Maybe I was wrong.
“Alan was off all night. Has he said anything to you?” Avery asks in the car.
“Probably just thinking about the next game. Coach’s job never ends.”
“What about you? You seem fine.”
“I’m the assistant coach, not as much pressure.” I wait for her reply but it never comes. Her wheels are turning.
“You staying with me tonight?” I lean in for a kiss. I ask her all the time and she’s yet to take me up on it. She doesn’t want to stay under Dad’s roof or her parents either. I’ve offered for us to go to our house, but she refuses. I’ve yet to get her there.
“We’ve talked about this.”
“I know.” I don’t want to pressure her, but damn it’s hard to leave her every night. “When is your first break from school?”
“Uh, Labor Day, I guess.” She picks up her phone and scrolls through her calendar. “Yeah, we get a three-day weekend.”
“Don’t make plans.”
“Oo-kay.”
“You and me, three days.” I kiss her again. “You good with that?” I ask, my lips hovering over hers.
“More than you know.”
That gives me around three weeks to plan something. I need to get my ass in gear and make some calls.