“Good, that’s real good, son. If you need anything, you just let me know, okay?”
“Thanks, Coach.”
“And Miss Maguire? Will we be seeing her back in the halls of DHH anytime soon?”
“I’m not sure.”
Harleigh was still deciding where her future lay. Things at her father’s house were tense, but she didn’t want to leave Celeste, and I knew she had reservations about staying with me and Jessa. Which was fucking stupid if you asked me, given the fact she’d been in my bed every night since I’d moved in.
It meant I had to get up early to drive her to school but it was worth it.
So fucking worth it.
It was also worth it just to see Denby’s face every morning when I kissed the shit out of my girl before she headed for class. Now Michael knew about us, there wasn’t a damn thing Marc Denby and his friends could do to Harleigh, not without feeling Michael Rowe’s wrath.
It wasn’t quite as good as beating the shit out of his pretty boy face but it was enough.
“You should invite her to Homecoming, celebrate together.”
Oh, I planned on celebrating with her, just not the way Coach had in mind.
“Keep your head down this week and stay out of trouble, okay? And don’t let me see you anywhere near the gym.”
“You got it, Coach.”
“Good, get out of here.” I got up and moved to the door, but he called after me. “And Nix?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you, son. Real damn proud.”
I nodded, my throat too clogged to reply and slipped out of his office.
Kye and Zane met me outside the door. “So, what did he want?”
“He spoke to Albany.”
“And…” Kye’s eyes widened.
“They want me. They—”
They both jumped on me, hooting and hollering, and laughter rumbled in my chest as I soaked up their excitement.
“I fucking knew it. I knew you’d be a Falcon one day. Fuck yes!”
“Congrats, man,” Zane said. “You deserve this.”
“I still can’t believe it.”
“Well believe it, Nix, because come next fall, you and B will be living it up in Albany.”
“That’s the dream.”
But I hadn’t brought it up again, not while she was still deciding what to do about everything. I wanted her to pick me and Jessa, to choose to transfer back to Darling Hill High, of course I did. But it had to be her decision.
Zane caught my eye and gripped my shoulder. “It’s you and her, Nix. Always has been.” He gave me a rare smile. “Always will be.”
“Stay,” I rolled Harleigh underneath me and nuzzled her neck, grazing her soft skin with my teeth.