“Can I put this down?” I ask. “My arms are killing me.”

Fitz says nothing, and I think for a minute that this grand gesture of mine maybe gifted him embarrassment instead and he’s only smiling because he’s too sweet and kind-hearted to hurt my feelings. “Fitz?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry,” he says. “I was just making sure I remember this.”

I’ve barely lowered the sign before he’s charged at me, dropping his helmet at his feet and lifting me clear off the ground.

“I told you I’d never say no,” Fitz whispers, pressing his cheek to mine. He’s a sweaty mess and I’m sure I’ve got a piece of hay stuck in my hair, but I plant a kiss right on his mouth anyway. “Wait.” He pulls back. “What am I saying yes to? Or where?”

We both lean down, looking at my sign long forgotten on the ground.

FITZY-

WILL YOU GO TO THE DANCE WITH ME?

I kiss him again. “How does high school sound?”

Chapter 36

It’s when I run upstairs for my socks I realize that between readjusting to the early season schedule and married life, I need to prioritize our living situation a bit. I’ve been sleeping downstairs with Parker, but apart from my toothbrush and deodorant, the rest of my shit is still upstairs.

I’m grabbing a pair from the dresser when the doorbell rings.

“I’ll get it!” Parker calls out.

I glance at the time as I drop to the bed, unpairing the socks to slip them on. “It’s probably Josh and Lo. We’ll ride together.”

Standing, I do one more sweep around the room, because I refuse to come back up here again when I freeze.

“We were just on our way out,” I hear Parker say.

I creep closer to the door.

“To your little dance?” Coach pairs his question with a chuckle.

Fuck.

I jog down the stairs. “Hey,” I say to Coach, but my eyes find Parker’s. “Babe, you have any idea where that shirt is? The red and blue one?”

“Yeah. I’ll go grab it.” Walking past me, Parker lets her fingers graze mine. She understands. I want her upstairs and as far from this conversation as possible. I know it won’t make that much of a difference considering how open this apartment is, but the farther, the better.

Coach’s eyes beam around the apartment, as if he’s waiting to be let in.

“We were just on our way out.”

He nods. “Right.”

“This is our last free weekend,” I remind him.

“Fitz,” Coach says firmly. “Save it. I’m done stressing about your commitment to this team.”

“You came into the city from the suburbs to tell me to save it?” I have to laugh.

“No, Fitz. I dragged my ass all the way here because, apparently, my quarterback is scheming to have me fired.”