Page 91 of Out of Bounds
“I don’t want to lose you,” he whispers into my neck.
I squeeze his hand tighter. At least we both want that much. But where we go next, I can only hope sunrise brings the answer.
39
ANNIE – MID NOVEMBER
Auston’s in Texas
What sunrise actually brings is the same old complication that’s starting to get really darn exasperating.
I’m woken by the vibration of my phone on the nightstand as it rings, not even getting a second to consider what happened last night or that I’m waking up after one of the best night’s sleep I’ve had, in Tanner’s arms.
Slipping out of his hold, I snatch the phone.
Pulling on Tanner’s T-shirt, the first thing I lay my hand on, I slip into the hallway and whisper, “Auston?”
“Hey. I’m about to board a flight into San Antonio for a meeting and I thought we could meet later.”
“Come again?” I take my phone from my ear to check the time. Sixa.m. on the nose.
“I want to see you, and Nelson, this afternoon, in San Antonio. Does that work for you?”
I dig the heel of my hand into my forehead as I move downstairs to the kitchen. “Auston, I’m barely awake and this is more than my brain can compute. Can you try again?”
The strain in his voice tells me he’s trying not to sound frustrated as he repeats himself. “I’ve just stepped onto a jet and I’ll be landing in San Antonio in two hours. My agent has lined up a meeting with Coach Roy and the Bears’ GM, for nine thirty. I don’t know how long it will take but my flight back is scheduled for three. I’m asking if I can see you and Nelson somewhere for lunch, or playing, or whatever works for an eleven-month-old?”
Translated from Auston speak: can I drop everything for his latest whim?
“Just like that?”
“I know it’s short notice.”
“Like, no notice.”
“Fair. But I’m coming to see you and?—”
“Are you, Auston? Or are you coming to see a football team and dropping in on the kid you’ve abandoned for eleven months?”
“Christ, can wenotdo this? I’m coming to meet a football club foryou.”
I hear the plane pilot in the background.
“Annie, I’m putting my best foot forward here. I’ve got to hang up for take-off. Can I see you?”
I’m shaking my head at how easily I roll over. “Where?”
“Where’s good for Nelson? Are you at the ranch? Can you get into the city?”
“Actually, I’m in the suburbs. I’ll think of somewhere and text you.”
He hangs up without the usual societal pleasantries and I’m left breathing like an angry dragon over Tanner’s kitchen island.
“I woke up and you were gone.”
Tanner startles me. That old feeling of having something to hide from everyone about Auston is back. What used to be thrilling and exciting feels dirty and wrong.
“I don’t want to keep secrets anymore,” I say, mostly to myself, as I turn to face Tanner.
