Page 74 of Ruff and Tumble

“Would you stop wriggling?” he asked. “I’m trying to kiss you.”

“I know you are,” she replied without smiling. “But I think we should talk.”

His heart gave an erratic, heavy thump, but he strove to keep things light—to pretend that this was an ordinary day in the ordinary course of an ordinary relationship.

“Oh yeah?” he said. “About what?”

“I know about your shoulder, Cole,” she repeated. Even though this was one of the topics she normally thrived on—football—there was no sign of a metallic spark in her eyes, no playful challenge in the way she looked at him. She set Philip down and didn’t speak again until she’d regained her stance. “How you’ve struggled since your surgery, how hard you’ve worked to hide that it’s weakening. How this was your last chance at a Kickoff Cup, and now your career is most likely over for good.”

Cole had very recently been thrown to the turf and piled on by more men than anyone should feel on top of him at one time, but that was nothing compared to the impact of Hailey’s words.

She knows. She sees.

Thank holy fuck. I don’t have to pretend anymore.

“It’s bad, isn’t it?” she persisted with a nod at his sling. “Worse than the news is saying?”

He nodded, not yet trusting himself to speak.

“They have you down as questionable on the injury report, but there’s nothing questionable about it.” This time, she wasn’t asking. “It’s over. For good.”

“There’s always a chance things could miraculously turn around, but yeah.” It was the first time he’d said the words aloud, and it felt amazing. He was free. “There’s no way I can finish the season like this.”

“And next year?” she persisted.

Since he’d already come this far, he decided to take it all the way. “I’m done, Hailey. I’ve been done for quite some time. I just wasn’t ready to admit it out loud.”

She smiled with her eyes before her lips—a thing Cole didn’t know was possible but that instantly lightened the load on his heart. For the first time in thirty-two years, he didn’t feel as though losing football would be the end of something. With Hailey in his life and by his side, it could be the start of something instead.

It could be real life.Finally.

“I’m sorry,” she said, the words simple and all the more meaningful because of it. Shewassorry, he knew, but she would also be the first to tell him that there were far worse fates in life—most of which were currently being lived out by the thousands of puppies waiting for their forever homes.

But then she ruined it.

“How are your parents taking the news? I haven’t talked to them since Monday. Your father must be devastated.”

He shook his head, as much to warn her off the subject as to relate the information that his father’s feelings on the subject were the exact opposite of devastation. His dad was resolute and determined and cheerful. He was sure that nothing—no act of God and no man-made disaster—would stand between him and the thing he desired most.

In his mind, his precious quarterback son would soon rise again to bring honor to the family name, and that was all that mattered.

“I’d be happy to go over sometime this week and hang out if you think it would help distract them,” Hailey offered. “Someone from the production office has been picking up and dropping off Nala, but I could easily do it instead.”

“No. Don’t do that.”

His words came out harsher than he intended, causing the color to immediately blanch from Hailey’s face. It was the opposite of her delightful blushes but just as telling.

“I’m sorry,” he was quick to add. “It’s nice of you to offer, but I haven’t talked to them about it yet.”

Philip came trotting up with his well-worn plush football in his mouth. Dropping it at Cole’s feet, he waited patiently for the game of fetch that was sure to follow.

“Not now, buddy,” he said. To Hailey, he added, “I’m waiting for the perfect time.”

“The perfect time?” she echoed, her brows knit. “As in…tomorrow?”

“Sure. Maybe. If it feels right.”

“If it feels right? Are you serious?”