Page 81 of Ruff and Tumble
She snorted and gave up on her search. “Is that what you think this is? A love pie?”
“I didn’t consider trying that. Do you think Hailey wants a pie?”
Regina threw up her hands. “You are quite possibly the dumbest man I’ve ever known, and I know some really stupid men.”
“So that’s a no on the pie?”
She released a shaky laugh and sat at the table next to him. He was glad that he’d managed to break through this strange domestic bubble she’d wrapped herself in, but the speed with which she grew serious took him by surprise. So did the way she reached across the glossy surface to take his hands. Despite their light dusting of flour, her hands easily clasped his, and Cole couldn’t help remembering Hailey’s words.
Regina thought nothing of reaching out and touching him. Physical affection was as natural to her as breathing. Even now—when she was obviously annoyed—it didn’t occur to her that there was anything great or odd about it.
“I’m not dating Garrett, Cole,” she said. “I’m signing him.”
Cole was still lingering over the memory of his conversation with Hailey—that earth-shattering, devastating conversation—so it took a moment for those words to sink in. “Signing him?” he echoed.
“We wanted to tell you, but the negotiations to get out of his current management contract have been tough. We thought it would be best if we kept things quiet until we were sure.”
“Signing him?” Cole echoed again. “As a client? You’re hismanager?”
He didn’t wait for Regina to answer before he burst into laughter. It was an unnatural laughter, full of surprise and incredulity and an overwhelming sensation of relief.
Regina squeezed his hands. “It’s a good thing for all of us. It’ll mean I have less time for you, but you’ve said it yourself. With your shoulder the way it is, you’re eventually going to have to think about retiring, and—”
At that, Cole only started to laugh harder. It wasn’t quite such a foreign sound the second time around.
“What’s so funny?” Regina demanded. “I’m good at my job. Mia is finally old enough for me to start taking on more clients. You were never going to play football forever, and there’s no reason why I can’t manage the extra workload. Dammit, Cole. Stop laughing. Hailey’s boss even said she could get me a job in television if I wanted one. They’ve been really happy with my work on the Puppy Cup so far.”
“You’re right,” Cole said as soon as he was able to regain some of his composure. That mention of Hailey helped, her name acting like a dash of cold water to the face. “You’re absolutely right. You’ve been the best manager a man could ask for.”
“Then stop looking at me like I just announced my candidacy for the presidency.” She pulled her hands away and glanced at the baking mess with a frown. At least, hethoughtthat was what she was looking at until she spoke again. “I know how much I’m in your debt, okay? My career, this house, Mia… You’ve been amazing to us, and I appreciate it, I really do. But I have to start forging my own path. Signing Garrett is just the start. What I’d like to do is build a whole roster. Bring on associates. Make a real go of things. I can, you know. Other people do it all the time.”
“Hey, Reg.Stop.” Cole interrupted her before she started to work herself up any further. Everything she was saying was perfect—for her and for Mia, for the life they both deserved. The last thing he planned to do was stand in her way. “I’m sorry for laughing, but you have to admit it’s funny.”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t have to do any such thing. My life isn’t meant to be a source of amusement for you.”
And here it was. The moment of truth. He picked up the bottle of painkillers and rolled it across the table at her.
“I’m not going to take these. Not now and not ever again.” He nodded down at his shoulder which—yes—ached like the devil, but not as much as if he’d played real football. Running up and down a field all afternoon with puppies hadn’t been physically taxing, but it had been a strain on an emotional level that he’d never experienced before. He’d happily be tackled a thousand times over if it meant he didn’t have to stand there, pretending not to stare at Hailey as she pointedly ignored him.
“That’s between you and Dr. Hampton,” Regina said primly.
“No, it’s not. He isn’t going to be my doctor much longer.” He paused. “I’m not going back.”
A flicker of emotion crossed her face. “What do you mean, you’re not going back? Like…this week? You’re out until next year? They’re pulling you?”
“I’mpulling me,” he said, finding more comfort in those words than he thought possible. “I could probably piece myself together enough to play next Sunday, do my year of penance of rehabilitation, maybe even try another surgery to strengthen things, but what’s the point? My heart’s not in it anymore. It hasn’t been for a while now.”
“Cole, you don’t mean it. I know it’s been a rough couple of months and that you’ve been struggling lately, but—”
He sighed. “If I can’t convince you how serious I am, I don’t know how I’m going to convince the rest of the world. I’m retiring, Reggie. I’m closing this chapter of my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do next or what your role in it is going to look like, but I need this.Please.”
The plea at the end seemed to check her. “Are you asking for my permission?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” He pushed back from the table and rose to his feet, unable to continue this while sitting on his ass. If Hailey could stand in front of him and reveal the deepest, darkest parts of her, tears streaming down her cheeks but her posture proud and tall, then he could have one honest conversation with his sister. He took a deep breath and tried again. “No, I’m not asking. I’m telling. I’d like you set up a meeting with the coaches and the owners and my agent and anyone else who’s required to be present when I hand in my resignation. I know it’s going to be a hot mess in terms of press, and I’d like to do whatever I can to reduce the impact it will have on the Puppy Cup and Hailey, but—”
“Okay.”
Cole checked in the middle of his sentence, unsure if he heard her correctly. “Okay?”
