Page 95 of Running
“Spend the night?” I ask, even though it’s pretty clear what he means. I need to buy myself time to think.
“Uh huh.” He nods. “Not tonight, I know.”
Logistically, it’s possible because my Wednesday classes don’t start until late morning. I could bring my books, a change of clothes…
But is my heart ready? Because if I begin to stay over at Johnson’s house, I don’t think I’ll be able to contain myself from growing further feelings here. Deeper feelings than the ones already are starting to develop. Waking up next to him, sharing more domestic, every-day moments—I know what that’s going to mean to me.
I basically have zero time to chew on what I want to do if I’m going to give him an answer now. But I find my way to one pretty quickly.
Johnson is worth the risk.The care he shows me, the security I have in what he wants and how he feels—I believe in it, and we’re only going to grow into something if I take some leaps myself.
“Okay, yes, I’d like that too.”
He beams back at me, and his hands come up to cup the sides of my face. “Okay, Goldie.”
His mouth descends on mine for one last goodbye kiss before he walks me to my car, waiting for me to leave before he takes off.
“We’re three for three,” he texts me later once he’s home, referencing the number of our dates. “Thank you for today.”
GRACE: Thank you too, J.
I fall asleep in the best mood, feeling so at peace about how everything is evolving with Johnson.
But sometimes life throws interesting wrinkles at you.
In this case, the wrinkle is Landon.
At eight the next morning, a text comes through. To meandJohnson.
LANDON: Hey, Rori is going to be in town next week. Can we do dinner on Tuesday? Just the four of us.
Welp, I guess next Tuesday is Johnson and GraceandLandonandRori’s day.
This should be interesting.
CHAPTER 30
Johnson
“Four and oh, baby,” Bailey yells at me as we slap hands in the hallway the following Monday. The offensive players are set to meet with the coaches to review yesterday’s game in thirty minutes, and we both just arrived.
That’s right, our team is undefeated after week four. The games are still too close for my liking—we won by less than five points each of the last three weeks—but a win is a win.
“Johnson, Bailey, come talk to me,” Marshall calls out from a different meeting space off in the corner.
Once we’re in the smaller room he’s occupying, he closes the door. Huh, I wonder what’s up?
“I’ve got news you’ll both like, but it won’t hit the press for a bit, so keep it to yourselves.”
Okay, curiosity peaked. “Sure thing,” I respond.
“We’ve signed Paul Graves off waivers to a one-year contract.”
I watch Bailey’s eyes light up. “Fuck, yes,” he says.
I’m not surprised at his excitement—this is huge for both of us. Graves is an experienced, reliable, former All Pro wide receiver. Maybe toward the end of his career, but he’s still producing. It’s great for me, of course, because he’s a much better second option at receiver than we currently possess. But it’s also major for Baileybecause defenses won’t be able just to focus all their coverage on him.
“We want to make that playoff push,” Marshall continues. “And hopefully this is the last piece of the puzzle.”
