Page 153 of Tangled with the Tight End

“That’s so thoughtful of you to say,” Mom says.

Winona smiles at her.

USC makes an interception and our collective attention turns to the TV Mom’s the least interested in the game, but she’s been around Dad long enough to have grown accustomed to watching endless hours of the sport. She loves my games, but it’s different when it’s your son.

We have to leave for Boston’s party before the game ends.

Mom and Dad head to their car, but Dad doesn’t pull away. He watches me maneuver down the steps, stow my crutches and pivot into the passenger seat of Winona’s car. It’s only when Winona turns on the engine that he heads out ahead of us.

“I can see where you get your intensity,” Winona says with a fondness.

“I’m nothing like him,” I tell her.

“You’d like to think that. But you’re actually a lot alike. He’s passionate. I bet he’s privately soft-hearted too. But he saves that side of himself for a select few. He’s committed to excellence. A person could say he’s driven by that. And he is fiercely protective of the people he loves. Sound familiar?” She smiles over at me.

“Man.” I shake my head. “Who needs therapy when they can have a car ride with you?”

“I mean it as a compliment.”

“I know. That’s the wildest part.”

“I think your dad is quite a man. He doesn’t have the emotional intelligence you do. But otherwise, some of his greatest traits carried on to you. That’s a compliment to both of you.”

I reach over, placing my hand on her knee as if I could keep her with me forever with merely a touch.

No one has ever seen me so fully and made me feel so wholly accepted.

“You’re incredible,” I tell her.

“Because I watch SportsCenter.”

“Definitely that,” I say. “Pulling that line out of nowhere. Top shelf.”

“Thank you.” She smiles over at me. “I really do like the game. It’s interesting to see what each team brings to the table. Every game is different because of the matchup.”

I just laugh softly. “Don’t ever change.”

“Cass tells me that all the time. You know what I tell her?”

“No. What?”

“I wouldn’t know where to start.”

“Good.”

“Declan?”

“Yeah?”

“How do you see this going … when you’re back on the team full time? Right now, your life is on pause. The cameras aren’t on you. The team likes me. But what happens when your life goes back to normal? I’m not the type of woman who fits the mold. When your parents first met me, they thought I was the hired help. Your dad wanted to replace me as your home health aide. He’ll for sure want to replace me as … whatever this is.”

Her questions rankle me. Not because she’s being unreasonable. She’s being realistic. But I’m not ready to consider all of that. I’m enjoying this time too much. We’ll never recapture our early dating months. I don’t want to invite trouble. But she’s right. We will have to prepare to be in the public eye at some point, even though I plan to shield her from all that as much as I can.

“We’re not whatever this is. We’re dating. You want more of a label?” I ask her.

“That’s not what I’m asking. I know you’re not dating other people. I’m not either. Not unless you count my dates with three dachshunds.” She laughs lightly.

“You’re my girlfriend, Winona. That’s how I see you. And my dad has nothing to do with us. I’m a grown man. I make my own decisions. We’ll navigate all the rest of that when the time comes. Okay?”