Page 84

Franny could hardly believe where she was or who she was with. She had to run a finger along the apple of Jade’s cheek just to make sure she was real. It was soft, supple, and warm. There was so much life in the woman next to her. Franny didn’t want to be absorbed into her or make their bodies one and the same. She didn’t want to experience it through Jade’s eyes. She wanted to be right there next to her, watching, learning, admiring. She wanted to watch from the outside as her body came alive. Acting and reacting, she wanted a front-row seat to it all.

Maybefront-row seatwasn’t the best way to put it, actually.In Jade’s lapwas probably a more accurate description.

“There’s nothing romantic about this heat,” Jade said, wiping her forehead.

“Oh, I don’t know… Isn’t there a song about hot summer nights and how sexy they are?”

Jade turned her amused eyes on Franny. “You’re in a good mood tonight, huh? Usually you’d be cursing Gladys to hell by now.”

Franny shifted, leaning back and resting on her elbows. The ridges from the truck bed dug into her skin. She wouldn’t be able to stay in the position long, but it felt good for now.

“It’s been a good night!”

“We lost.”

“Sure, but I watched you finally get what you’ve been working so hard for, and that makes it a good night. Thebestnight, even.”

It had taken everything in Franny not to blurt out her own news the second she’d left Landry’s office. She was on cloud nine, and nothing could change that. He’d asked her to keep her new position on the down-low until he “moved some other things into place.” Franny assumed that meant until Jade officially got the job. She was more than happy to bide her time and keep her own win close to her chest, even if it would be difficult. Besides, there was somethinga little thrilling about being on the other end of a secret agreement with Landry for once.

Jade’s knees drew up to her chest, her arms wrapping tightly around them. “Nothing’s official.”

“Jade.” Franny rolled her eyes. “It’s high school football. It’s not like there’s going to be a literal torch-passing ceremony. You got it, Jade. You got the job. You’re allowed to celebrate.”

Jade’s face disappeared in the space between her knees for a few moments. Franny kept quiet, letting the crickets fill the silence. When Jade pulled her face back up, there were tears in her eyes.

“I am?”

Her voice was small as it asked the question, and Franny’s heart wanted to break into a thousand pieces right there. She scooted behind Jade, so that her legs bracketed her hips, and wrapped her arms around Jade’s middle, pulling her close. Jade leaned back into her as naturally as breathing.

“My poor girl,” Franny murmured into her hair. “You’re not just allowed to celebrate your wins; you need to.”

“You have no idea how silly I feel right now. I’ve been waiting for this for so long, and yet… I don’t even know what to do with myself.”

“Well, what do you want to do?”

There was another stretch of silence. Jade ran her hands up and down Franny’s arms, her fingertips leaving gooseflesh in their wake despite the heat.

“I kind of just want to sit here forever,” Jade said.

Franny pressed a kiss to the side of Jade’s head. “How are you supposed to coach games from the side of the road, huh?”

“It’s 2023. Don’t we have access to a hologram version of me or something?”

“Maybe if we had quadruple our current budget.” Franny snorted.

Jade turned a bit, wiggling so she could look at Franny head-on.“In all seriousness, thank you for being there for me today and… all the other days too.”

Franny’s cheeks heated. “Jade, you know—”

“Don’t discount it,” she cut Franny off. “After everything we’ve been through, everything I’ve said and done, you being here holding me might as well be a miracle.”

Franny tried to blame allergies for the way her eyes watered. She sniffed and blinked, coughed a couple of times. Nothing would clear the feeling in her chest. Nothing would dampen her emotions.

“It’s not a miracle. It’s just… Shit, I don’t know what it is, to be honest.”

“It’s forgiveness,” Jade said. “You forgave me.”

“Because you showed me who you actually are. You let me see the real you, and you haven’t gone back on your word once.”