Page 154 of All This Time

We part just as the waiter comes back with her wine and my water. “Are you sure you don’t want to have a drink with me?” she asks.

“I’m sure.”

Her hand lands on my thigh. “One drink won’t turn you into your father, Fletcher.”

“I know, but honestly? I don’t miss it or feel like I’m missing out on anything. It makes my mind clearer, and I definitely don’t miss hangovers.”

“Okay. I just want you to know that I won’t judge you if you decide differently.”

I lean in and press my lips to hers again. “I appreciate that. Thank you.”

The waiter comes by to take our order. Laney suggests I order a few of my favorite dishes for us to share. Once I’ve covered all the bases, she takes a sip from her wine and turns to face me again.

“So, speaking of the season…training camp starts soon, right?”

I finish chewing my bite of the freshly baked rosemary and olive oil bread. “Yes, at the end of July.”

“And what does that look like for you?” she asks, dropping her eyes to her lap.

I tip her chin up with my finger, forcing her to look at me. “I think the question you meant to ask is, what does that look like for us?”

Her eyes dart between mine. “That too.”

Grinning, I say, “Well, I won’t be able to see you at all for two weeks, but after the first week, we can talk on the phone.”

“Two weeks?” Disappointment coats her words.

“I know. Usually it doesn’t sound like much, but the thought of being away from you for that long already makes my chest ache.” I take both of her hands in mine. “This isn’t going to be easy, Laney. I’ve never played football and been in a relationship, but I’ll learn to manage it all. You just have to be patient with me.”

“This is all new to me too, Fletcher.”

I rest my forehead on hers. “Taking you to Charlotte tonight wasn’t just about spoiling you with good food and romance, or getting away from the chaos. It was about showing you what our life could be like when you’re here.”

“I can’t move here, Fletcher. My business, my dad and brother and niece, and Dilynne are all in Blossom Peak.”

“And I’m not asking you to. We can split our time between here and there. It’s only a two-hour drive. Plus, I don’t know how many years I have left in the game. I’m thirty-two. I know Brett Favre played into his forties, but I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to put my body through that. Besides, now that my dad is most likely out of a job, Blossom Peak High School is gonna need a new coach.”

Laney inhales sharply. “But if you play this season...”

“I’m not saying this year, but in the future, that’s definitely something I could see myself doing, especially if it means a quieter life with you.” Her eyes bounce back and forth between mine. “I know I’m asking a lot of you, but Laney? You’re the only woman I want in my life, the only one that I need. I’m willing to make the sacrifices to make this work.”

She holds my face in her hands. “Me too, Fletcher.” She rubs her nose against mine. “I’m all in.”

***

After Laney and I sample all of the food we ordered, I escort her back out to my truck and drive her around the city, pointing out my favorite shops, the park where I go running sometimes, and a few museums I said that I’d visit when I moved here, but never got around to doing. She instantly plans out when we can go to each one, and about thirty minutes later, I head for my house, eager to show her my home and the life I’ve created for myself here in Charlotte.

As we turn into my driveway, I don’t miss the gasp that leaves her lips when she sees my house for the first time. “Fletcher, this is gorgeous.”

“Thank you.”

The white house with pillars that flank the front door is highlighted by the light fixtures on the outside. A column of windows from floor to ceiling covers the entire right side, offering plenty of sunlight when the sun is out, and views of the city lights below at night since my house sits up on a hill. The white brickwork and black roofing is what sold me on the place, as well as the black marble steps that lead up the red front door, giving it the mix of modern and classic that I wanted when I decided to purchase my first home here.

It’s not the most extravagant house on the block, but it’s the one that stood out to me because it represented everything I did to get to this place—the sweat, the fear, and the bruises from the game and my father that I endured, yet still came out a success.

I just don’t understand why my father can’t be proud of that too.

When I pull into the garage under the house, I climb out of the truck and help Laney out, leading her inside. I flick on the lights, illuminating the open concept of the first floor.