Page 30 of Librarian for the Jock

CHET

It had been about six months since that magical night under the oak tree, and things had changed in ways I never could have imagined. The season was in full swing, and I was back on the road, moving from city to city, playing game after game. But somehow, despite the grueling schedule, the endless travel, and the noise of the crowd, everything felt different.

Better.

It wasn’t like the long-distance thing was easy. It wasn’t. Being away from Paige and the kids was harder than I ever thought it would be. I missed them every single day—the way Paige’s laughter brightened my mood no matter how tough the game had been, the way Jenny and Brandon’s faces lit up when they saw me on a video call. I missed the simple things, like sitting with them at the kitchen table, eating one of Paige’s homemade meals, or hugging and cuddling up for movie night in the living room.

But we made it work. Because we both wanted this, wanted us, more than anything.

I glanced at my phone, sitting on the bench beside me, waiting for the next few moments before practice started. I pulled it up, scrolling through our latest messages, my heart warming at the sight of Paige’s last text:

*Just watched your interview—looking good, Captain Splash ??. Call me after practice. We miss you.*

I grinned, remembering the way she teased me about that story. I swore she’d never let me live that down. And I loved it. I loved the way she always brought lightness to my day, even when we were miles apart.

We had a routine by then. Every morning, I sent her a good-morning text, something to make her smile—sometimes a joke, sometimes a quote, sometimes just a simple “I love you.” And every night, we talked, no matter how late it was or how tired I was. I called her when I was on the bus, at the airport, or grabbing lunch between meetings. And she always answered, no matter how busy she was at the library or with the kids.

The video calls were my favorite. I got to see her face, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her day, the way her smile crinkled at the corners when she laughed at one of my stories. I got to see Jenny and Brandon popping in and out—Jenny showing me her latest drawings or telling me about her school projects, or hearing about Brandon’s first experiences playing football in high school. It had taken a lot of talking and convincing to get Paige on board, but it had been worth it. Brandon was loving football and really succeeding at it. It felt like I was still there with them, even if it was just through a screen.

We had even set up a little “date night” routine. Once a week, we picked a time, and I ordered food for both of us from our favorite places—me from whatever city I was in, her from the local diner in Hawthorn Hideaway. We sat down in front of our screens, ate together, and talked, just like we would have if we had been sitting at that little table under the oak tree.

And on the weekends and special holidays, whenever I got the chance, I flew back home, even if it was just for a day. I had gotten pretty good at navigating airport terminals and catching red-eye flights, all for a few precious hours with them. It was worth every bit of exhaustion to see Paige standing there at the airport, waiting for me with that smile that made everything feel right. I had even been able to be at some of Brandon’s games. It had been such an awesome experience all around.

Paige was amazing, really. She had been my rock through all of this—always understanding, always supportive, never making me feel guilty for being away. She kept everything grounded, kept us connected. She was patient with me, with my schedule, with all the chaos that came with my job. And I was grateful every single day for how lucky I was to have her.

That day, I was in another city, another stadium, and the day’s schedule was packed with meetings, practice, and media obligations. But all I could think about was the weekend when I’d finally get to see her again. I had two days off between games, and I was heading straight back to Hawthorn Hideaway.

I had already booked the flight and had a surprise planned—dinner at that little Italian restaurant she loved, and maybe, if I could pull it off, a moonlit walk by the lake afterward. I wanted to make every moment count because I knew how precious our time together was.

The guys on the team gave me a hard time about it sometimes. They joked about me being whipped, about how I was always on the phone with my “librarian girlfriend.” But they saw the way I smiled when her name popped up on my screen, the way my mood changed when I heard her voice. They knew, even if they didn’t say it out loud, that she had become my anchor, my home base. And I thought they got it.

I pulled up my calendar, counting down the hours until I could see her again. It wasn’t easy, balancing all of this—my career, the travel, the distance—but somehow, with Paige, it didn’t feel like a sacrifice. It felt like a choice, a choice I made every day, gladly, because she was worth it.

I knew it was still new, that we were still figuring things out. But I also knew that I had never felt this sure about anything in my life. Paige and I were in this together. We made each other better, stronger. And every time I looked at her, every time I heard her laugh, I knew I’d do anything to keep that smile on her face.

My phone buzzed again, and I saw a new message from her:

*Don’t forget to take care of yourself. I love you, Captain Splash.*

I grinned, feeling that familiar warmth spread through me. I typed back quickly:

*I love you too, Paige, my beautiful librarian. Can’t wait to see you this weekend. Until then, you’re stuck with my terrible jokes over text. ??*

She replied almost instantly:

*I wouldn’t have it any other way.*

And as I headed out to the field for practice, I felt lighter, knowing that no matter where I went, no matter how far apart we were, I had her with me—her love, her laughter, her faith in us.

We were making it work. One day at a time, one call at a time, one laugh at a time. And I knew that whatever the future held, we were ready to face it together, hand in hand, no matter the distance.