I know we can make it work, but the thought of not having him here kills me. I know it kills his mom, too. She already told me she expects me to still come over for Sunday dinners even when Dante is away, and I plan to.
But the rest of the family sees no reason to step around it, and eventually his uncle asks, “So, your agent have any idea where you’re going to end up?”
The process of agency was pretty quick for Dante. Someone approached him immediately after the Ole Miss game and offered to represent him. Since then, it’s been a non-stop parade of calls.
“Actually, yeah,” he says.
My breath seizes in my lungs and I look at him in confusion. He would’ve told me if he’d gotten any indication of where he might go, right?
“I’ll be staying here,” he says with a smile.
But that only ups my confusion. “So he’s getting you a spot with the Jags?”
That’s the best we could’ve hoped for. Jacksonville is only a half hour drive away. Dante can come back here whenever he isn’t on the road.
But he shakes his head, and his smile turns into a grin.
“He didn’t get me anything. I sent him packing.”
Silence falls over the room. I’m the first one to break it.
“You what?”
His family and our teammates follow suit. His mom is the only one who doesn’t say anything. She just smiles.
“I don’t need an agent because I’m not going into the NFL. It’s not for me.”
Everyone else loses their shit. But slowly it begins to dawn on me. Too slowly, really, and I’m a bit embarrassed by it, considering how quickly his mom understood.
“I accepted a full-time position at the Boys’ Club. I’ll be supervising the youth sports program there, and coaching the basketball and football teams.”
My smile only grows. I reach for his hand and give it a squeeze; a silent way to let him know I support him completely.
I’m not the only one. The room practically closes in around him, and everyone congratulates him. Sure, some of our teammates give him a hard time, but they’re still our family.
At the end of the day, once nearly everyone else has gone home, I sit with Dante on the couch. His arm is slung over my shoulders, and I lean against him.
“I’m proud of you,” I say after a long, comfortable silence. “And selfishly relieved.”
He laughs, and I feel the sound vibrate through his chest. “It’s your fault.”
I pull back to look at him.
“Well, you and Mom. You made me realize there was more than one path out there. And this is the one I want to be on. With you.”
I smile at him, then lean in and press my lips to his.
“Me, too.”
THE END
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About the Author
Alison Hendricks is devoted to creating contemporary M/M romances that are sexy and emotionally satisfying. She loves making her boys work for their Happily Ever After and believes love stories are better with just a little angst thrown in.
Born and raised in Florida, Alison has always had a passion for writing, and romance novels of all kinds are her number one escape when life gets a little too hectic.
She's currently working on her first series, Eastshore Tigers. Each book in this series is a standalone romance that throws together two hot college athletes who always "play for the same team," even if they don't know it yet.
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Also by Alison Hendricks
Strong Side
Their chemistry on the field is undeniable. But can they ever be more than friends?
Jason Hawkins is about to throw the biggest Hail Mary pass of his career. If he can't turn NFL recruiters' heads this year, he'll lose his shot at the one thing he's ever been good at. But every quarterback needs a man he can count on down-field. For Jason, that man just might be the Tigers' new receiver, Derek Griffin.
Four years ago, Derek nearly lost everything after being outed by his teammates. Now he finally has a chance to get it all back as a walk-on for Eastshore College... if he can resist his immediate attraction to the gorgeous and very straight star quarterback.
An instant connection during practice leads to an easy friendship that only grows stronger off the field. Derek is convinced friendship is all it'll ever be, but a very confusing moment of impulse leaves both of them fumbling for answers about their relationship.
As curiosity gives way to passion and passion gives way to something deeper, Jason and Derek will have to tackle their own personal demons to bring home the win and earn their happy ending.
False Start (Eastshore Tigers Book 2) Page 20
