“Chicago wants you. We always have. We can change the narrative, Zanders, but we as an organization already know the kind of guy you are, and that’s why we want you. The locker room loves you, and we enjoy the hell out of having you on the team. Whatever we can do to make it happen, we want you back.”
A long silence lingers between us. “I can’t make any decisions until I talk to Stevie.”
“Of course.”
“But if I do sign, it’ll be under one non-negotiable condition.”
“Anything.”
“Everything okay?” Stevie asks from my bed, where’s she’s sprawled out, wearing only my T-shirt.
I wander over to her in a disbelieved daze. “Chicago wants to sign me.”
“What?” She sits up with excitement.
Laying down, I swing my leg over her, pulling her in. “Apparently, there’s been an offer on the table all season, but Rich didn’t say anything.”
“Fucking Rich.”
“What do you think I should do?”
She delicately traces her fingertips across my cheek. “What do you want to do?”
“I’m not sure.”
She lightly laughs. “Yes, you are. You don’t want to leave Chicago, the same way I don’t. Your family is here. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me that Uncle Zee would be okay moving away from Ella.”
My head falls back. “God, no. She’s already four. What am I going to do, only see her over the summers until I retire?”
“Exactly. If Chicago is offering you what you want, take it. This is your home.”
My face softens. “You going to let me officially make you ‘Auntie Vee’ or what?”
“You better.”
We share a moment, holding eye contact as Stevie delicately traces her fingertips along my jaw.
“If you want a fresh start on a new team, I’ll follow you anywhere, but I can’t imagine you being happier somewhere other than Chicago. This is what you’ve wanted all season.”
“Yeah, but I’ve been preparing myself, mentally detaching.”
“I think that’s good enough, Zee. When we first met, leaving Chicago was your biggest fear. Now, you’re ready to go if you need to, but just because you’ve grown enough to know you’ll be okay somewhere else doesn’t mean you have to leave.”
“Do you want to stay here?” My tone is laced with hope.
“Ryan is here and the shelter. If I have a say, then yes, I want to stay.”
“You always have a say, Stevie. This is our decision, not just mine.”
“Are they offering you what you want?”
I nod to tell her yes. “But I told them I’d only sign under one condition.”
“What is it?”
EPILOGUE
ZANDERS
Four Months Later-October
“Zee, we have to go. You’re going to be late for your game, and we still need to stop by SDOC.”
I wrap my arm around Stevie, pulling her in, so her head is lying on my chest and not just my bicep.
“A few more minutes.” I delicately twirl a single curl between my forefinger and thumb. “I’m not ready to leave. This will be my first time without you since June.”
Rosie’s sweet amber eyes look up at me, resting her head on my stomach as I hold my two girls in bed for a little longer.
“It’s only for three days.”
“Don’t remind me,” I whine. “I can’t believe I used to like road games.”
Stevie laughs, turning my chin towards her. “I don’t know when you became this giant needy man.” She presses her soft lips to mine. “But it’s adorable.”
“That was about a year ago when I met you, sweetheart.”
She toys with the rings on my fingers, lingering a little longer on the one I stole from her. “It’ll go by quickly.”
“What are you going to do while I’m gone?”
“I don’t know. Probably have a girls’ night with Logan, Ella, and Rosie.”
My head jerks back. “Without me?”
“We’ll try not to make you too jealous.” She pats my chest. “I’m going to Ryan’s game tomorrow. I’ll be at the shelter on Friday. Then I have our family therapy session on Saturday.”
I slightly turn as I tuck her hair behind her ear. “How are you doing with that?”
“I’m good. It’s going well. It’s not like I never wanted to have a relationship with my mom again, but it couldn’t keep going as it was.”