Aimee Dierking
Jake took a deep breath, his nose twitching slightly. “I snagged a red-eye to New York and holed up in a grimy airport hotel until the draft. Once I knew Texas was my destination, I flew out, found an apartment, and finished my classes online. I broke the news to my dad—he wasn’t thrilled, but he got it.
“I came back for finals, but graduation was a no-go. I couldn’t risk running into her.
“Then I just lost myself in football for the past six years. I always wanted to call her, send her flowers, or just show up at her door, but I was—and still am—scared of what she might say or do.”
Kevin sat there, absorbing his friend’s confession. He was floored. Jake had never let on about any of this in all the years they’d known each other.
It made sense now why Jake would date, but never anything more. One woman had even been hell-bent on marrying him, but Jake never budged.
“So, she never reached out after that day? Not even to chew you out? Nothing?”
“She called once in early June, but I let it go to voicemail. I didn’t have the guts to answer or call back.
“I still have the message. I listen to it all the time, just thinking about how badly I screwed up, how much I hurt her, and what could’ve been…”
Jake fiddled with his phone and pulled up the saved message.
He cranked up the volume, switched it to speaker, and hit play.
“Hey Jake…it’s me… I need you to call me, there’s something we need to talk about. Please, it’s really important… Jake, even if you never call me back, just know that I’ll always love you.
“You were my first for so many things and I’ll never stop loving you, no matter what happens in the future.
“I’m not mad, Jake, I just want to talk… Good luck with everything… I love you, Jake.”
Kevin could hear the woman’s voice falter slightly as she said her last line.
He exhaled a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding, looking at his best friend. Jake’s face was a mask of heartbreak as he listened.
“Damn, Jake, I don’t really know what to say… Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about her a lot lately, even dreaming about her. When Coach suggested I think about going home, I was scared but also kind of excited.
“I really need to patch things up with my dad. And then I could see her, which excites me. But what if she’s moved on? What if she’s married? I don’t know if I could handle that, Kev… I just don’t know.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Kevin spoke up, “What if you go home, have a talk with your dad, and then I fly out a few days later to keep you company in case she has moved on?”
Jake mulled it over and liked the sound of it. “I could leave tomorrow and drive home. If I leave early, I can get there by eight or nine tomorrow night.
“I could spend Wednesday with my dad, sort things out, and then you can fly in on Thursday. I’ll pick you up from the airport. What do you think?”
Kevin nodded. “That’s a plan. I’ll fill Ashley in on what’s happening. She’ll be glad to have me out of her hair for a few days.”
Jake laughed. He adored his best friend’s wife. She was a good woman who kept Kevin on his toes, which he sorely needed.
Kevin was two years older than Jake, but nowhere near as mature. Ashley made him step up his game, and Kevin was head over heels for his wife.
She was a strong, smart, stunning woman who worked as a labor-and-delivery nurse at the state’s largest hospital. She was way out of Kevin’s league, and he knew it.
They finalized the plan, and Jake started packing after Kevin left. He also left a message for his physical therapist to recommend someone in Colorado while he was away. He had no idea how long he’d be gone.
He packed some dressier clothes since his dad was fond of dining at upscale restaurants that required jackets and ties. Jake ordered some more Thai food, showered, and hit the sack early.
He woke up at the crack of dawn and was on the road by 4:30. Hell, his favorite coffee shop wasn’t even open yet, so he had to settle for a lousy cup of fast-food coffee on the road.
He made good time as he drove, grateful for the satellite radio to keep him company. He crossed into Colorado at 3:30 that afternoon and only had a few more hours to go.
He’d stopped a few times along the way to eat and do some exercises for his knee. At 7:30 that night, he pulled onto the street where he grew up, surprised that nothing had really changed.
He pulled into the long driveway, followed it around to the back by the garage, and parked. He got out and stretched his knee, then walked up to the front door and rang the bell.
He didn’t want to startle his dad by just walking in since he hadn’t told him he was coming. Plus, he wasn’t sure how his dad would react.
Michael Doogan was a strong, fair man, but he’d been hurt, and Jake just wasn’t sure what his reaction would be.
The porch light flicked on, and the massive oak front door swung open.
Jake smiled at his dad as his dad just stood there, staring at him.