Zach pumps his fist in the air as he looks toward the stands. His teammates do a victory dance behind him, but he doesn’t get involved. He’s too busy looking at our section of the stadium. More specifically, the one empty seat in the stadium.
He knows.
Even though everyone is standing, he knows that seat is empty.
The jumbotron focuses on his face, and I see him clench his jaw as he pushes past the camera to the bench.
When the celebrations have calmed, Jamie leans in. “Was he looking for Honey?”
I nod, making Jamie whistle out. “Wow. This is worse than I thought.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s going to happen when he gets drafted?” he asks.
“What do you mean?”
“You said he’s entering this year. Does that mean you’re going to stay here?”
My heart rate speeds up because he's totally right, but it's just something I've never really thought about before. I've been too busy settling into my life here, forgetting that Zach’s entire life will move depending on the team he moves to.
If Zach leaves, do I stay? I don't really have anywhere else to go, but following my cousin around for the rest of my life doesn't seem like a good life strategy. Then there's Jamie, we've already agreed to move in with each other eventually, but will this be too short notice? Will he even want to stay in Indiana? Would all this moving around be detrimental for Ella?
“Hey.” Jamie knocks my knee. “Don't get in your head about things. Everything will work itself out. Trust in the process.”
“Right, the process.”
When halftime rolls around, St. Michael’s is up 14 –7. The crowd has cleared out for a break.
Ella shifts on Jamie’s lap, her earlier excitement finally catching up with her. Her grip on my hand loosens as her head droops onto Jamie’s shoulder.
He rests his hand on her back, keeping her close to him.
“You tired, Princess?” he asks softly.
She nods, then burrows closer, her voice muffled against his collarbone. “Uh-huh.”
He presses a kiss to the top of her head.
“Daddy?”
The word comes out quiet and almost sleepy.
Jamie freezes.
For a split second, worry curls in my stomach. I should’ve mentioned it to him before she had the chance to say it.
Is it too soon? Am I letting her get attached to something that could still break?
Jamie doesn’t tense. He doesn’t flinch, or hesitate, but he does give me a curious look.
“She heard Zach,” I say softly. “The other night. He was muttering about it.”
“Okay.” He exhales shakily and pulls her closer, resting his forehead against her hair.
Relief washes over me as I nod at our half-asleep daughter. “That’s right, Ella,” I say gently. “You can call him that if you want to.”
Ella hums with a little smile pulling on her face. “Okay.”