Chapter 7 – Team Huddle
Wednesday, November 25th, 2020
Troy's POV
I stared the ceiling in our bedroom as the fan rotated in circles. Gabi was still asleep next to me but I hadn't been able to sleep since Saturday. We won the game on Saturday and took second place after we lost in the finals but not to West Ashley. They lost in the semi-final game. They ended up taking third place though. I hadn't been able to sleep since the job offer and then I really couldn't sleep once I got the job offer.
$150,000
That was the offer.
And a raise after the first year if we do decently well.
The assistant coaches would each be making $125,000.
That would double their current salary.
It would ease our finances.
My stomach rolled as they also offered to help relocate us, find us housing, get us set up and situated. Find our kids daycares and we would each get a signing bonus of 10k. The offer caused my jaw to drop and I haven't told a soul about it. I wanted to talk to my all of my friends first. I wanted to see what their thoughts were before we did anything else. We had a practice in about an hour and I was going to pull them all to my classroom so we could talk about it.
Gabi rolled over and she curled into my body, "You are awake already?" I just nodded my head as tomorrow was Thanksgiving and we were all off this weekend. Gabi shut down the dance studio until Saturday when they were doing their first wine and dance night. It had sold out. My gut twisted of pure guilt. Why would this happen now and not a few years down the road? I inhaled as I let my hand run down her arm. "Troy, you, okay?"
"Hmm?"
"I asked why you were awake already. I feel like you haven't been sleeping well." Those brown eyes looked up at me and I gave her a smile. "I just have a lot on my mind with basketball." I let my fingers run through her hair and she rolled onto her side. "You haven't been coming to bed. I was waiting for you last night." I gave a half smile because I knew that. I couldn't face her without telling her everything. I wanted to tell her everything.
I just wanted to talk to them first.
This affected all of us.
It's not worth getting her all worked up if they don't want to do it.
I nibbled on my lip as I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I'm fine, I promise. Do you want me to bring you the twins? I need to get ready for practice." I started to get out of bed when she pulled on my hand. "Troy?" I looked at her and she wrinkled her forehead. "What's wrong?" I leaned forward and I pressed my mouth against hers. My hand slipping behind her head to pull her closer to me. "Nothing. I just have a lot on my mind. Let's talk tonight, yea?"
She just nodded her head as I gave her another kiss, a little harder, a little deeper until she groaned. I grinned as I pulled back and kissed her cheek. "Ugh, I hate that I need to breastfeed them." I laughed as I went into the nursery as Saylor was sitting up and Sutton was still asleep. "Hi big girl, you want to go get mama?"
"Mamamamam," Saylor babbled and I chuckled as I carried her to Gabi. Gabi greeted her with a big hug as I went into the bathroom. I gripped the sink and I inhaled a deep breath. The bags under my eyes were growing and my mind was spinning in circles. I turned on the shower and quickly got ready. I tugged on a pair of joggers with a t-shirt and a crew neck. I walked out and Gabi was nursing Saylor while staring down at her. I went over to kiss her again, "I promise, I'm just stressed. I think after today I can relax a little,"
Gabi just stared at me for a few moments before nodding her head, "Okay, I think I am going to go help my mom. Do you just want to join us there?" I swallowed, "Maybe? I'll check in once I am done." She nodded and I went to get Sutton and put him in bed with Gabi. I headed out and grabbed a coffee and then pulled into the high school. Cameron was already here and Jax pulled in behind me. We both got out and he glanced at me. "You look like hell,"
"Just haven't been sleeping well," I grumbled as this was going to be a long fucking practice. I could already feel it in my bones that it was going to be a long practice. I wanted to spill my guts here in this parking lot but I needed to get through this first. If the kids found out this from over hearing I would be crushed.
"The kids?"
I hesitated but shook my head, "No, they've been sleeping great since we got home. The hotel was a completely different story." Jax chuckled as I took a sip of my coffee and it burned pretty much the entire way down.
"Something wrong with Gabs?"
I shook my head again and he stopped to stare at me.
"What's wrong? Something is bothering you. We have been friends for way too fucking long for me to not know when something is bothering you." I let my eyes settle on him for a few beats as I opened my mouth and then shut it before thinking about my words carefully.
"We'll talk after practice." I told him as I kept walking away from him as he stood still behind me.
I checked my phone to see that Gabi was at her mom's but the kids were asleep and she was going to be there a few more hours. Practice was ending and the boys were all leaving the gym one by one as our first big game was again West Ashley on Tuesday. We were having an open gym on Sunday but most of the kids were coming though. "I'm calling a team huddle at my house," I called and all of them turned to stare at me.
"A team huddle?" Cameron asked and I nodded, this wasn't our first one. "I just need a bit of your time. I'll see you there. Last one out locks up," I headed out before they could start asking me questions. I headed for my Jeep and I headed home. I had beer in the garage and Gabi wasn't going to be home for a bit. I got home and I let Luna out back as I put a beer at each spot on the table as I slid into a chair as they were all coming inside my house. Each of them wore a confused look on their face as each of them sat down.
"Bolton, you haven't called a team huddle since we got this job offer. Dylan calls one on the regular because of him trying to live with a girl for the first time. You've made it through that, a wedding, and two kids. What is this about?" Jax questioned.
"Are you buttering us up for something? Free beer?" Dylan cracked his open and I didn't say anything as they all sat down. "What's wrong? You haven't been yourself since Saturday. You were so fucking weird during that game." Jesse mentioned and I heavily exhaled as I looked at the group. "What the fuck happened? You aren't even speaking," Cameron looked at me. "Like I said – we haven't had a team huddle since we got this job offer…" Jax stopped speaking and his face fell.
"You got a job offer."
I looked him and I exhaled. My chest was so tight because I knew most of them were going to be on board. Two of them at least. I just nodded my head for a minute as they all started to speak up around me. "Troy, that's fucking amazing."
"Dude, where?"
"Fuck, are we breaking up?"
My voice interrupted all of them as I exhaled.
"WE got a job offer."
It was so quiet in my kitchen you could hear a pin drop. All of them stared at me speechless as if they were trying to find the right words. I was trying to find the right words to present this offer to them because it was great for all of us but we had more people in our lives. Fuck, if you would have asked us this two fucking years ago? I would have said yes for us. No questions asked.
"Where? What high school?" Dylan asked.
I shook my head.
"College." I spoke.
All of them snapped their heads towards me. It was such a dream to jump to the college level. Each of them wore a surprised face but also their eyes grew wide with anticipation. "Are you fucking serious? We got a college job offer? Us five?" I nodded my head as they all started to guess where.
"Juco?" Jesse asked.
I shook my head.
"D3?" Jax gave a questioning look in my direction.
I shook my head again.
"D2?" Cameron shouted with excitement and I exhaled but shook my head again. I would have been excited for any of those offers but the underlying excitement with this one bubbled.
"No fucking way," Dylan said.
"D1?" Jesse squeaked. I finally nodded my head up and down. My eyes looking at each of them with happiness on their faces. Jesse had some worry lines and Jax bit his bottom lip knowing that there was more to this than just us five. This affected 14 of us plus all of our other families.
"The other day, I don't know where any of your fuckers were but I was sitting up top watching the team in front of us on Saturday. I was taking notes and this guy just approached me. His name was Mitchell Anderson and he sat down and told me he was the athletic director at The University of Georgia Southern and that he wanted me as the head coach and I started to explain that I couldn't leave you guys and he said and I quote "they are included" and I honest to fucking god thought all of you were punking me and videotaping me at this point."
"Are you punking us?" Dylan asked as his head swiveled around on his neck trying to find hidden cameras, Jax had his hand over his mouth in shock while Jesse was wide eyed and Cameron was the only one grinning. "He told me he watched me in college, that he knew I was a student manager, that he watched our entire run last year, and he liked all of us together. That we were a unit and they wanted something different. Their head coach is retiring and leaving."
"What did Gabi say?" I grunted as I rubbed my face with my hand as I kept my eyes covered, "I haven't told her. I wanted to talk to all of you guys first. If you were all opposed, I would kindly decline and stay where I was and just tell Gabi the offer happened and I turned it down because it didn't make sense. If you are all interested and want to take it back to your families than I will talk to Gabi. We will probably need to have a spouse huddle as well once we all talk to them but it starts here at this table. We have to want this. We're signing up for basketball. No more teaching. No more grading papers. We would be recruiting and the stakes are so much higher. We will travel so much more. This is a lot we are taking on here."
"This is…" Jax shook his head and Cameron ran his hands through his hair. "It's an amazing opportunity."
"Do you all love coaching though? Because we have to love coaching." Jesse said.
"I probably would have left teaching if it wasn't for coaching," Dylan's voice spoke up as he leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.
"Coaching kept me there." Jax said with a shrug of his shoulder and I looked over at Jesse. "Do you have concerns?" he hesitated but nodded his head, "I mean, yea, we're starting families. We have wives. They have careers and I don't know. We'd be moving and it's a lot. I love my kid. I want more kids. If we're traveling all over the damn country…"
I nodded because I had a lot of the same thoughts.
"Did he give you salaries?" Dylan asked.
I rolled my lips together and I nodded my head.
"Terrible?" I snorted and shook my head. "For first time coaches in D1? Probably not. I'll start with – they are willing to help relocate all of us. They know we have never done this before and the current head coach will be our advisor for the first year. So – they are also paying him the first year. Our salaries will go up every year. The first year is a one-year contact to just see how it goes and then we can sign longer ones. But they said we would all get significantly big raises after the first year if we stay."
"That's a big if," Jax pointed out.
I nodded, "I know and I would carry a lot of that on my shoulders but each of you would make 125K plus a 10K sign on bonus."
"Holy shit,"
"That is double our salary,"
"Fuck,"
"Oh my god,"
Each of them reacted because the money was hard to turn down and the housing was cheaper in Statesboro. "I know." My voice dropped with acknowledgement that this was hard.
"How much will you be making?" Jesse asked and I swallowed, "We know it's more, don't be shy. You already make more than us and if you are going to be a head coach of a D1 program then yea – you have to be making a lot more money. That's a lot more responsibility." Jax said. The group nodded and I sighed, "150,"
"Did they talk about the raises?" I rubbed my face, "They said if we stayed just add 100."
"One…hundred?" Jesse asked and I shook my head, "one hundred…thousand."
The grunts in the room almost made me laugh. Jesse dropped his head to the table. Jax just stared at me because I could see it. He wanted it. Dylan wanted it. Cameron wanted it.
Jesse and I? This was harder than the money.
It was our wives and our kids.
"That is so much money," Dylan mumbled into his hands, "And we would be doing what we fucking love every single day and trying to compete for a spot in the dance every year? You guys, I think we're fucking idiots if we don't do this."
"Yea, I think we're idiots if we don't do this. One, we'd be doing this as best fucking friends. Two, we'd be making a lot more fucking money. Three, it's basketball. We know and love it. Four, it's a D1 program. How often do you think this opportunity comes around if we don't take this one? Maybe it isn't for all of us but we won't know if we don't try." Jax mentioned. Jesse glanced at me, "How are you presenting this to Gabi?"
I rubbed the back of my neck as I stared at the table, "I don't fucking know. I feel absolutely terrible. That's why I'm not sleeping and I am so stressed. If they would have approached us two years ago – I'd leave without second thought. Fuck, if they would have asked me a year ago it probably would have been easier. She just opened her dance studio though and she fucking loves it." I rubbed my face and left my hands over my face. "It would allow Sage to become a part time PA like she wants but we'd be moving from her family. Noah is their pride and joy."
Our eyes all connected and Cameron stared at me, "What do you want?" he asked me and I hesitated but he shook his head. "No, you. Your first reaction without letting all of the other noise in – not saying that it isn't important but this also comes down to what you want. If you don't want it then it isn't worth all of the problems this could bring up in your new marriage." Cameron looked at me and I inhaled deeply as I gave it no thought.
"Yes, I want this. I want to try. I want to see if I can coach college kids. We can always go back to high school. Maybe not James Island but we can go back to high school. I don't know if we ever get another chance to break into the college scene." Cameron nodded his head, "Then I think we talk to our wives. When would we move?"
"This summer. July."
"That gives us time."
"We have to give them an answer by January 2nd."
The group blinked.
"It would be announced in April."
Inhales were heard around the kitchen and I nodded, "I know. We would go for a visit after our season is over. I want us all in this. We don't do it without each other. I would rather coach with you than without you. I'd rather stay in high school than leave but the thought of just basketball? Where I could watch film at work? Clip it? Then go home and spend time with my family? That sounds like a dream. No grading homework? No working as a teacher? I think the learning curve will be recruiting and putting together a team."
"How would job titles roll out?"
"I don't give a fuck about the titles; you all know that. You would each receive one but, in my head, we are all the same. He told me that two of you would have titles of assistant coach, one would be strength and conditioning, and the last one would be director of operations. Whoever takes on that roll might have different responsibilities but I think we would all be able to help as well." We all shared a look around the table.
"I call strength and conditioning," Dylan shot his hand up and I laughed rolling my eyes, "So we're going to talk to our wives and girlfriends and fiancés?" I questioned and the group all looked around and nodded. "Yea, I don't think we can turn this down."
I swallowed and I nodded, "What if Gabi doesn't want, too? I have to respect her dreams. I told her to reach for them. I can't leave hers in the dust to reach for mine."
"You aren't leaving her so I guess we stay. Everybody has to be in agreement." We all nodded in agreement as we all just sat in silence for a little bit trying to digest all of this information. I ran my hands through my hair and let my own head hit the table. I wanted it so badly but I loved her so fucking much.
Gabi's POV
"Troy has been acting weird," my mom glanced over at me and I rolled my lips together as I helped make dessert. "What do you mean? That man worships you. Is something going on at work?" I shrugged, "I don't know. He won't talk to me." I pushed the cake in the oven as I turned to wipe my hands off. "Maybe he is trying to figure it out before he talks to you. Don't always jump to conclusions. Sometimes people need to sort things you." I gave my mom a look, "How long has this been going on for?" she asked me.
"Since Saturday night, he was distracted after the game and I chalked it up to the tournament. It didn't get any better though this week. It might be even worse." I nibbled on my lip as I looked in the living room where both of the babies were asleep on the ground. "He isn't sleeping. He is always deep in thought. Sometimes I catch him looking at me with a deep worry on his face. I don't know. I asked him this morning but he kind of brushed it off."
"Did he say anything?"
"That we'll talk tonight," my mom spun around to stare at me. "Are you serious? Gabriella, why are you fretting when you know he will talk to you tonight?" I tried to find a response but I didn't have one. I just shrugged my shoulders, "What if he doesn't tell me the truth and brushes it off? We have Thanksgiving tomorrow. I just want a good day." My mom shook her head, "You are worrying about nothing. Do you want me to watch those two for a little bit so you can go talk to him without interruptions?"
I eyed her and I just nodded my head, "Do you mind? I have two bottles in the fridge." My mom smiled, "If that's what you need. I can either bring them back to you or you can come pick them up." I nodded, "Troy or I will come pick them up. Are you sure?"
"Gabi, go, sometimes you just need to ask." I nodded and I grabbed my purse before checking on the babies and heading out the door. It wasn't a far drive to our house as my stomach was twisted in knots because I was honestly terrified. Something was bothering him and something was causing him to stress. I didn't want him to stress out because he felt like he couldn't tell me something. Our marriage was open communication.
He was outside with Luna when I pulled in and he turned around to give me a smile but I saw the worry on his face. I got out and I walked towards him as his face fell, "Where is Say and Sutty?" I walked up to him, "With my mom. They were still sleeping and I was talking about this morning. I am just worried about you and I want you to be able to tell me everything, Troy. I don't want you to be scared." I looked up at him and he cupped my face. "I've wanted to tell you since Saturday but I had to talk to other people first."
I eyed him and he gently tugged me inside, he grabbed a beer for him and poured a glass of wine for me. "Troy," he sat down as he took a deep breath in and his eyes found mine. "I got a job offer." It was news I wasn't expecting to hear and I felt a smile grow on my face. "Troy? That is amazing! You could have told me." I threw my arms around his neck with happiness and he gave off a nervous chuckle as he gently pulled back to look at me.
"In Georgia,"
I blinked once and then twice as I took a step backwards.
"Gabi," his voice was right in front of me but I took a big drink of my wine. "What high school?" I asked him as I inhaled deeply and Troy shook his head. Those blue eyes were pleading me with me to listen. "The University of Georgia Southern," I gasped and I looked at him with tears in my eyes. "You got a college coaching offer?" I whispered because the pride welled up inside of me. "Yea, I did. The athletic director found me on Saturday night before our game. He presented the offer to me and I pushed back because I can't leave my friends and he…" Troy paused as he stared at me. "He said they were all included. It's all five of us."
Holy shit. That's so fucking amazing. He was amazing.
"Troy, that's amazing." I hugged him again and I saw the shock on his face and I was confused by it until it hit me. He was worried because of the one thing I was doing to chase my dreams. Yet this was his dream. My heart sank to my gut.
I pulled away with tears in my eyes.
"Zoey's," I gasped the name as I couldn't stop the overwhelming number of tears. I got up as I put my hands on my head, "Gabi," his voice was distraught and I turned to look at him. "I just…I need a minute." He got up and came over to me anyways, "This isn't for sure. I presented the offer to the guys this morning. I wanted to talk to them first before I talked to you because if they all hated it then we weren't going to do it. I wasn't going to do it but since they are all wanting to do it as well, we are all taking it back to our wives. I have been dying to tell you about all of this but I just…I didn't know how." His voice cracked in half with the final words.
I looked up at him and he cupped my face.
"I even told them that I don't know how to tell you because you are living your dream. You are doing all the things you've ever wanted to do and how am I supposed to take that away? I don't know what to do. I haven't known how to tell you. I don't know how I can ask you to walk away from your dream because both of our dreams are important and this is one of my dreams but this is also the worst fucking time. I don't know what to do." His lips pressed to my forehead and I just closed my eyes. I didn't know what to tell him. I didn't know what to do either. I couldn't stop the tears as neither of us moved for a few minutes.
"How far away is it?" I asked through muffled tears. "2 and half hours," he whispered. I closed my eyes tighter.
"What's the money like? Is it even worth it?" Troy hesitated and he inhaled, "The first year I'd make 150,000 with a 10K signing bonus with relocation fees." My jaw dropped because that had to nearly triple his current salary. "If we do well and make it to our second year it'll be 250,000," I choked on the air and Troy smoothed his hands down my arm. "I'm sorry, I…it's honestly the worst fucking timing but I also don't know when this opportunity comes again."
I stared him because I didn't know.
I didn't know what to say.
I didn't know how to respond.
How can I tell him no when he told me yes?
How do I leave here? My family? Zoey's? My friends?
I inhaled heavily and I just stared at him for a few minutes, "I don't know what to say, Troy. I don't know." I covered my mouth and I turned around as he let me go this time. "Do you want to go pick up the kids from my mom's house?" I wiped away my tears because I needed time. I needed to digest this. Troy looked at me helplessly. "I just need some time to wrap my head around all of this, okay? I just…I need a few minutes."
Troy just nodded his head, "Okay, okay," he turned to grab his jacket as I wiped my tears away. "Wait, Troy," he turned around to face me as I walked up to him. My hands reaching up to squish his face. "I want you to know how proud I am of you." I couldn't stop the tears again as I looked at him. "This offer? It is amazing. Regardless of everything else going on in life. It's an honor to even get that offer and I am proud of you. I am proud of your work ethic. I am so proud of you." He closed his eyes as he let his head press against the top of mine. He easily lifted me up and he sat me on the counter as we held each other.
"I know without hesitation that you want this and I also know that you'd never do something without my full support and knowing I'll be happy. I just need to think." He squeezed me against his body as we just held each other. "You are an amazing coach and I am so happy for you and all of your friends. It's just…" I exhaled heavily and he pulled back to frame my face. "You don't have to tell me. I know how terrible the timing is. Fuck, if it was six months ago it would have been better than today."
I wiped away the tears as he pulled me in for a kiss. It was soft. Gentle. We both knew that this conversation wasn't over but I also never wanted him to think that I wasn't proud of him for this. It just was such shitty timing and just a little too far away to make me commuting too hard. He pressed one final kiss to my forehead before grabbing his jacket and keys and heading for his car. I watched him go as I hated everything I was feeling inside.
I didn't want to leave.
I wanted him to have the job.
I wanted my dance studio.
I wanted this for him and his friends.
This was going to change absolutely everything and I was crushed. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to proceed so I did the one thing I knew the best. I called my sister.
I called Zoey.
It was one of those times that I forgot.
I forgot for one millisecond that she wasn't here anymore.
And it absolutely destroyed me.
Thursday, November 26th, 2020
Gabi's POV
The twins were both nursing as Troy was downstairs trying to wear Luna out. He had come back with the twins last night and we didn't talk about it. We laughed with our babies and we did the normal bed time routine before we went to bed ourselves. We never spoke once we entered the bedroom but he spoke with his mouth, his body, and his soul. He knew how much this devastated me, he knew how much this hurt, and he knew how much it was impossible to make a choice.
How do I tell him no?
Those are his dreams.
He encouraged mine.
How could I tell him no don't reach for your dreams because mine is too important and mine is happening right now.
He told me to reach for the stars so how do I tell him no when he may never get this chance again. It caused my gut to stir because Zoey's was everything to me. I didn't want to walk away from it without even a year under my belt. That felt like a failure.
If I didn't have Zoey's – I would 100% have been absolutely overjoyed for Troy yesterday and would have told him to call. I think he knew that, too. We are in this life together and how do we make this decision for both of us to chase our dreams when I would have to leave mine behind? Zoey's was making money but not enough to open a second one to sustain it. Maybe one day in the future but now wasn't the time.
Plus, Dana, Brea, and Mia were all here in Charleston. My stomach rolled again as today was going to be a good day. It also made my stomach roll thinking about how much money they were offering Troy with only potential to go up from there. Troy said if they were successful, he could bring home close to half a million dollars a year. That would pull us from this financial disaster at the moment. I could stay home with the kids and maybe one day open another one.
An exhale blew through me when Troy appeared in the doorway. He was wearing jeans with a blue sweater. "Are they both still eating? Little piggies," he walked over to tickle their feet and I tilted my head back to look at him. "Would you ever be home?" I asked him and he blinked as he stared at me. "I mean, I would travel more but we could travel more as a family. On the school's dime at that. I would have to recruit and games would be farther away but I wouldn't be teaching. Basketball season might be a little crazy but I would be home in the off season a lot besides recruiting and we can only do that during certain times of the year."
I exhaled and nodded, "It's a one-year contract to just see how the year goes. If we all hate it. We can move back home. I'll find another job." I swallowed as I looked up at him and I just nodded, "Are you telling your family?" I asked and he inhaled, "Not today. Let's wait. Let's enjoy Thanksgiving. I would like to know more of what you want to do before I tell the families."
"When would we move?" I asked him and he let his hand brush through my curled hair, "In July," I swallowed and nodded because that was a handful of months away. "We don't have to make a decision quickly. I have until January 2nd to give them an answer." I just nodded as I was happy to let this conversation go for the day. Once I stopped talking, I gave Troy a baby and we both got them in their Thanksgiving outfits. I can't believe they were going to be one in just a month.
One year of these sweet babies. I kissed Sutton's head as he gabbed about whatever he was trying to say. "Go get ready. I'll keep them entertained." I nodded as he gripped my chin and he pulled me in for a kiss. "I love you, Gabriella." I looked up at him as I nodded with my own smile. "I know, because I love you just as much."
His thumb brushed over my lips before he took the twins downstairs. I went to the bathroom as I got ready but all it did was let my mind spin in circles. The money was almost too much to turn down. The fact that it would just grow if he was successful and I knew deep in my heart he would be. He is a good coach. I applied make-up and touched up my hair. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a button up shirt that I tucked in the front. I pulled on a pair of booties.
I went downstairs as Troy was playing peek-a-boo with the twins and they were both giggling. Saylor spotted me and started to crawl towards me. "Hi sweet girl," I held her against my chest and I kissed the top of her head. "C'mon, we don't want to be late to the big Thanksgiving feast."
Troy's parents were hosting but my entire family was coming, too. I was so thankful when Laura and Tommy asked me to invite them. We got the babies in their car seat before we took off. Troy let his fingers fold into mine as so much heaviness sat between the two of us. I couldn't drag this out but I did want to think about it. I wanted to visit the town. I had to figure out how Zoey's would be involved. I sighed as Troy just squeezed my hand as if he knew what it was about.
It wasn't long to his parents' house as it looked like a lot of people were here already. I walked in and ran straight into Blaine who pushed Troy outside as Troy handed a baby carrier to me. Troy chuckled as Blaine walked down the steps with him towards the basketball court. "Here, let me help since my son is requesting your husband." I laughed as James took both car seats from me. Lucy and Macken were both quick to the babies and getting them out as Tommy swept me into a hug.
"How are you?" he asked and I smiled, "Good. Your son is taking good care of me."
"Good, I trained him well." We both laughed together. I found Laura to give her a hug as well. My dad scooped me up in a tight hug, "I haven't seen you in a while. You should come over for coffee sometime this week." My eyes looked up at my dad as if he could read everything going on in my mind. His eyes squinted for a moment and he gave a smile. "You look like you could talk." I gave him a brief look and he just hugged me tighter – again. Why did dads know?
Troy would know.
He would take one look at Saylor or Sutton and know they needed to talk. I could already tell. I just hope I would get that same super power in return. I moved on to my mom as I was quickly helping in the kitchen. It wasn't until a warm body was pressed against me that I paused, I turned back to see just in a white t-shirt with his jeans. His hair standing up with sweat and a grin on his face. "Sorry, your nephew wanted to play and work on some skills. I'm not sure why I am helping him because he's going to beat our ass on Tuesday."
I laughed as I reached up to kiss his cheek. His hand reached for my hip and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Mom, it smells good." Troy gave his mom a sweaty kiss on the cheek as Beth appeared in front of me. "Hi, sorry, we're late." Her cheeks were flushed and Colt had that smirk on his face. I raised a single eyebrow towards her with my own smirk. I know that smirk. That flushed face. They got distracted on the way out the door.
"Those lucky dogs," Troy whispered in my ear which caused me to laugh. We finished cooking dinner as Troy and I each took a plate to make until we had both of the twins eating. We made our plates as Troy gave me a glass of wine and he had a beer as we all settled around the table. Everybody caught up on everyday life as Ada and Brady had already been to one Thanksgiving dinner. "Blaine, please tell me you are going to get revenge on Troy this week?" Brady asked. The group cackled with laughter as Troy smirked. "He wishes."
"I don't wish, I know," Blaine shot back. Brady chuckled as he looked over at Ada before looking over at us. "I hope Sutton doesn't get that same cocky attitude." Troy raised an eyebrow with a laugh, "I think we have to be more worried about Saylor if you want my honest opinion," I helped Saylor stuff food in her mouth as she missed most of it. "Do you think they are ready for a cousin?" Brady asked and Troy laughed, "They have cousins. Maybe on the older side," Troy stopped speaking as his head snapped up to meet his brothers' eyes. I paused with my own curiosity before it hit me.
Laura screeched as she flew across the table practically. Brady and Ada were both smiling and laughing. "You're pregnant?" I mouthed and she nodded with her own tears in their eyes. "Brady, that's amazing." Troy hugged his brother as Macken as holding tightly onto Ada. Saylor and Sutton were just looking around the group with confusion. "They are going to love having a cousin closer in age." I said as I went over to hug both of them. "Thank you, we found out a few weeks ago and couldn't wait to share the news. We did make sure there was only one." The group laughed as I got back to my chair.
Troy squeezed my hand as I think he was thankful he didn't announce his coaching position in the moment. Mostly because we stole their engagement thunder with our pregnancy news. They got this one. The family discussed the excitement of adding babies and luckily nobody asked us about it. I wasn't sure when that was going to be in the cards again. Macken and Silas took heat on what their next steps were and everybody asked Blaine if he had any romantic interests but he was focused on basketball and what school he was going too which he was picking soon.
Last I heard he was deciding between Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. All of the schools were offering him full ride scholarships and I knew how proud Zoey would have been of him. Once I caught him alone washing his dish, I slid up next to him. "I feel like we don't see each other nearly as much anymore." I hip checked him with my hip which mostly hit his thigh. He chuckled, "I think it's because you have kids now. You own a dance studio. And your husband is a basketball coach. You barely have time." I laughed in agreement.
"Any decisions on school?" I asked him and he gave me a smile with a tiny nod, "Tennessee,"
"Seriously?" he nodded his head again, "It's not terribly far from home, a quick plane ride or I can drive it. We play over here some and I don't know. I liked the program, the campus, and the coach." I gave him a smile. "I think Troy would make a good college coach one day," Blaine said randomly and I blinked as if he already knew. "What?" I asked and he laughed, "I just think he has what it takes. The coach at Tennessee reminded me of Troy. It made me feel at home and he coaches similar styles. I'm just saying – don't be surprised when he is being scouted."
I swallowed as I pushed down those feelings, "I just wanted to tell you that your mom would have been so proud of you." Blaine closed his eyes as his head dropped between his shoulders and he exhaled heavily. "Every campus I toured I thought of her. I thought of what she would say. If she would like the coach. If she would ask all the questions my dad probably should have asked. I wondered if she would move there to make sure she made it to every game." I laughed as I couldn't hide my own tears.
"I had a dream and she was wearing orange one night. A smile on her face and I knew that when I woke up, she would want me to go to Tennessee. It felt right. So, I told my dad that morning and he said he had the same dream and hoped that was the school I was picking." I exhaled as I hugged Blaine tightly, "Maybe I'll get the apartment," Blaine chuckled, "I think Troy needs you more than I need you. I'll call you if I need motherly advice now that you are a mother yaknow," I pinched him and we both laughed as we wiped away our tears.
"Lucy is going to need you," I gave him a tight smile, "I'll always be there for her."
Sunday, November 29th, 2020
Troy's POV
"How did everybody's wives react?" Dylan slid up next to me as I looked up at the door because we all got here early to talk before the boys showed up. We were watching football this afternoon but I didn't want to talk about it. Gabi and I haven't really talked about it since that day and I know I needed to approach the subject again.
"Lennon literally wrapped her whole body around me and then gave me the best blow job. It went well," Cameron said crossing his arms over his chest. One year ago. That would have been Gabi's reaction. One year too late. "Sage did not have the same reaction. We are still talking about it. She doesn't really want to leave her family but she also understands the benefits. She knows that this is important to me and to all of us. She also knows that it's going to be an uphill battle for Troy."
Jesse eyed me and I sighed as I rubbed my face, "We haven't talked about it since I told her, honestly. She just…she wanted to process it and then it was Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating and I am trying to let her process it before I push on the subject. She's absolutely destroyed having to make any sort of choice here. It's a lose-lose situation here," Dylan rolled his eyes, "It's a lose-win," Dylan corrected and I shot him a look. "How is it fair to her for me to drag her to a different state when she is doing her thing here?"
"Josie is on board. She hinted that she wanted a ring first thought but I already have the ring so," all of us looked at Dylan as if he didn't just drop a bomb. "I was planning on doing it in like two weeks regardless of this news. I have the ring in my backpack," he picked it up and tossed Jax the ring box. "Shit, you are serious. Good job," we all looked at it as Jax looked up. "Sara was conflicted. Mostly because I think she is pregnant but she likes the idea. I think she is ready for a change and she will be away from family but she thinks it will actually be better for our marriage." We all chuckled as we looked at each other.
"I will talk to Gabi again soon. I am trying to not push her on this subject because I'm afraid it won't work in my favor."
"What is there to think about?" Dylan asked. Jesse and I both stared at him. "It's not easy for them to just pick up everything and leave their city they grew up in." Jesse told him. "They have had their families help from the moment we've had our kids,"
"We're all going together. None of us are going to be alone." Dylan argued back. "Dylan, she just opened Zoey's. If we just started coaching there and Gabi was asking me to stop so she could do her dreams – how would you feel?" Dylan shut up after that and I nodded. "She's heartbroken because she is struggling with it. I don't know if she's struggling with telling me no or agreeing. I am not pushing her though and we will discuss it but it sounds like we have three of the five a confirmed yes."
They nodded as I stared at Jesse, "She pretty much said if Gabi agrees, she'll agree. She wants to go down there though before we accept." I grunted, "How? We literally are full of basketball."
"Maybe they can go and scope it out. Together. Take the kids and all five of them can go look around the town." Jax offered.
"Or they don't take the kids and they get a girls get away." I offered in return.
"Sounds like a better idea." Jesse nodded and I exhaled, "Maybe in like two weeks. Before Christmas. We'll send them for a weekend. Find them a hotel and they can go explore the area together. Gabi might be more inclined after listening to all the girls but it's going to break her heart to leave behind Zoey's and I don't know if I can personally handle that. I watched her be broken the first year of our relationship. She's finally so much happier and Zoey's gives her that. It gives her a purpose. I can't watch her be broken again."
The door to the gym opened and we all stopped talking quickly. We all nodded knowing that this conversation was tabled. The boys were not going to find out until well into the season. Hell, our admin wasn't going to find out for some time either. Not until we accepted the offer or declined it. I would use this for a raise for all of us here. That we stayed instead of chasing the money.
I got up as I greeted the kids as they walked in. I grabbed a basketball as I warmed up with them. "Let's play a pick-up game,"
Gabi's POV
I sat across from my dad on the deck outside as it was a pleasantly warm day out. The twins were with my mom and sister in the living room as he patted my leg. "What's on your mind?" he asked me and I exhaled as I stared at the trees in the distance. "Troy got a job offer," it was the first time I said the words out loud. "Well, that's amazing. Where? You look disappointed." I shook my head. "I am really proud of him. It's just…it's in Georgia. The University of Southern Georgia." My dad blinked and he stared at me.
"A D1 coaching gig?" I nodded my head as I rubbed my face, "I am really proud of him. He worked hard to get that." My voice cracked on the end of my sentence and I sucked in my emotions. "It's just…I have Zoey's now." I turned to face him as his face softened at the new understanding to the conflict on my face. "You are here. I want my kids to grow up around their grandparents. I want to fulfill my dreams of being a dance coach. I want to stay here." I closed my eyes because I couldn't believe the words came out of my mouth.
"Gabi," my dad's voice was gentle and I let my eyes stare up at the sky for a moment as I toyed with my lip.
"But he may never get another offer like this and this is one of his dreams. He never hesitated when I asked him if I could do mine. He just said yes, Gabi. Let's do it. How can I not turn around and do the same exact thing for him? How do I not support him and root for his dreams? I can most likely open another dance studio but Troy may never get somebody to come up to him and give him this opportunity for that kind of money."
"Sweetie, listen, I don't think there will ever be a correct answer for this problem but I think you also have to talk to him. You both have to work through this together and find a solution that makes you both happy. Nothing is holding your mom and I here. James is already talking about following Blaine to Tennessee. He isn't sure how much more change Lucy can take and if you are leaving and Blaine is leaving, she is going to feel left behind. It will probably be good for James and Blaine to not be far from each other. Beth is already in Wyoming. If you wanted us to come – we would."
"You guys love our home,"
"We do but we love you more." I couldn't stop my sob that left my mouth and my dad just wrapped me up in his arms. "Zoey is here," I whispered and my dad just squeezed me. "Maybe we can be snow birds. Get an apartment by you guys and spend lots of time down there. I don't want to grow up without my grandchildren either. Don't fact us into this scenario because you aren't getting rid of us." I just nodded as I held onto him.
"What do I do about Zoey's though?" I whispered and he gently brushed my hair. "That is for you and Troy to figure out. I don't think you have to walk away but you might need to take a different role. Maybe you come home once a month, maybe you do all the admin work, maybe you help create dances from Statesboro, Gabs, the possibilities are endless. I also understand if it is all too much for you. That man loves you and he might be disappointed if you say no but he will also respect you."
I brushed my tears away as I looked back out at the trees again, "I'm just scared that he'll resent me one day if I don't let him try. He said we could just do this for a year and see how it goes. See if this is going to work for us but I think the first year is going to be hard, too. I don't know, Dad. I don't know." My dad cupped my cheek and made me look at him. "I cannot help you make this decision. It's going to be hard and it's not fair but if there is something that we have all learned over the past couple of years – life isn't fair."
"I love him so much and I want him to chase his dreams."
"Then do it."
"But I want to chase mine, too. Just because he's going to be getting paid more and people will regard his job as "more important" doesn't mean that it's the correct answer." My dad gave me a side-eye, "You know Troy doesn't think that."
"I don't know. We haven't talked about it. We haven't told anybody. So, please don't say anything."
My dad just sighed, "Gabriella, you have to talk to him. None of these matters until you talk to him. He might be having the same thoughts." I swallowed down on the bile in my throat but I shook my head. "I can see it in his eyes – he wants this." My dad gave a small smile, "Just like you want it for him. Just like he wanted you to have the dance studio. You can want both things but it doesn't mean you will always get both things."
Hi! Sorry for the late update! I slept more yesterday than I did anything else. Ha! I hope you enjoyed!
Like I said on my profile – I am having surgery next week! It has pros and cons: Pro – I'm off work for three months to recover! Con – I won't be updating for a few weeks because I'll be out of it on pain meds and recovery. SO. Patience but after that it should be consistent updates for a while!
I am hoping to update again on January 22nd BUT if something weird happens I'll update you guys!
Thanks for the love and support!
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