Page 39 of Stalked By the Assistant Coach

“No. No one is going to hurt you or me. You got that? I promise you.”

“I’ve been here for a week.”

“I know.” His eyes softened.

“I have to go home eventually,” I mumbled, and it didn’t surprise me when he scowled.

“Why?” He started to walk us toward the kitchen.

“Oh, I don’t know?” I smiled gently. “Because I have classes that need me. I love being here with you, but I have a life and a job?—"

“What if you lived here?” he asked, and I giggled.

“The commute would suck,” I joked, not really sure of where the conversation was going.

“Cute. You really think I would let you drive that much?” He set me on the counter and held my face with his hands so gently and tenderly, all I could do was sigh. “I like you here. I know it’s not the way we would have wanted.” He paused, and something flashed in his eyes. Something I’d seen the night I had shown up with the cameras. But as quickly as it appeared, it faded away.

“It’s not ideal, and I know technically, we haven’t been together that long. But fuck me, bug, it feels right, doesn’t it? You here when I get home from work?”

“Yeah, but?—"

“Move in with me.” His words were clear, but it still took my brain a moment to process them.

“What?” I breathed out. “Wait.” I shook my head. “What are we doing right now?”

“Talking.”

“No, I mean yes, we are, but, Red, are you being serious right now?” I asked because I couldn’t read him.

“As a heart attack.” His thumbs stroked my cheeks. “I like having you here. Waking up next to you, making you dinner. Having your stuff mixed up with mine.”

“I like it, too…” My voice drifted to nothing. “But if I moved in, I would have to look for a new job. Sell my house?—"

“You could rent it out,” he suggested. “And there are schools here. Really good high schools that would seriously benefit from a teacher like you.” He’d thought about this. Really thought it through.

“You’re just saying that because you’re my boyfriend,” I argued.

“And because it’s the truth.” He didn't deny it. We stared at one another for a long moment. I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation already. Only in my wildest dreams had I thought this would pop up.

“What about my family?” I asked.

“They can always come visit. You know how much I love your parents, and we could visit them, too.”

“They’d like that,” I whispered mostly to myself. When we had broken the news to them that we were dating, my mom and dad were ecstatic, and both my sisters said it was about time.

“We don’t have to make any decisions right now, but it is something I’d like you to think about.”

“You really want me here? Even with your secret room?” I teased him because I still hadn’t gone into what he called his home office. If I was being honest, I was more curious about that room than I wanted to admit. Some things didn’t add up. If it is his home office, why doesn't he go in there when I'm here? When does he go in there?

“Maybe I won’t need a secret room if you’re here,” he rasped, and I smiled, unable to tell if he was joking or not. “Think about it. Either way, I think when the school year ends, we need to make some kind of decision.”

“Like what?”

“Well… if you don’t want to live here, I’ll move back to Beech Grove.”

“What? And you do that drive?” I gasped. I wouldn’t want that either.

“Kaitlyn, focus here, okay?” His fingertips touched my lips as his head shook. “I’d leave my job, bug.”