Beyond the Team (Out of Reach 4)

“Griffin.” He stops talking. “I’m moving to Florida.”

“Wait. What?”

“I signed with Coach Stone earlier this week. It’s official. I’m coming to you.”

“Peyton, what about the Monroe family going to the same school? That’s your family tradition. I can’t let you do this. Call her and tell her that you changed your mind.”

My mom places her hand over her heart, and that’s when I’m reminded that they’re hearing this entire conversation. “It’s done. Unless you don’t want me there?” I add. My heart feels like it could beat out of my chest as I wait for him to speak.

“I want you here.” His voice is firm. “I want to be where you are. I don’t care if it’s here or Tennessee or the North fucking Pole. I’m there if you are,” he tells me.

“I think I’ll pass on the North Pole.”

“When?” he asks.

“I want to spend the rest of the summer here with my family. I know we were going to split our time, but I want to be here. I do need to find a place to stay, and then I’ll move before classes start.”

“You’re going to stay with me.”

“You and Oliver were getting a place,” I remind him.

“Well, plans change.”

“You can’t just boot him out of the plan because I decided to move closer to you.”

“Damn right I can. He’ll understand.”

“He can live there too.”

“No. No way. I want it to be a place your family will want to come to visit. Not an apartment full of sweaty guys. No. I’ll call him and talk to him about it. It will be fine. Sam and Daniel are looking to move out of the dorms too. He can go with them.”

“Griffin.” I sigh.

“No. I want it to be a home for you. For us. Just until I get drafted. If I get drafted.”

“You will.”

“If not, I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”

“Yeah,” I agree. “Listen, I’m still at Mom and Dad’s. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I end the call and drop my phone into my bag.

Dad sets my signed papers on the table next to him and scoots forward in his chair. His elbows rest on his knees, and his gaze is locked on mine. “He loves you.”

I nod. “I love him too.”

“Lady, you have nothing to feel guilty about. As parents, we want our children to grow up happy and healthy and find someone to partner this thing we call life with. It makes me happy to know that you and your sisters have found that. I know that I give the men in your lives a hard time, but as your father, I need to know they’re worthy of you. That young man of yours just showed me he would move the earth for you if he could.”

“I really think he would,” I say, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

“And this nonsense about having to go to a certain college, you can let that go. I want you to be happy. I thought that’s what you and your sisters wanted. I hope that I didn’t make you feel pressured,” Mom adds.

“No. You didn’t. It was just always unspoken other than comments that all the Monroes went to the same school.”

“We’re proud of you no matter where you go to school.”

“Peyton.” Dad waits for me to look at him. “We are always going to be your home team. We’re always going to be here for you when you need us, no matter where you live, and no matter how old you get, you’re going to be our little girl. However, love goes beyond the team. It’s bigger than that, and it sounds to me like your team is growing. You’ll have Griffin and his family and his friends. There is a great big world out there, baby girl, and it’s waiting for you.”

“I love you both. I was so worried,” I say as tears fall once more.

“We love you too,” Dad says. “I just want you to remember something. Your home team is behind you. We support you, and just know that you always have a place here. If you get to Florida and you want to come home, you call me. I’ll make it happen. But I think you’re going to be happy there. And,” he leans back in his chair, “lucky for you, your mom and I are not only retired, but we also have the means to come and visit you whenever we want. So, you better have that spare bedroom ready.” He smiles.

I’m on my feet and headed toward him. He stands, and I crash into him, wrapping my arms around him in a hug. I knew I would be able to convince Mom, but I did not expect this level of understanding or acceptance from my dad. Although, I should have. I saw it with Paisley and Cameron and then again with Parker and Holden. He just wants us to be happy.