His raspy laugh confirms my suspicions. “Long day full of exercises that kicked my ass when they shouldn’t have.”
“You’re getting stronger every day,” I remind him. “Have you spoken with Beckett since the playoff game?”
Hayes nods forlornly. “He’s pretty frustrated about it still.”
“Not at you, I hope?” I ask, and he shakes his head now and sighs heavily.
“No. Not at me. More with the overall circumstances. We should’ve had that game. We should be the ones in the Super Bowl in two weeks.”
“Maybe, but even still, the teamdidmake it to the Conference Championship. Don’t dismiss that accomplishment too quickly.”
Hayes averts his eyes. “I should’ve been there.”
“You’ll be there next year, and it will be your best season yet. I know it.”
His lips quirk up at my strong conviction. “I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through this without you.”
“You give me too much credit. All of your resilience is your doing.”
“Even still. You played a big role in all of it.” His eyes grow soft as he studies me through the screen. “I miss you. It’s the worst thing coming home from therapy and not having you snuggled up on the couch. Peri agrees. She misses you too.”
“I feel the exact same,” I whisper.
“Tell me about your day.” He changes the topic.
“Nothing exciting. I was at the studio this morning to get some last-minute recordings in, more fine-tuning things likeharmonies and background vocals that needed adjusting. After today, the album should be pretty well ready to go.”
“Can I listen to it?” Hayes asks. “Get some VIP early access?”
“Of course.”
“Won’t be as good as if it were all your songs,” he says, his voice growing more serious. “But I know it’s amazing still.”
“Maybe someday I’ll get the chance to say out loud that my album was fully written and recorded by me.”
“You will.” The way he sounds so sure when he says this sends my heart soaring. The gruffness and confidence of his low timbre, the perfect ballad to my soul. “So you’re all ready for the first show?”
“Mostly. We have rehearsal time scheduled throughout the week and breaks in between, so I can fine tune anything that comes up. But most of it is the same as the shows last year, so it’s muscle memory at this point.”Our very first show is in ten days in San Diego. The clock is ticking, but I’ll be ready, and I know the rest of my team will be, too.
“Still, that’s a lot of dance moves to remember.” Hayes shakes his head. “I don’t think I could do it.”
“I mean, you all come up with your touchdown dances. Don’t you have one too?”
Hayes laughs. I love the sound of his laugh. “I don’t get many touchdowns, so I don’t really have one on retainer.”
“We’ll need to change that,” I say, a grin forming on my face. “Once your knee is feeling better, I’ll show you some moves.”
“Then I’ll have to get myself a touchdown to show them off.”
“See?” I tease. “A win-win.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I miss you so much, Hayes. I can’t wait to come home in two weeks.” The idea of being able to snuggle up next to Hayes again makes me feel all warm and cozy inside. It will be my first SuperBowl weekend, and there’s no one I’d rather spend it with than him.
His lips turn up. “Home, huh?”
I fight off a smile. “Home.”
