that. Too many people couldn’t, wouldn’t, and didn’t put aside their differences for the sake of their kids in these situations, and it was refreshing to see that both she and Tad made the effort to put Finn and his feelings first.
Whatever Jane had said to Tad behind that closed door had obviously stayed there.
Suddenly Finn, along with most of the other people around them, gasped. “Oh no!” he said as he stood.
Cole realized he’d zoned out for a while and refocused. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but Ronan was lying in a crumpled heap on the ground, and for a moment Cole’s heart almost beat its way out of his mouth. An opponent in a number-ten jersey stood over him, and from the body language alone, Cole could tell there’d been some kind of—probably not accidental—contact.
But within seconds, Ronan had stirred and sprung to his feet, shaking himself off, giving his opponent a quick I’m-okay-mate nod of his head, and grabbed the ball, ready to play on.
“See, he’s okay, bud,” Tad said, giving Finn’s shoulder a squeeze as the crowd cheered.
Finn sat back on his father’s lap, satisfied that his hero was okay, but not before he shook his head sadly at Cole and said, “Reckon Coach King would have that man’s guts for garters if he’d hurt our Ronan.”
Jane blinked at her son. So did Tad. Then they both looked at Cole.
Pressing his lips together so he wouldn’t laugh, Cole nodded at Finn and said, “Reckon you’re right, mate,” then shrugged at Jane and mouthed “Sorry” over Finn’s head.
No more was said, but Cole knew he was going to chuckle about it later. Hell, he was going to be chuckling about it for a long time to come. And the way he’d said our Ronan, like Finn was part of this fact-finding mission, too, like they were a partnership…
Well, he’d remember that for a long time to come as well.
Another roar from the crowd dragged everyone’s attention to the play, and the last ten minutes of the game went quickly, with the Barbarians storming home winners, much to Finn’s utter delight. Tad pumped his fist in the air, and Cole realized that’s where Finn got it from as the kid followed suit, his fist smaller but no less enthusiastic.
But it was Cole, not Tad, who got the full force of Finn’s beaming smile. “That was so awesome, Cole. Can we go to another game sometime?”
A chink opened up in Cole’s heart. “Sure.” He smiled even though it felt like his face was going to crack. “Sometime.” He couldn’t bring himself to an outright no despite knowing it was highly unlikely. He had a new career to forge on the opposite side of the world.
If he wanted it.
As if Finn sensed his hesitation, he said, “Maybe after you’ve finished your job in Sydney?”
Jane, who’d been staring at her hands during the conversation, suddenly snapped her head up. “You got the job?”
Her attention was like a bolt of lightning to his chest. Cole’s gaze locked with hers. “Yeah.”
“Oh…that’s great,” she said, nodding and smiling. If she was annoyed that he hadn’t told her already, she didn’t show it, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, and she was hugging herself as she absently rubbed her arms. “Congratulations. You must be thrilled.”
“Hey, congrats, man,” Tad chimed in.
Cole barely acknowledged Jane’s ex or the undisguised glee in his voice. “Yeah…it’s great news.” Because he wasn’t about to admit his prevarication in front of Tad.
She nodded again but didn’t say anything as some spectators from farther down the bleachers wanted to pass, and they all stood. “We should go, too,” she said, gathering her bag. “Beat the traffic.”
Traffic was hardly going to be a problem when there’d been less than a thousand people in the crowd, but sitting around here was awkward as fuck, so…
“I’ve just gotta go and talk to Ronan for a minute,” Cole said as he dragged his wandering attention back to his purpose for being here in the first place.
“Oh.” Finn clapped his hands. “Can I come?”
“No, Finn,” Jane interjected, grabbing his arm as he made to follow, halting his trajectory. “Cole is discussing business with Ronan.”
“Oh, but Mom,” Finn said, entreaty in his voice as he folded his arms and begged her with his eyes and a little chin wobble.
It was so damn cute it almost sucked Cole’s breath away. He was going to miss this little guy like crazy. Taking pity on him, he squatted