Instead of waiting for Sadie to acquiesce, I slip my arm under her legs and pick her up in a bridal carry. She squeals lightly but doesn’t complain as I walk slowly back to the gate and all the way into the locker room. “Do what you need to do and then come out to my car. I’ll go wait there.” And without thinking, I drop a kiss to her forehead and pick up my gear bag, turning to leave the room before I can consider how ridiculous that move might have been.
