“Hey there, hottie,” she purrs. “I know your name, Logan. Mine is Elle,” she says.
“Look, Elle, that’s a lovely name, but I’m not looking for anything right now,” I deflect. When I look back to Lili, she has her gaze locked on her phone and in between she is taking bites of her chicken sandwich.
Elle’s lips turn down. “That’s too bad. I was waiting for you guys to come to town for some time now. I’m a huge fan.” She then goes on to tell me what my stats are this season, and I have to admit I’m impressed but not feeling a thing.
The guys finish their food and some of the girls move to their laps. Everyone is talking and having a good time. Lili walks over to the bar, and I watch her pay her bill. Then she walks back to our table.
“You guys want to take a pre-game shot together? We can post it as some chill hangout before the game,” she explains.
All the guys agree.
“Um,” she clears her throat. “It has to be sans girls. We’re trying to make an impression here. Captain, do you want to come up front? Levi beside him and Logan on the other side,” she directs, and she starts shooting orders at the guys. Everyone listens. The girls stand off to the side while we take our wholesome shot. She tells us to give her a thumbs-up, then she takes a few shots. “Okay, I’m sending the pic to each of you with a caption to copy and paste. Please post the pic now before your hands get too full.” She grins and gives the guys an adorable wink.
When the pic comes through, I post it to my Insta, Facebook and Twitter accounts. The guys do the same and then Lili waves. “Have a good night, all.”
“You want company up in your room?” Levi asks.
My jaw tightens so hard I think it may snap. My eyes also widen, and I look at him like I want to wring his neck, but he doesn’t notice.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” Lili says to him coolly. Her gaze moves quickly to me and then snaps back to Levi. Did she notice how wound up I am? How ready I am to pounce on Levi, my teammate, at the thought of him laying a hand on her?
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew how good we could be together,” he responds in a voice dripping seduction. My fists clench. Levi is younger than me, more confident, and clearly has more experience. I wonder if Lili caught on to the fact she was my first. Maybe I didn’t satisfy her. The minute I think the thought, I know it can’t be true as the memory of her writhing and coming beneath me enters my mind. She couldn’t have been faking it.
I’m so caught up in my thoughts, I don’t hear her response and then she is walking to the elevators. Did she agree to be with him? I’m going to kill him.
“What the fuck?” I ask Levi, staring at him wildly. “She’s the coach’s daughter. Are you looking for trouble?” I’m about to pin him to the wall and punch him but I take a deep breath. What’s happening to me?
“Chill out, bro. She shut me down,” he says, shaking his head at me and watching me like I’m a loose cannon. I can’t blame him. I’ve never felt this worked up before over a girl.
Levi walks back over to the guys, who are hanging with the girls.
I head over to the elevator just in time to get in with Lili.
“How are you doing?” I ask when the doors close.
“Fine.” She looks to the ground.
“Fine, huh? Don’t you think it’s fate that we meet on the other side of the world and you’re now attending the same university as me? Working for my team?” I ask, watching her with anticipation. Hawaii had to mean more to her than just a fling.
“What do you want me to say? Hawaii was fun but I can’t be with you, Logan. I need to focus on me. I have to put me first. I have no room in my life for anything else.” The elevator pings and she walks out. I want to step off and tell her she can’t mean that, but I have to respect her feelings.
The next morning the team meets for breakfast. Lili walks around taking pictures of the guys having their meals. Coach gives us a pep talk about tonight. He also tells us we are going for a run after breakfast. Then he walks away, and the guys start telling stories about the girls they hooked up with last night. Levi is one of those guys, but he snaps his mouth shut when Lili brings a plate of fruit over to the table and starts to eat.
“You sleep well?” he asks her.
“Fine,” she says, and she places a piece of cantaloupe in her mouth.
He continues to chat her up, and I’m wound as tight as a thread ready to snap. Noah eyes me and gives me a curious look. I look away and shovel some eggs into my mouth.
I’m feeling on edge, and I can’t shake it. No, I can’t shake her.
After breakfast, we all hit the streets of Buffalo in a light jog. We usually don’t leave Westfall on a Friday afternoon for a Saturday night game, but our coaches wanted to use the weekend for some team building activities. As we jog, Noah comes up to me.
“What’s eating you, Russo?” he asks.
“Nothing,” I reply as smoke bellows from my mouth. Damn, this city is cold.
“Don’t tell me nothing. You keep acting like you’re ready to lose your shit,” he pushes. “It has to do with her, doesn’t it?”
Of course, it has to do with Lili.
“Levi propositioned her last night,” I whisper.
“And. . .”
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling this overwhelming intensity in my chest I’ve never felt before. “He offered her sex.”
“Did she take him up on it?” he asks. His question angers me more.
“No, she did not take him up on it,” I imitate his chill tone in a condescending way.
Noah slows his jog. “Bro, what is going on with you?”
“I think I love her,” I blurt.
“You don’t love her,” he says huffing. “You just met her.”
“You don’t know that. I can’t get her out of my head,” I admit as my feet hit the cool wet pavement.
“She’s your first. You may remember her, but it doesn’t mean it’s love,” he says.
“Maybe you’re right but I want her, Noah, and she’s not interested. She keeps saying she needs to focus on herself, and I get it. The dude she was with before did a number on her. She’s clearly hurting.”
“Look, if she means that much to you then maybe become her friend. Be there for her,” he says. “At least as a friend you aren’t in danger of getting kicked off the team or having your balls chopped off by Ramirez. And maybe, you never know. . . she may come around and realize she has feelings for you too.”
“That’s brilliant,” I say to Noah. “Thank you.” We pick up the pace of our jog and pass some of the guys. Noah is right. Becoming her friend will give me time with her. Will allow her to really get to know me. I can figure out what makes her tick and maybe, just maybe, she’ll realize I’m the right guy for her.
TWENTY-ONE
Liliana
I shift in my seat as the therapist I was assigned, Dr. Robinson, writes something on her notepad. “We’ve covered what happened in your last relationship and the fallout,” she says, looking up to me. “I’d like to hear more about your family dynamic.”