“So, you’re going back on the road.”
He nods. “Yup, I’m back on the roster for next season. I’m hoping this all blows over and becomes nothing more than a distant blip.” I open my mouth, ready to tell him how excited I am for him, but he speaks first. “I want you to come with me.”
“What?”
“Bria, I’m in love with you. I know it seems crazy because we were never officially together, but the few months I had with you were like nothing I’ve ever felt before. This past month away from you has been hell, and not just because of everything going on. You’re the one person I wanted to talk to about everything and I don’t want to be without you again.”
Wow. I sigh and rub my palms over my thighs. There’s a lot to unpack with what he said and I know he’s going to hate what I’m about to say.
“I can’t. You know I can’t. I have one semester left and then grad school.” I look at him, my sapphire eyes meeting his caramel gaze. “I can’t let another man change or rule my life. My dad caused a lot of permanent damage in me, but I’m stronger because of him. That’s why I have to let you go.”
“We can do long distance. What’s one semester?”
He’s right…but he’s also wrong. “If I’m dating you, I’m going to be obsessing over you every minute of every day. You consume me. You’ll swallow me whole and I’ll be stuck in a Tatum-bubble.”
“That doesn’t sound like the worst place to be.”
I smack his arm lightly. “I need to focus on me and you need to get back into the swing of things. Live your life, Tatum. Once I graduate, I’ll come see you play. If you’re still you and I’m still me and we want to be together, we’ll go from there. It’s the best I can offer you.”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he leans down and kisses me. The passion and hunger in the kiss knocks me breathless. Desire is always bubbling under the surface whenever I’m with him and today is no different. We kiss for ages, until my leg is in pain and he has to carry me to the car.
“Five months,” he says as he helps me inside.
“Not even half a year.”
“A lot can happen in that time.”
I agree. “Go be Tatum Trevino, the soccer star. The Elite will be happy to have you back.”
“They did pretty good this season.”
“But they didn’t win. They needed you for that.”
He helps me up the steps to my house and the walk is quiet. We both have a lot to say and not enough time to say it.
When we reach the landing, I open my mouth to say goodbye, though it’s the last thing I want to say. My throat is thick with emotion and I’m unsure if I’ll even be able to get the word out.
When I look up at him, I see his chocolate brown eyes swimming with sadness and affection. His hand trails down my arm until he’s holding my hand in his.
Not caring if anyone sees us, he leans down once more and kisses me. I’m backed up against the door to my house and if anyone pulls it open we’ll both go tumbling down.
“I love you, Bria Campbell. I don’t care what you say. I’m going to wait for you.”
I hope, deep in my heart, that he does.
Five Months Later
I stand beside Lindsay and Sydney in our matching gowns. Our parents are here, taking pictures of us and crying alongside us. I thought I’d be standing here with Morgan today, but I was never able to get over what she did.
With everyone distracted, I know I won’t be missed for a few minutes. I sneak out the side door of the building and walk the short distance across campus. I find my way into the stadium and breathe in the air, taking in the moment. This is probably the last time I will ever stand on this field, and it’s definitely more bitter than it is sweet.
“I thought I’d find you here.” I turn around and see Morgan. Her hair is in chocolate waves around her face and her cap is in her hand. Her gown is parted and she has on a beautiful white dress which accentuates her tan skin.
“This place is like home, you know. I’m happy here, comfortable. It’s like coming home after a long trip to finally relax and unwind. That’s the peace I felt here and I’m going to miss it.”
She walks up and stands right beside me, slightly taller than me in her wedges. “I get it. I know exactly how you feel.”
“I wish things could be different.” I’m not talking about the game anymore.
“I know. I’m sorry.” She sounds honest, but I could never tell when she was lying before. It is what it is.
“What’s next for you?”
She is studying journalism. The irony is not lost on me.
“I got a job at a small digital magazine.” I’m sure her dad helped her score the gig, but I keep my mouth shut. “What about you?”
“Things are still up in the air for me.” I have a lot of decisions I need to make and a very short amount of time to make them. “But I actually have to catch a flight. I just wanted to say goodbye to all of this one last time.” There’s a lot I’m going to miss about this place. A lot of memories were made here. “Goodbye, Morgan. Good luck with everything.”
“You too, Bria.” She walks away but calls to me one last time, “Go get him.” Despite everything, she still knows me best of all.
The flight is a lot shorter than the drive but admittedly less entertaining. I hop in an Uber to take me to the same hotel I was at all those months ago with Tatum. If things go well, maybe I’ll get to be there with him again tonight.
I watch the game from the stands. The game passes too slowly. I’m amped up with adrenaline and nerves. I’m mesmerized by Tatum’s skills and watch in awe as he glides down the field and around the other team. He’s seamless, light on his feet and insanely quick.
When the final whistle blows, I push past the people walking in the opposite direction. They’re trying to leave; I’m trying to get to the bottom.
I reach my goal and I’m as close to the bench as I can be without walking onto the field. When the noise dies down and people start to leave, I make my move.
“Hey, twenty-two!” I call and he looks up. The eyes I haven’t looked into for months find mine in an instant. Love pools in his gaze, warming and liquefying his eyes.
He jogs over to me. His hair is matted with sweat and his shirt is damp, sticking to his back. I trace my gaze over his tattoos and up to the beard I realize I love so much.
“Great game,” I tell him with a broad smile. “Think you can make one more shot?”
He lifts his brows and a devilish grin pulls at his handsome mouth.
“Why should I?”
“Well, this is what I’m thinking. If you make the shot, I stay with you and we can finally be together.” He helps me out of the stadium seating and brings me down onto the field.
He nods, giving nothing away. “That sounds reasonable.”
He leads me to the field where he takes his soccer ball and I stand in front of the goal. “If I block the shot, I go home,” I warn him.
He lines up and as soon as he goes to shoot, I walk off to the side of the goal, ensuring he scores.
“Looks like you win again,” I tell him.