“Panicked, huh?”
I knew she didn’t buy it for a second.
I had no clue what to do with the way she said that. So, I laughed, all stupidly rough and awkward like a dumbass. “Guess I owe you an apology.”
“Mmm, I think you get a pass this time. But actually…that’s not why I called.”
“Oh?”
“I wanted to ask if you’d maybe want to grab coffee sometime.”
A full-body flush hit me almost as hard as the damn hit did. My heart straight-up stalled.
She asked me out. Ellie Miles just asked me out. I had no words. None.
I’d been in this league for more than ten years. I’d handled press, playoff pressure, and stadiums packed with screamingfans. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have prepared me for this.
“Yeah, I’d like that,” I said, somehow sounding halfway normal. “I have to lay low for a few days, but…next week?”
“Next week works,” she said, sounding relieved. “I’ll text you some times that work. We’ll figure it out once you’re feeling better.”
“Sounds good.” My mouth was weirdly dry.
“Okay. I’ll text you then.” She paused. “Feel better, Sawyer.”
“Thanks.”
The call ended, and I lowered the phone, staring at the screen as if it might crack right there in my hand.
Holy. Shit.
Is this the concussion talking? Am I dreaming?
How the hell was I supposed to have a normal conversation with a woman I’d been lowkey obsessed with for years? What was I supposed to say?
Hey Ellie, did you know I can recite every lyric to ‘Pretty When You Lied,’ and I listen to ‘The Window Stays Open’ on repeat when I can’t sleep?
Yeah. I’m fucked.
West waved a hand in front of my face. “Dude. You still breathing?”
I snapped back into reality. “Huh?”
“What the hell just happened?” Bronx asked.
I shook my head, trying to make sense of everything. “Ellie Miles…just asked me out?”
“Dude,” West said. “You said yes, right?”
“Bro, he literally said yes while you were standing there,” Bronx said.
“Oh, right. Damn, I need to sit down.” West dropped into a chair like he was the one who got a concussion.
“I—yeah,” I muttered. “I said yes.”
“Shit, man.”
Yeah. I was in trouble.
