“You don’t need to respond, son. I know the answer. She has haunted you every minute of every day since you were eighteen. What if you…just…let her go? I know you don’t want to, but you’ve both been hanging on for so long. You’ve been gone, but you never really left. She stayed here, but part of her was wherever you went.”
In my head his words make sense, but in my heart they’re gibberish. He’s speaking as though Ember is a choice. She’s not.
She’s inevitable.
Inescapable.
My forever.
And I’ll be damned if I ever let her marry someone else.
“I don’t know what happened between you, Maddie, and mom, and I don’t want to know. But Ember and I aren’t you and Maddie. I’m not going anywhere without her.”
“What about when Marcus calls you and asks you why you aren’t in Atlanta rehabbing your knee?”
“I’ll rehab here.”
“And then? When you’re ready to play again? What will you do? Drag Ember with you? She has a business here. That yoga studio is hers now, Noah. She bought it.”
I fall back, quiet. I didn’t know she took over the studio. I’m an ass. Why do I assume Ember hasn’t moved forward? Why do I expect everything to be as it was two years ago?
She’s a business owner. She has a boyfriend now, afiancé, but still, she turned to me. In her time of need she came to me. Fell into me. Crashed into me.
Because magic doesn’t die.
Maybe magic doesn’t have to be loud and consuming. Not all the time. Maybe magic dims and simmers, but remains crackling quietly beneath the surface. I felt it when she chose me today.
Eyes locked on my dad, I pull my phone from my pocket and press a couple buttons.
“Miranda,” I say when she answers. “I need to get rehab set up here. I’m going to be here a little longer.”
“Okay.” She sounds uncertain. Either that or she’s tipsy.
“And I’ll deal with Marcus soon.”
That’s not a call I’m looking forward to. I’m in the middle of my contract. He’s going to want me back as soon as possible, if only for media efforts. A happy, united front. Too bad. Soccer took my free time, soccer took my energy, soccer consumed my thoughts and determined the direction of my life.
No more.
I gave up everything for my passion, and what it gave me in return is so little compared to what I could’ve had. I’ll always be grateful I had the chance to make my dream come true. Not everyone does. But things are different now. For the first time in a long time, I don’t feel pulled in opposite directions. I’m pointed one way, staring ahead at one path, and it’s the only one I want to be on.
I let Ember go two times. There will not be a third.
30
Ember
I shouldn’t be doingthis. I know that. Yet, here I am.
I’m here because I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. After a day spent at the hospital, I need comfort. My hand is up, poised to knock on the thick white wooden door, but I stop when I hear voices coming through from the other side.
Two voices?
A woman?
Oh no. I’ve completely misread why he’s here.
I turn to go, but the door opens. I’m frozen in the arc of light that spills into the hallway.
