“No.”
“So two of us are doing without our ladies the night before a big game?”
“Bax understood.”
Her implication wasn’t lost on me.“Good night, babe.I’ll kiss you in the morning.”
Saylor
Eyeing me over the rim of her martini glass, Piper asked, “When are you going to admit it?”
“Admit what?”I sipped more of her favorite drink, a lemon drop martini, and wished again that it was a beer.
Reaching across the couch cushions, she squeezed the top of my thigh.“Trust me, we’ve all been there.We think we’re in control, that we’re only having a good time for now, and then the rat bastards sneak up on us, making us feel feelings.”Her smile was equal parts feral and dreamy.
Again I sipped from the too-sweet drink, desperate to hide in the oblivion of alcohol, but it wasn’t happening.Burying myself in classes, allowing the distraction of the mess with Barry Brown, making excuses to avoid spending time with Cash—none of it was working.No matter how hard I tried to convince myself we were not in a relationship, that we wouldn’t have to make future plans that would require compromises, that I was not in love… none of it was working.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen, Pipes,” I whispered.“It was supposed to be a fun distraction.That was it.”I shot her a baleful stare.“The pro scouts coming to the game tomorrow aren’t just looking at Bax and Callahan and Finn.They’re interested in Cash too.I don’t want to lose myself and my dreams to him and his.I’ve never wanted to lose them to anyone.”
“Who says you will?Your parents didn’t lose their dreams when they fell in love.”
“They shared the same dreams.They have the same career working for the same firm.Honestly, I don’t know how they’re not sick of each other by the end of the day.”
Piper’s gentle laugh hauled me up short.
“What?”
“Do you hear yourself?You don’t want the same life your parents have, yet you’re afraid to go after the one you do want.”She laughed again.“Saylor, sweetheart, you want adventure and excitement.You can have that in your career—and in your relationship.”She sat forward on the cushion.“Do you truly believe I’m not going to pursue my career because Wyatt is playing football in the NFL?I need to hone my business skills before I open a gallery dedicated to his work, and following him to whichever city he plays in will give me that opportunity.”
“Uh-huh.But I want to be wherever the band I’m working for is playing, which could be on the other side of the world from the city where Cash is playing.”
“So you text, DM, FaceTime when you can.Then when you’re together in the same place, you make it count.”
My friend made it sound so easy, except I knew it would be anything but.“What happens when he gets tired of waiting for me to come home?When I’m on the road for three or four months at a stretch, maybe out of the country for half his season?”
“God knows I’m no expert, Saylor, but when the right one comes along, you’ve just gotta love him like there’s no such thing as a broken heart.”
Setting my drink on the coffee table, I sat back, leaned my head against the top of the cushion, and willed the tears not to fall.
Piper patted my hand before wrapping hers around it and giving it a loving squeeze.“You’re all-in with him whether or not you’re ready to admit it.Now you need to give him a chance.Work together to find a way forward.From the half of the conversation I heard, he’s trying.You need to meet him halfway.”
Pulling my lips between my teeth, I squished my eyes tight, and sucked in a long breath through my nose.When I let go, I grabbed my phone and shot off a text before I lost my nerve.
“Thatta girl, Saylor.”Piper grinned.“And perfectly timed.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Wyatt finished up his last project a little while ago.He’s been waiting for the green light to come over so I can help him with his pregame relaxation techniques.”Her smirk turned positively wicked.
Rolling my eyes, I said, “You could have said something.Far be it from me to cockblock the two of you.”
“Nope.You needed a sounding board to work out your feelings because you’ve been fighting them so hard for so long.”She stood and walked our glasses over to the counter.“Friends are there for each other.You were there when I was trying find my way with Wyatt.It’s only fair I return the favor.”
Though logic said otherwise, it seemed someone was knocking at Piper’s door only a minute or two after I sent my text.When she opened it, there stood Cash looking equal parts worried and relieved.His eyes found mine.“Hey, babe.”
That was all I needed.He closed the door behind him, and I was in his arms, my face buried in his chest, breathing in that lovely scent of cold air on him.For a long minute, we stood on the threshold of Piper’s apartment.Then I pulled away to grab my jacket and slide into my boots.
Right as I zipped up my boot, another knock sounded at the door, and a dreamy expression crossed my friend’s features as she said, “Excuse me.”
