“What about her?” I ask, running a hand through my hair so it’s out of the way when I put my helmet on. I don’t want to volunteer up any extra information than necessary.
“Have you talked to her since she’s been gone?” Clark asks, snapping in the straps of his helmet.
“A bit, here and there. It sounds like they’re having fun.” From the little I’ve been able to gather, at least.
I turn and frown, not sure I want to think about Laney right now. I’m supposed to lock in and focus on lacrosse. This is the reason I play, what I suffered through box lacrosse to get to. And yet, everything I’ve talked to Laney about is all front of mind.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Clark says.
I turn to look at him and say, “Yeah. Yeah, I miss her.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“We’ve been missing each other through texts. Either she has a late game or I’m working late, and then with practices and all the meetings she has to attend throughout the day, it’s hard.”
Clark gives me a small smile. “My fiancée is there too.”
“True. But you’ve done this before, the long-distance thing. I’ve hugged and almost kissed Laney, but that’s it.”
“Maybe you should tell her?—”
“What? That I’ve started having feelings for her? That I’m not sure what they are exactly, but I enjoy being with her.”
Clark shrugs. “Why not?”
“Because my life is chaos right now. I don’t think it’s a great idea to bring someone into that.”
Clark shrugs. “If you want to, you will. If you want to make it work, you will. It’s all about mindset. If she’s okay with coming into it and sticking with you, what’s wrong with that?”
That’s something to chew on.
We’re back out doing drills, and I’m pushing harder than I usually do, probably because it’s something I can focus on, rather than the unknown. I honestly don’t know how to do that.
I was so focused on lacrosse growing up that I never really worried about having a girlfriend. College was the same, although I hung out with one of the volleyball players. I say ‘hung out with’ because we were opposite seasons, which made it hard for any genuine connection. Maybe that’s why it’s easyto text Laney without worrying about things getting too serious.
But for the first time, I want things to get more serious.
Is that fair to Laney, though?
The worst I can do is ask, I guess. Maybe it’s good we have all this time away from each other. We can talk and figure it out.
Only six more days until she comes back.
CHAPTER 21
LANEY
It’s been a long day since the guys went into extra innings to get the win. It’s after eleven here, and I think my body is finally adjusting to the time difference. I’ve texted Burton a few times while I’ve been gone, but it’s mostly us waiting for hours for the other to respond.
I’m almost halfway through the green Skittles too.
The elevator takes longer than I want. I need to shower off the sweat and red dirt from the field today and then sleep before we leave tomorrow for the next venue. The doors finally open, and I head up to the third floor.
As I’m walking toward my door, I’m surprised tosee Burton’s name on my phone screen, calling me this time instead of texting.
“Hey,” I say, opening the door to my room. I drop my purse on the small table and fall onto the bed.
“Hey, sorry, is it late there?” Burton asks.
