This isn’t good. I have no idea what my time was, but I felt good. Maybe it wasn’t good enough.
Fuck.Fuck.
It can’t all be over just like that, can it?
They send me through the rest of my sets. Running through the tackling dummies. Working on the ladder on the field. Practicing hand-offs.
Muscle memory kicks in and I do everything with ease. It helps quiet the now nagging thoughts in my head.
What if my best wasn’t good enough? What if this is the end of my football career?
I take a swig of water on the sidelines as one of the team assistants comes over to me.
“We’ll call you tomorrow to set a time to come in and discuss everything, okay?”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“You should be really proud of how far you’ve come, Logan. Real proud.” He claps me on the shoulder.
“Mind if I check out the locker room?” I ask.
“Have at it.” He waves me off.
I blow out the nervous breath I’ve been holding as I make my way to the locker rooms.
My old stomping ground. The Mountain Lion on the floor. A wide open room with wooden lockers on every wall.
Still smells the same. Like cologne and sweat.
This place was my home for the better part of eight years. I gave everything I had to this team. Left it all out on the field. I prepared for every game like Alex taught me. Learned how to shrug off the defense from Knox.
I grew up here. Found a second family.
Who am I without it?
Tears wet my eyes, lip starting to quiver.
Fuck. Am I going to lose it here?
An equipment manager comes in, grabbing things from lockers. I don’t need this person I don’t recognize to see me have a breakdown.
I check the time. If I leave now, there’s just enough time to head home and get cleaned up to meet Audrey for her event tonight. I was planning on staying here, but fuck it.
We only just got each other back. Even if I don’t get football back, I’m not going to make the same mistake twice.
Because if I have anything to say about it, we’re together. No more breaks. No more countries and distance getting in the way.
I love her even more now than I did before.
And I never want to let her go.
ChapterTwenty-Three
AUDREY
“Wow! You are a knockout.” Lily whistles from her spot on my bed.
With the race tomorrow, there’s a gala event tonight with all of the competitors. Something different, but my presence is required.
