He didn’t view me as fragile. He didn’t see me as broken, as something for him to fix.
No, he just..saw me, for me, and that was enough for him.
"How long have you…" I trail off, my voice suddenly lodged in the back of my throat, tears burning my cheeks as they freely fall.
I’ve cried so much in the last few days, I’m surprised my head hasn’t exploded.
"Since I was diagnosed? Six years. Since I had my last relapse? Also, six years. The two go hand in hand. Been on the same medication since I found out. Doctors consider me ‘low burden’, but I’m not stupid. I know that might not always be the case. I’ve stopped focusing on that and made sure to live in the now."
"Does it get easier? The injections, I mean."
I make sure to clarify—because asking if MS gets easier is a whole other question, and I’m not ready to hear him say no.
"It’s just a part of my routine now." He shrugs. "I lost ninety per cent of my vision when I was diagnosed, had something called Intracranial Optic Neuritis. I was fucking terrified.The career I wanted in basketball slipped through my fingers and shattered into a million pieces. But I got up, I pushed through. And now, this is my life." He gestures around the room, flashing a wide smile at Avery. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me since the moment they walked into my hotel room.
"I’m sorry, Orlando," I whisper, but he wraps his arms around my neck in a tight hug before letting me go and taking a step back.
"As much as I would love to continue this conversation, we have to check out of this room." Orlando collects the bulk of the medication, while Avery shoves the last of my things into my final remaining empty bag.
Chapter thirty-three
Choice Magazine
TRUE LOVE IS REAL…APPARENTLY.
In an unexpected twist of fate, Olive Herring and Avery Jones seem to have tied the knot in a small ceremony in Las Vegas over the weekend.
After coming clean about their relationship only weeks ago, Jones supposedly proposed to Herring in an intimate setting. But, it was Herring’s idea to speed up the nuptials.
Fans are speculating a surprise pregnancy may be on the horizon for the newlyweds, while others believe it’s true love.
Either way, only time will tell.
Do you think the happy couple will last?
Let us know in the comments section below.
Click the link in our bio to find out more!
Chapter thirty-four
Avery
"Watchthosehands,Jones.You’re one foul away from being subbed out of the game," Coach White reminds me from the side of the court. It's surprising to me for multiple reasons.
The first being that I didn’t expect to even make the starting five at all today. The second being that I’ve barely even touched the ball enough to have the first four fouls called on me.
I’m not an idiot. I heard the whistle blow more than it normally does for me, but even when my contact was clearly on the ball, the refs seemed to be siding with the other team. I don’t know how deep he is in their pockets, but it’s enough to throw me off my game and risk breaking our win streak.
"Thirty seconds left, Avery. Shake it off," Ryder says, clapping my shoulder.
We’re finally in the lead—and yeah, I’ll give myself credit for that.
We’d been trailing the whole game, but I managed to turn it around in the last quarter. Someone had to.
This isn’t new to me. I’ve been playing long enough to read a guy’s next move before he even makes it.
I guess that happens when you spend nights holed up in your apartment, watching replays and studying game tape until every move becomes second nature.
