Page 108 of Made Better Together

“And?”

“You’re onto something, I’ll admit.” I don’t expand on that because honestly, I’m not sure where my own boundaries are.

“So are you going to talk to Connor about the whole thing…”

“I think I will. I mean, it’s not exactly a normal second date topic? ‘Hi, do you think you’re into being a Dom? Great, because I think I might want to be your sub.’”

Bree giggles. “I’m sorry for laughing. Lordy, yep, that’s…awkward.”

“Yeah, so it’s a big fat ‘I don’t know’ right now.”

“You really like him, though?”

“There’s something about him, yes. Beyond this aspect. I feel really comfortable with him, like I can tell him anything.”

“That’s great. So see how it goes. Maybe…”

“What?”

“Maybe you should bring the books with you? It could be easier to bring up the topic with props.”

“Like, hey, I was reading this book and noticed some things…”

“Exactly.”

I shrug. “I’ll take it under advisement.”

Her snicker in response is interrupted by a ring on her phone.

“Oh, it’s my dad.”

I half listen as she greets him and reports on her classes. Scrolling through my Instagram account, I like several posts by my past and present teammates from national squads.

Then Bree’s voice carries me back to her conversation. “Funny you should ask, Dad. She’s right here. Let me put you on speaker.”

She waves me closer as she puts the phone on the table.

“Hey, Nick.” I look quizzically at Bree. I’ve known her family for years, and her parents were home a few of the times I stayed at their house. But I’ve never been part of a phone call with one of them.

“Hello, Eden. You must be getting excited about figuring out where you’ll play next year? You’ll have your pick of teams, I imagine.” He’s being nice—there are many superstar strikers in the NWSL.

“I’m hoping we may even land on the same one,” Bree adds.

“Roomies for life,” I joke.

“Exactly. Unless that new man of yours works out.” She waggles her brows, and Nick clears his throat over the speaker. “Whoops, sorry, Dad.”

“I’ll pretend I never heard that. But one thing, Eden, real quick?”

“Sure.”

“For your NIL deal with Triumph, we’re going to send an updated proposal, extending it into the spring. There’s a new line we’d like you to be a part of.”

Huh, that’s after my season is done, after my college career is done.

“I’ll definitely look it over. Thanks, Nick.” Or more specifically, I’ll have the SLP team review it.

“We want to keep our relationship close, for the long term.” Bree and I look at each other—we’re not allowed to enter into full-blown endorsement deals if we want to stay eligible with the NCAA. What her dad just said is as close a suggestion that an offer will be waiting for me once I go pro, however.