Page 41 of Colliding with Ten

I stared at her. “You did?”

“Yes. Until your brother called.”

My breath stopped. “AJ?”

Ronan nodded.

I was caught off guard. “What did he say?”

“He knew that you would be back on your feet soon. But he talked about your commitment to your art and how you were trying to find your way. He had a suspicion that this could reignite some of your passion.”

Shock gave way to warmth in my soul. AJ understood what I wanted before I knew that I wanted it. I couldn’t love him more.

“He believes in you,” Ronan continued. “He thought you could benefit from this experience, and when he described you, it reminded me of myself when I was your age. I was once lost too after my injury. But I found this, and it made a difference. You still have the opportunity to dance, but I’m glad you’re seeing this as an option too.”

My eyes stung.

Ronan handed me a tissue. “He made a hell of a case. You’ve got a great brother in your corner.”

I breathed, trying not to turn into a puddle in her office. AJ and I loved each other. We’d been each other's everything for a long time, despite my father’s presence. But we also annoyed the hell out of each other, and between the bickering, it was hard to remember how much we cared.

“When I moved to New York, he took me in, but he’s never loved the idea of my life mixing with his. Me cheering for the team he’s supposed to be building and living in his space.”

I shook my head, a chuckle breaking through. “I’m sure I get on his nerves.”

“I didn’t get any of that from him when he called. I think he just wants the best for you.”

AJ had stepped in to help me without steering my choices, but cleared my path.

“It’s why I said yes,” Ronan said.

I looked down at the soggy tissue in my hands, then back at her. “Thank you for changing your mind.”

She smiled. “You earned it once you walked in the door.” She stood, signaling the end of the session. “If you’re serious, start looking at prerequisites. Look into movement science and try to shadow a few clinicians. USC isn’t easy to get into.”

I gave her a wide smile. “I know.”

She nodded. “Good. Because we need more people like you, especially more women in this field.”

I beamed, then walked out of that office, changed.

By the time I got back to the hotel, weather alerts had taken over every screen, talking about a snowstorm, an early October Canadian cold front. My phone pinged: Winter Storm Warning for the Denver Metro Area. Flights may be impacted.

Frantic, I packed in minutes. I stuffed the notebook I’d been scribbling in all week into my duffel, threw in unfolded clothes, and barely zipped the bag before rushing out the door.

The ride to the airport was slow, the snow falling thick and lazy. My good knee bounced under my coat. At the terminal, chaos. People surrounded departure boards, on their phones. CANCELLED and DELAYED flashed everywhere. My flight changed from on time to delayed within minutes.

I texted AJ and found an outlet in a corner. Sitting on a chair by the window, I pulled my coat tighter. I could handle a small delay. Then the board updated. My flight went from delayed to canceled.

10

GAME BREAKDOWN

LENNOX

The weight room was empty after hours. A few plates were still racked incorrectly near the squat station, and someone had left a towel on the turf lane. The air was heavy with sweat. I sat on a bench with a resistance band looped around my thighs, driving my knees apart in slow reps. Mateo watched from a few feet away. He knew I wouldn’t take shortcuts but still insisted on staying.

A month had passed since the Hawks’ match-up. Beating them gave us momentum. Our performances were phenomenal all season, with three wins in four games. Jace was having a career year. The locker room held fifty-three men who believed they would win every time. Lately, that thought kept my mind from drifting.