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From then on, we were unstoppable. Practically inseparable. The incredible duo. Ellie and I.

Up until about a week ago, I had been hoping to get drafted by a team in MLB. When that opportunity came, and I got drafted by Philadelphia, they wanted to offer me a minor league contract right away. I was over the moon, but I knew it was going to shatter Eliana.

Tomorrow I’d be gone. The dream every kid who ever picked up a bat wanted, and somehow, it was mine. I was going to live out my dream. I was moving away from everything I knew.

However, I couldn’t stop thinking about the girl across town. The one whose laugh had carried me through more late nights and bad days than I truly deserved. The one who was there the night I got the call. The night I found out my dreams were finally coming true. The one who spent so many late nights with me, lying in the bed of my truck, listening to music, talking nonsense, just being with me. Providing me the company I didn’t deserve.

I should’ve been excited. Every part of me should’ve been buzzing over the thought of walking into the clubhouse, pulling the jersey on, and proving I belonged. Instead, all I could think about was how to tell her. How to end something I knew was going to feel unbearable to do.

Because here’s the truth: I love her. God help me, I’m so in love with that girl. And loving her meant not dragging her into the chaos of a life where I’d never be around, where the road trips would stretch longer than the days we’d get together. I’d seen what that shit does to families. To couples. The cracks it carved into something that should be unbreakable. I couldn’t do that to her.

“Wyatt, I told you when you even started talking about this that I wanted to be that supportive baseball wife,” Eli’s voice was shaky, the tears were falling down her cheeks. “I want to do this with you.”

“Eli…” I start, taking her hands. “I want you to have your own life. You shouldn’t have to base everything around me.”

“All I want to do is life with you, Wy..” she sniffles, and I wipe a tear away from under her eye with my thumb. “I just don’t get it. Did I do something wrong?”

Seeing her in tears gutted me. The look in her eyes – hurt, anger, confusion – looking at me like I was the one who betrayed her, that’s what cut the deepest. But, I was going anyway. Because sometimes the only way to love someone is to let them hate you.

I shake my head quickly. “No, babe, no. I’m not letting you give up everything you’ve been working your ass off for me. You deserve to get the most amazing job and not have to worry about our relationship being a hindering factor.” I take a deep breath, watching as I tear her heart apart piece by fucking piece.

If by some chance the universe puts us back in the same orbit, I know I’ll have to work my ass off to make her mine again. That’s if she doesn’t find someone else. That’s if she even wants to give me the time of day, because I know what I’m doing right now is going to make her hate me, and I deserve it.

“I…I need to go,” Eliana lets go of my hands, brushing past me and down the stairs to the entrance of my house. “I hope you thrive, Wyatt. I want you to know that.” She says as she looks back at me.

I’m standing on the middle step of my staircase as I watch her open the door. “I’m sorry…” was all I could muster out. I was a fucking coward. I was an asshole.

I just broke my dream girl’s heart, and it was all over because I was scared. I was scared of the negative things I’ve heard about relationships like this, and I didn’t focus on the positive. I let all the bad things eat at me, devour me whole, and let the one steady in my life walk away.

I watched as she walked out the door, shutting it behind her. I sit down on the steps, putting my face in my hands and let the tears spill.

My sister came down the stairs, sitting next to me and just wrapped her arms around me as I cried into her shoulder. She didn’t need to say anything, she knew exactly what I needed at that moment.

I had talked this with her so many times, tried to work through all of the scenarios in my head that might’ve made things work. That might’ve allowed me to live out all of my dreams in the same lifetime, but nothing ever panned out the way I envisioned them.

It hurt me. It hurt Eliana, and I know I was never going to get her forgiveness for that. I was never going to regain that trust back. I had broken it, and it was all over some fucking sport. I had chosen only half of the dream, while tearing the entire dream away in the process.

Chapter 22

Eliana

I WATCH OUT THE WINDOW as Wyatt’s friends start driving up the driveway. I wasn’t against the idea of him having friends over, I was feeling very anxious over the whole thing.

It’s his house, I can’t say who can and can’t come in the house. However, I knew the interrogation that was bound to happen whether I liked it or not.

It was Saturday night, and the boys had a day game and what other way to celebrate a win than to have a little get together. Thankfully, Luka was bringing his girlfriend, Callie, so I wouldn’t be the only girl. I haven’t met her yet, apparently she’s used to having out with all of the guys. This was nothing new for her.

I kept myself busy in the kitchen while Wyatt finished cleaning up the living room and backyard. By the time I finished getting drinks out into an ice bucket, the guys were filing into the house, chatter filling the silence that once swarmed the room.

“I’m here to see my best friend, actually,” Liam’s voice echoed as he walked into the kitchen and smiled at me when his eyes met mine. “There she is!”

I give a small wave, brushing some hair out of my face. “I’m flattered that you care more about me than Wyatt.”

“I can only hang out with him for so long until I go stir crazy, bestie. That’s why I have you.” He says with a chuckle.

I shake my head, walking out behind him and see the rest of the guys making their way outside where Wyatt was getting a bonfire started.

“Speaking of,” Luka says as he nods his head towards me. “Eliana, there’s someone I want you to meet!”