“Don’t you say no to me.”
My voice is steady, stronger than I expect it to be.
His jaw tightens slightly.
“Lia...”
“Think about it,” I cut in, stepping closer to him. “This is the perfect opportunity.”
Jackson’s attention sharpens. Zach straightens slightly. I keep going.
“It’s a home game,” I say. “Everyone’s already watching. Everyone’s already talking. This isn’t going to go away if I hide.”
My pulse is racing now. But I don’t stop.
“I need to show my face,” I continue. “I need to prove to myself that I can do this. That I’m not afraid anymore.”
The words feel bigger than I expect. Heavier. But right.
“I’ve got nothing to hide,” I add quietly.
Silence. Thick. Loaded.
“I want to come back to the arena,” I say, softer now, but no less certain. “I like being there. I like watching you play. I like supporting you.”
My gaze flicks to Jackson.
Then to Zach.
Then back to Elijah.
“And I’m not going to keep sitting on the sidelines while all of you keep moving forward,” I finish. “You support me. You’ve never once asked me to stop what I love.”
My throat tightens slightly.
“So I’m not going to do that to you.”
Something shifts between us, I can feel it.
Jackson’s expression softens first.
“If that’s what you want…” he says slowly.
Zach nods.
“We’ll make it work.”
And then they both look at Elijah. Of course they do. Because this is his line. His threshold. His decision.
I watch him, watch the way he processes it.
The way his eyes move over me, assessing, calculating, weighing every possible outcome, every possible risk.
I can see the no still there, still sitting right beneath the surface.
And I hold my ground. I don’t step back. I don’t soften it. Because I mean it. Every word, every part of this.
Finally he exhales.
