“Alright, let me tape your shoulder for practice today. We’ll continue with that for a few more weeks, probably even when you’re back in the game. It’s good to give that injured joint some added support.”
Lark’s efficient movements have my shoulder covered in athletic tape in no time, and she makes me go through a few more movements to make sure the tape isn’t impeding anything.
“You’re good to go. But I want another ice bath session after practice, and let’s get Jorge to review your weight training program tomorrow to make sure that’s all in good shape.”
After finishing up with Lark, I make my way to the executive offices in response to an email from Willow.
I knock on her door, and her head lifts to greet me with a smile. “Mav, hey! How are you doing? Come on in.”
Willow Lawson is a force of nature. She’s someone I respect and she’s friends with Sadie, making me just a touch nervous, seeing as I have no idea what this meeting is about.
“Doing good,” I reply, sitting down in a chair. “Lark thinks I’ll be cleared to play in a couple weeks, depending on what Doc says.”
Willow’s smile is genuine and stretches wider. “That’s fantastic to hear. But I wanted to talk about something else.” Her smile falls ever so slightly. “I probably shouldn’t be saying any of this here since it’s not work-Willow talking right now. But I wanted to touch base with you about Sadie.”
My spine stiffens. “What about her?”
Willow drops her gaze to her hands for a minute before looking at me again.
“She’s a really good person. Amazing, really. Has a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off her own back if you asked. She loves her work, and her family, and puts all of that first, every single day. In the few years I’ve known her, I’ve never once seen her be cared for the way she takes care of everyone around her. She’s the girl that insists on covering the tab, even when she only has one drink. She makes sure everyone else is happy, that their needs are met, and she leaves nothing for herself. It’s why she put up with her asshole of an ex for so long. And it’ll be the reason she’ll stay with you unless you give her a different one. She’ll want to make you happy, make your life easier, do whatever she thinks you need her to do. And she won’t stop unless you make her see that her worth isn’t in what she can do for others, but simply in who she is. That you wanther, not what she does for you.” Willow pauses and drops her forehead in her hand. “I don’t know if I’m making sense, and I’m probably overstepping my boundary as her friend and your coworker. But I keep seeing photos of you two, and she looks at you with such hope in hereyes. Like you could be the one to finally give her what she wants — her own happiness, and actual love. And if that’s not you, if that’s not what you see yourself doing with her, then I’m just saying, break it off now. If you’re only in this because she makes you happy, or because it’s easy, and not because you could love her the way she deserves, then do the right thing and let her go.”
Willow falls silent, and all I can hear is the roaring sound of my heart racing. Everything she said is so accurate, so eerily on the nose, it sends me into a moment of panic that she might know Sadie and I are just pretending.
But fast on the heels of that panic comes something else. Willow just confirmed what I was already figuring out about my Specs. That she’s the type to sacrifice herself, her own happiness, for everyone else. And isn’t that exactly what she’s done? She’s put my needs, my career, my future, first. And in doing so, she’s made my cold heart warm up for the first time. She’s made me realize I don’t have to keep everyone out, because not everyone is against me. Her loyalty, her commitment to helping me, it’s changing me.
“She does make me happy,” I start slowly, feeling the words out. “And she does make everything better. Easier. But there’s a hell of a lot more to it than just that.”
I push back my chair and stand up, suddenly filled with an impulsive need to find Sadie. Except I can’t. I have to go to practice.Fuck.I finally wrap my head around the idea of telling her that something’s changed, that I don’t want to pretend to have feelings for her, that I actuallydohave feelings for her, and now I can’t do a goddamn thing about it.
Staring Willow straight in the eyes, I finally say it out loud. “I care about her. A fucking lot. And letting her go is the last goddamn thing I plan to do.”
Chapter twenty-one
Sadie
“I should’ve hired someone to do my makeup,” I lament to Ali who’s on a video call with me as I try once again to get my eyeliner on straight. “I look like a clown.”
“You do not. Just stop fiddling with it, it’s fine.”
I take a step away from the mirror and look down at her image on my phone. “Are you sure this dress isn’t too much?” I turn to the right, smoothing the soft fabric that drapes over my stomach and gathers to one side. The tulip hem splits on a diagonal, showing a lot more leg than I’m used to and saying nothing of how bare my shoulders feel in the thin straps.
“That dress is just the right amount of too much. You look like a freaking goddess. It was made for your curves, and that shade of green is stunning with your hair. I’m so glad you decided to style it that way.”
Ali’s compliments float over me as I run a hand over my wavy hair, swept over one shoulder. Simple gold earrings glint in my ears, understated, but elegant.
“What would I do without you?” I ask, smiling down at my best friend. “You have me looking gorgeous and actuallyfeelinggorgeous. It’s a miracle.”
“Knock ’em dead, babe. And bythem, I mean dirtbag Dirk. He’s going to literally keel over and die when he sees you looking like this with your hot baseball god on your arm.”
I blush instantly. “Ali, quiet,” I hiss. “He might hear you.”
“So? I’ll put money on his jaw dropping to the floor when he sees you. Trust me. There might even be drool.”
I giggle. I can’t help it. But the picture of Maverick King drooling is too good. A girl can dream… “Okay, okay, I better go. I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks again, love you.”
“Love you, girly. Have fun.”
After ending the call, I stand in front of the mirror for another minute or two. “I can do this,” I whisper to the girl in the mirror. No, the beautiful woman in the mirror.
