Page 49 of Buzzer Beater

What was I supposed to do? Lucy gravitated toward the other girls, there was no way I could cut in without being obvious.

I took my seat in the van, ignoring the disappointed looks from everyone, except Lucy. I couldn’t even look at her.

What was wrong with me?

I’d set this all up, so we’d have time together. I wanted a chance to connect without her being able to run. Now I had it. I could feel her in the row behind me. It was like my body hummed in her presence.

I put my arm on the seat behind Grant and turned just enough to steal a glance at her.

Her head was against the glass, her eyes closed.

Well, I couldn’t wake her up. That would be rude.

I faced forward and tried to come up with a plan. We were headed to the second temple, Chichen Itza, one of the wonders of the world. It would be the perfect backdrop to our reunion. She would be so stunned and amazed, she would forget everything I’d done wrong.

Yes, I would get her to focus on the majesty of the setting and woo her back.

I was an idiot. And I’d obviously been watching too many of the women’s shows. There would be no wooing. No grand reunion. I needed to face reality.

I just wanted us to clear the air. If I could dream, I’d want us to stay in touch. I knew better though. This wasn’t a movie. The guy didn’t always win the girl. The girl didn't secretly wish the boy that broke her heart would come swoop her up.

Not Lucy.

She was simple. All she asked was that I love her and stay true.

I couldn’t do that for her.

I wasn’t worthy.

Reese turned around, glanced at the back row quickly before looking at me. “What’s the plan?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“What’s the end goal here?” He whispered. “Do you want her back?”

I wanted to escape this conversation but short of crawling over everyone and jumping from a moving vehicle, there was no chance of avoiding this.

I leaned forward so listening ears wouldn’t overhear. “I want what we once had.”

He nodded, and Chloe turned around. “You can’t.”

I glared at her. “I realize that.”

“You’re both different now. There’s no point in holding on to the past.” Her annoyance was evident in her tone.

“I know.” I bit out the words, earning a glare from Reese.

“That doesn’t mean that you can’t have something new. Something different.”

I leaned forward just in case Lucy woke up. “You think?”

Chloe nodded. “You might be able to build on what you guys had, but there’s so much there to work through. You both need to get to know each other as who you are now. Remember the things that attracted you to her. The things you loved, but you need to let go of the vision you had back then.”

That wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear. Back then I’d wanted us to get married, have a family, and grow old together. I couldn’t have that now?

“Why?” I asked. “Why can’t we have what we wanted then?”

She tilted her head. “Lucy isn’t a young college student now. Do you even know what she does?”