Page 23 of Made Better Together

“I’m okay now. Your dad’s opened up the whole world of kicking for the NFL as a career path, and I have some other ideas I want to explore after graduation.”

Her face relaxes somewhat. “Is one playing in Major League Soccer?”

I shake my head. “Nah, that deflated balloon isn’t filling back up. And I don’t see myself enjoying being a journeyman in the MLS. It was the Premier League I wanted.”

She gives an understanding look. The Premier League is most male soccer players’ dream, the cream of the crop globally playing in the English circuit.

“I still love talking about soccer, watching it.” I don’t want her to think she has to avoid the topic. “It’s just my playing days that are over. I’m not into it…mentally.”

Fuck, I hope I don’t come across as a total downer. The fact is, it’s nice to share all this with someone who understands the pressure of that environment.

I push a smile on my face, and she seems to get my cue to lighten the mood.

“Well, good thing you’re okay chatting about soccer, because we do a lot of that around here.”

“Oh yeah?” I glance across the room and note there are more women than men this year. “Are these largely your teammates?”

“Yep, most of the rising sophomores and juniors anyway.” She tilts her head toward the kitchen. “C’mon. I’ll intro you to the crew.”

Two minutes later, we’re in the kitchen surrounded by Tolliver soccer players. I meet April, Teresa, Chloe, Alondra, and Monique in rapid-fire succession, and I don’t even try to remember who is who, because it’s unlikely I’ll ever see these ladies again.

“You’re the shirt guy, right?” Chloe (I think) asks. “From last year?”

“That’s me. I can sacrifice this one later if the evening requires,” I say dryly, and a couple of them chuckle.

“I know one person who might not mind that,” Bree says under her breath, except yeah, I have good hearing.

Eden throws an elbow in her ribs.

Too late—I’m not going to forget that comment.

“Why don’t we go out to the pool area?” Bree says to our larger group, including a couple of guys who are on the outskirts of our kitchen conversation.

Like most Florida homes, the pool is within a screened area, as protection from alligators and all the other critters that live here.

We filter out onto the deck around the pool, and I follow as Eden takes us around the left side to a couple of lounge chairs.

She looks so pretty out here, with the lights making her honey hair glow. “I’m glad you could come. I’m sure you had other options for tonight.”

“My brother invited me to a Waves party,” I acknowledge.

“That would have been fun. Although everyone still treats me like ‘Del’s little girl’ at things like that.” She doesn’t sound annoyed, just amused.

“I think it’s more of the young crowd. Though I was happy to get the invite here. To hang with other college students…” I debate whether to release the next words that want to come out, and then I just let them fly. “...and to see you again.”

I spot the exact moment she absorbs what I said, blushing slightly before responding.

“I—sorry about everyone being obsessed with your shirt situation from last year. Or our shirt situation, I guess.”

“That’s okay, it’s nice to be remembered for something.”

Despite my wry tone, she stays straight-faced. “Remembered, for sure. But I-I’m sorry we didn’t really talk after that.”

I flick over her face, not confident where she’s going with that statement. Or where this night is going, to be honest. I don’t want to make a wrong move.

Make a joke, stay light. “Well, there was a lot of emotional investment behind my likes on your posts during the year,” I tease back. “So don’t minimize them.”

She eases into a laugh. Good.