Page 177 of Colliding with Ten

He’s not telling me to get back together with you.

Well, there went the warm feeling.

Ayla

But he suspects that I still love you.

My pulse ticked up. I wanted to ask if she still did, but we had only just got back to a place where talking to her didn’t hurt every damn time. I wasn’t taking that opening and shoving myself through it. But Jesus Christ. AJ Callahan just became my favorite quarterback.

Ayla

Hello?

Lennox

Sorry. I was checking rental prices near USC.

Totally unrelated

Ayla

On Sunday, the divisional round of the playoffs was against Kansas City, and their quarterback was the only man in the league I considered my equal. I threw three touchdowns. Jace caught two of them, including one in triple coverage that made the stadium stand up. We won by four.

I learned later that the Hawks beat Houston in overtime. AJ threw for 302 yards. We were facing them in the Conference Championship. The Hawks were coming to LA, and in seven days, everything that had been building since the first night I saw her would converge on one afternoon, one team’s season ending, another dream continuing.

Ayla

You played out of your mind today.

Lennox

I did.

Ayla

Your throw to Jace in the fourth quarter was incredible, and his catch was chef’s kiss.

Lennox

Don’t tell him. He’s already unbearable.

Ayla

I already DM’d him. We’re friends now. He sends me memes.

Lennox

What kind of memes?

Ayla

Mostly ones of you.

Lennox

I’m going to kill him.

Ayla