Chapter 36: Sawyer

I’m flying high right now. It’s been too long since I kicked some, as like I did today. Thanks to my injury, my play time was next to none once I was healed. My old coach didn’t want to risk me getting hurt again. Today was my first real game in ages and I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins still. The guys are all as amped as I am, and we’re nearly wrestling each other to get out of the locker room and head to the celebration party. First, I need to find Bryn.

Fuck, she saved the game for us. We owe her big time! I can’t believe she still remembered the hand signal my high school coach made up. Why didn’t I think to use that move to save the game? I do not know, but hell, I’m glad.

“Shit. S-man, we got a situation.” Bishop calls from the locker room door.

“What’s up?” I pass the rest of the guys and follow him out just in time to see a few girls talking to Bryn.

I can’t hear what they’re saying from here, but I don’t have to. The one talking right now has her hip popped out and her arms crossed with a deep scowl on her face. This isn’t good.

“I’ll see you guys later. I gotta handle this.” I pat Bishop on the shoulder and jog over to the group, but Bryn turns and walks out before I reach them.

The girls turn our way and their faces light up when they see me.

“Sawyer! Hey! Great game!” The girl who must be the leader says with so much fake excitement that I nearly roll my eyes.

“Sorry ladies, I gotta run, but the other guys are on their way out.” I try to be friendly, but what I really want to do is go off on them for making Bryn run out.

Instead, I suck it up and walk out of the building. I look around to see if Bryn is still around and I see nothing until I hear a shuffling sound from around the side of the building. I see Bryn sitting on the ground against the wall with her knees pulled up to her face.

“B?”

Her head snaps in my direction and the light above her head is bright enough for me to see she’s been crying.

“Shit. B…what did those bitches say to you?” I ask after I move closer to her and crouch in front of her.

She shakes her head and lets out a weak laugh. “It’s nothing. I shouldn’t listen to them, but it’s my first confrontation with a puck bunny.”


“You’re right, don’t listen to a thing those girls say. They think they have a right to us even when we don’t show any interest. It’s stupid. So don’t take any of it to heart. You’re my girl and I don’t give a fuck about them.”

Her eyes meet mine and I want to kick someone's ass for making her cry like this. Still, the red eyes and puffiness doesn’t ruin how beautiful she is. I don’t think anything would make her look ugly.

“If you don’t feel up to going to the party, then we can stay home and watch a movie or something.” I offer.

I don’t care about the party, so I wouldn’t be against just going home. Plus, celebrating with her tonight wouldn’t be all bad since I have a lot of stress to get out. Just a few days without sex has me going crazy. Bryn shakes her head, though, and I admit I’m a little disappointed.

“No. You deserve to celebrate your win. I won’t get in the way of that.” She starts to push herself up, so I hold a hand out to her and help her.

Once she’s on her feet, she brushes dirt off her jeans and forces a smile on her face. “Let’s go!”

I cringe at her attempt at sounding cheerful and she drops the act.

“Not convincing enough, huh?”

“No, but nice try. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.” I hold my hand out to her again, but she doesn’t take it right away.

She looks around likes she’s expecting someone to pop out at any second. “What are you looking for?”

“Shh! I’m making sure no one will see us.” She whispers.

“Why are you whispering? We were talking normally a second ago.” I say at a normal volume.

She hisses at me to be quiet again, making me roll my eyes.

“Why don’t you want anyone to see us?” I ask in a slight whisper.

She looks at me, confused. “I assumed you weren’t ready for people to know about us.”

Now I’m confused. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you never mentioned making us public, so I figured it’s because it might cause you some issues with the groupies.”

I see…

“I don’t give a fuck about what people think about us. I will not hide this. So let’s make it official tonight.” I grab her hand and pull her toward the car.

“Are you sure? I mean, this is pretty new. We don’t know how- “I stop and turn to her with a little too much force, making her pump into me.

“Don’t finish that sentence. I’m not letting you think of us as having an expiration date.” My mom’s words have been running through my head a lot recently and it’s had me really considering what I want my future to look like.

All I keep seeing is Bryn wearing my jersey and standing next to my coach, cheering me on. No matter what happens, I want her to be there, and I’m going to make sure it happens.

She lets out a humorless laugh. “Sawyer, come on.”

“No Bryn. We aren’t breaking up.” I storm off toward the car, feeling a intense wave of anger at her lack of faith in us.

Why would I ever end things between us? No girl I’ve ever been with has made me feel like she does, and we are perfect together. Why can’t she see that? Fuck, I sound like a romance bookworm who fantasizes about her happy ending. Yeah, I get that we can’t predict the future, but I will not let this thing fall apart. I need her with me, and I’ll make sure she feels the same.

I’m starting the car when she finally catches up and climbs in.

She sighs and turns in her seat to face me. “Sawyer, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just…” Her voice shakes a little. “I don’t want to get my hopes up. I’ve had a crush on you since we were kids and it hurt knowing you never saw me as more than a friend. But I accepted it, and I was happy to be there for you. I never expected this, and it seems too good to be true. I don’t want myself get so lost that if things end, I won’t be able to recover. Do you get that?”

I turn to face her too and watch her fidget nervously like she does and watch her for a minute. This is crazy, but I think I always cared about her, too. But I was a dumb kid. I was self-centered and so far in my head that I didn’t realize it until later.

Fuck, I’m in love with her. Maybe it seems soon, but we knew each other for so long that it didn’t seem too short at all. I love her and I’m not letting us leave until she knows. I’m about to do just that when a phone starts ringing.

“Oh! That’s mine.” No shit, it’s one of her Kpop songs playing.

“Hello?” A second later she’s smiling. “Hey sis how- “

Her smile falls, and when her eyes lock with mine, I see fear in them.

“What happened?” I ask, but she doesn’t answer me.

“Okay, we’ll be there soon.” She ends the call and looks down at her phone like she has never seen it before.

“Bryn? What’s wrong?” I ask again.

She looks up at me and I sense of panic goes through me. “It’s Molly. They had to rush her to the hospital. We need to go home now.”

“Shit. See if there are any flights.” I tell her and pull out of the parking lot.

I’m driving like it's an emergency, and it is, but I doubt a cop will understand if I get caught. My phone rings next and I answer it through my truck’s bluetooth.

“Yo S! Where are you, man?” It’s Bishop.

“Sorry man. Family emergency. I need to go back home.” I tell him.

“Shit man. Alright, let us know when you get there. Should I let coach know?”

“Nah, I’ll send him a message.”

“Alright man. Stay safe.”

I end the call just as we pull up to our apartment.

“They have a flight in an hour.” Bryn tells me as we both jog toward the door.

We’re coming little Molly.