Page 54 of Game Day

“Clay, it’s me. I found something you might be interested in?—”

“We need to talk,” my mother cuts in, coming outside behind me.

My hand tightens on the handset as I lower it to my side. “About?”

“It’s this wedding, Clayton.” Her brows knit together. “I wish you would slow down and think. Protect yourself.”

I stare at her.

From what Nova said, they weren’t skipping through fields arm in arm this week, but that’s a far cry from trying to stop a wedding.

“I’ve had nothing but time,” I say evenly.

“Then why the short notice? The small guest list? You’re distracted, and not thinking clearly. I won’t watch you make a mistake you’ll regret.”

“Mom.” I’m battling mounting frustration. “I’m not distracted, I have a lot of things going on.”

Her arms cross. “Growing up there were late nights, early mornings, travel to tournaments, this camp or that one, but all of it had a purpose. We wanted to help you become the most that you could be. Now you are, and we don’t want you to compromise.”

My molars grind together. On a court, I can take out my emotions, but it takes everything in me not to dunk on my mother.

“You raised me to go after what I want. For a long time my career was it. I appreciate how much you and dad did for me my entire childhood. But I love Nova, and if you can’t see why, then you aren’t looking hard enough.”

She steps closer, tilting her chin up stubbornly. “Is that why you were considering eloping? Because you didn’t want us involved?”

She’s not pissed about the wedding, I realize. Her criticism covers up the fear and rejection she refuses to acknowledge.

It doesn’t excuse how she’s acting, but it reminds me how Nova wanted everyone to get along this week. Because even when family’s complicated, they’re still family.

So instead of shutting down or turning away, I take a breath.

“We were thinking of eloping because our lives have been complicated. How I feel about Nova is simple. She’s the love of my life. I’m going to be with her no matter what, and we’ve spent so much of our time together living on other people’s terms that we’re ready to start living on ours. The reason we’re doing the wedding here is that Nova found the perfect place, and we thought we could have everything we wanted: get married before the season and see the people we love at the same time.”

I look back at my phone. “If I seem distracted, it’s because I’m getting us a house. I’ve been trying to track down for months and promised myself I’d get before we got married.”

Her expression softens with surprise. “A house?”

“When we moved to LA, Nova followed, no questions asked. She made a home for us. One built on trust and kindness, both of which she gave me freely even in the times when I couldn’t reciprocate the way I should have. She helped me through the hardest time of my life. I want to make her a home here. To show her there’s a place for her to be exactly who she is. One where she’ll always belong.”

“Am I interrupting?” comes a voice at my back.

Mom’s gaze shifts past me and I glance over my shoulder toward the sidewalk.

Nova’s standing frozen, looking between me and my mom.

* * *

NOVA

I’m late for dinner, and I feel terrible about it.

Working through last-minute decisions with Brooke and Mari has been a lot. They’re helpful and caring but constantly trying to one-up each other.

My head is pounding by the time I make it to the restaurant.

Familiar raised voices reach me from around the corner.

Clay’s in a heated conversation with his mom. Damn it.

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