Page 103 of You're the Reason

“Honestly, I didn’t know what to believe at first, but it didn’t take long to put the pieces together.”

“I should have given you a chance to explain.”

“Yes, you should’ve.”

“Grace, do you think?—”

“I need to get ready. The curtain lifts in less than thirty minutes.”

“You’re dancing in the chorus?”

“Yup.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I’ve enjoyed it, actually. I’ve learned that the role I dance is just that, a role, it isn’t my identity. A role may be how others see me, but it isn’t how God sees me.”

“How does He see you?”

“Beautiful, lovable, perfect—with a fair amount of room for growth.” A small chuckle from Grace traveled through the line and settled deep in Seth’s chest.

“Yeah, I can identify with that.” Seth ran his hand over his sternum, but the pressure only increased. “I was thinking?—”

“Seth, don’t.”

The words hit him like a punch, and he sat back. He closed his eyes and drew a slow breath, waiting for her to continue. Because honestly, he couldn’t form words right now.

“I know you have regrets, so do I, but before I broke up that fight between you and Gabe, he said something... and I think he’s right.”

Seth leaned forward and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Even after the guy turned his life around, his actions were haunting Seth. “And that was?”

“‘As soon as someone lets you down—as soon as the cost looks too high, you quit.’” She took a slow breath then continued. “Honestly, at the time I didn’t see it. But I asked you one question—one—and you tossed me aside as if I was barely more than an inconvenience.”

“That’s not?—”

“True? When you were helping me on those tilting discs you told me the only way to succeed is to go all in. Don’t hesitate. That I had to focus on where I was headed, not worry about where I’d been. Don’t you see? You’re so fixated on your past mistakes, on others’ past mistakes, you miss what’s in front of you.”

He clenched his jaw. He wanted to tell her she was wrong, but his mind became a slideshow of examples. His resistance to start the ninja gym with Jon. His refusal to return to Ninja Warrior. His refusal to really trust the guys again. Even what she’d said about how he’d treated her. He’d been so fixated on the past he couldn’t even see the future.

“I really do need to go, Seth.”

“Can we talk again?”

“I don’t know. Bye, Seth.”

The line went dead, and Seth dropped his phone on his desk and pressed his palms into his eyes.

What was he going to do now? He seemed to have pushed everyone and every good thing out of his life. All he was left with was a pathetic apartment and a job he had no doubt he’d hate, come next week.

His head jerked up as the door opened and Nate walked back in. “Sorry, forgot my bag.”

Nate lifted his duffel from the floor, then paused next to Seth’s desk. “Phone call not go well?”

“You could say that.”

“Sorry, man. Maybe it was the closure you need. But the rest of what I said was true.” Nate tapped on yet another invitation the Ninja Warrior production had sent him. “People care about you.”

Seth sent his friend a skeptical look. “The TV show cares about me?”

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