Page 98 of Anyone But Her

"I'm so excited for you!" she squeals. "By the way, you were amazing today. I haven't seen anyone play that well in a really long time."

"Thanks. It felt good. The whole game felt good. I wasn't nervous at all."

"If you can keep that up you'll be the best golfer ever. Not many people have the mental toughness to make it." She doesn't say it but I know she's referring to Cal. "There was a lot of pressure on you today and you did great."

"I'll do even better now that I've got my lucky ball." I pick up the ball she gave me.

"You like it?"

"Love it. It's going to come along with me every time I play."

"It wasn't meant to replace the one from Albert. I just thought you might want another one, from someone who's still here."

"It's great. I love it." And I love HER but I don't think she's ready to hear that yet.

I can't believe I'm even thinking it. But if I'm honest with myself I've loved her for a long time, just not in the way I do now. Before I knew her I loved her from afar. I loved her smile, her eyes, her spirit, the way she made goofy faces on TV when her dad was doing interviews. I knew back then she wasn't like other girls I'd met. She was different in ways that made me want to meet her. And when I did, there was no going back. She had my heart.

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