Page 80 of Dangerous Play

“I feel so stupid, but at the same time... I would do the exact same thing again. Just to meet Max, to get to know this side of him and have a chance to fall in love with him again. He might have ruined every guy that comes after him, but it was worth it. Does that make me a horrible person?”

“It makes you a human. You’re in love with him. It’s hard not to love Max.”

“It’s impossible not to fall for him.” I sighed deeply. “He is perfect. And the saddest thing is he doesn’t realize it at all. He is born like that. He doesn’t even try to be perfect. So unfair.”

Nova chuckled and nodded. “True. He is incredible.”

“How is he?”

Nova remained quiet while we walked in silence. We stopped by the lake, watching the swam swim toward us.

“He’s getting by,” she replied finally. After all, she was his friend, she was always going to choose Max’s side. But it seemed somewhere along the way, Nova decided I was worth choosing too. “It’s tough for him and his people pleasing personality asBrooklyn would say. He lost everything he’s worked for and he still doesn’t see where he went wrong. He doesn’t see the learning, only the one where he shouldn’t have entered into this deal with you. And for some reason, that’s unacceptable for him. So, he keeps on going back and forth figuring out to come to any kind of conclusion to be able to move on. And then we didn’t touch on the fact that assholes like Nico gave him crap and obviously he is heartbroken as he needs to wait another four years for the next World Cup.”

I wanted to agree, but the guilt wrapping around me didn’t allow me to utter a word. I didn’t know what to say or how to react, but it sucked to know Max wasn’t doing any better than I was.

“Also, on top of everything, I think he loves you,” she added as a side note.

My heart skipped a beat, and I glared at her.

“Listen, I would be the first one to write you off, and I had my suspicions from the moment I saw you watch their practice. But I pride myself on being a good judge of character and you, my friend, are a good person. You both got played. So, I’m not holding anything against you.”

“Thank you?”

Nova laughed. “I’m sure Max will come around, just give him some space to lick his wounds and grieve his career.”

“Those are pretty big things,” I muttered. “I’m not sure he can just get over it. Soccer is his whole personality.”

“True,” Nova agreed. “But Max is learning there is more to life than soccer. Look how well he did diversifying himself with you. I even caught him play Minecraft.”

I remembered how casually he pushed his Switch under my nose and how surprised I was to find my favorite comfort game on it just because he thought I needed something to occupy my mind.

He was so freaking perfect.

And I never deserved him.

“He was really average at most other things,” I remarked, making Nova laugh.

“I wouldn’t say this, if it wasn’t something I know no one would mind... but... I think you should come to the finals.”

I sucked in a deep breath and held it in as Nova spoke.

“It’s an away game, the guys need all the support. Dex is coming with us as well because he wants to watch it, and I’m sure Max would love to see you cheer him on.”

I was skeptical about that last part.

“Max and I... we are really done. He is not returning my calls or texts. I’m sure he doesn’t want to see me there. If anything... I’ll be a huge distraction. He did his best to distance himself from me and I need to respect that.”

It was the hardest speech I had to go through. Even harder than confessing my feelings. Because what I just told Nova was my new reality. One I needed to start living in and accepting. There was no need for me to hold on to hope.

“Just... give it a thought?” she asked, her voice quieter than usual. “You have my socials so just drop me a message if you change your mind.”

“Thank you, but I won’t.”

She nodded. “I will get going then... I would say don’t be a stranger, but I feel like us bumping into each other coincidentally will be tough. I would still love to see you... sometime.”

“I would like that.”

“Just because you don’t date a Titan doesn’t mean you are not a Titan anymore,” she muttered as she squeezed my shoulder. “You are a Titan forever. No matter what. And Titan’s don’t break.”

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