Page 34 of Summer with a Player

"Come on, Jet," I mutter to myself, using the nickname that's followed me since I first laced up skates. "You've faced down enforcers with fists like cinder blocks. You can handle a date."

But this isn't just any date—it's a shot at a future.

The doorbell rings, and I nearly jump out of my skin. It's game time. I rush to the door, heart slamming against my ribs like it wants to break free. My hand's on the doorknob, and I pause, take a breath to steel myself.

"Be cool, Asher. Just... be cool."

I open the door, and there she is. Elle. The sight of her knocks the wind straight out of me. She's wearing a flowing sundress, the colors reminding me of a sunset we watched once. Her hair cascades around her shoulders, and her eyes hold a cautious hope that twists something deep inside me.

"Elle," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "You look... incredible."

"Thanks, Ash." She offers a small, tentative smile that hits me harder than any body check I’ve ever had. "So, what's the surprise?"

"Right, the surprise." I clear my throat, trying to find my voice. "I thought we could spend the night on the water. A private yacht tour around the island. There's something magical about the sea at night, and I wanted to share that with you."

"Sounds perfect," she whispers, her walls coming down bit by bit. "Thank you for this. I know it hasn't been easy, but..."

I step forward, close enough to catch a hint of her perfume, something floral and wild. "Hey, no more talking about the past, okay? Tonight's about us. Just us."

"Okay, us," she agrees.

We head to the dock where the yacht awaits, its lights dancing on the gentle swells of the sea. Stepping aboard, I extend my hand to help her, our fingers brushing with an electric spark.

"Ready?" I ask, my voice steady despite how I’m actually feeling.

"More than ever," she replies, and we set off.

The yacht hums beneath us as we glide over the water, Charleston’s coastline twinkling in the distance like a string of precious jewels. I point out landmarks, making her laugh with stories from my rookie year, earning genuine smiles that fuel my courage.

"Look," I say, gesturing to the sky where the stars are bursting alive. "It's like they are all laid out just for us."

Elle leans against the railing, gazing upward. "It's beautiful," she murmurs. "I can't remember the last time I really looked at the stars."

I move closer, her nearness intoxicating. Under the celestial tapestry, the night unfolds, and each moment weaves us tighter together.

The yacht rocks gently, a soothing cradle on the sea. Elle's hand finds mine in the darkness, fingers intertwining.

She sighs, and asks, “What do you yearn for when the crowds and the lights fade?"

I pull her close, reveling in the feeling of her body being in arms. "To be seen, really seen, for who I am beneath the jersey number. And to share moments like this—real, raw, perfect—with someone who understands."

"Someone like me?" Her voice is barely above a whisper, laced with hope and a trace of uncertainty.

"Only you," I answer without hesitation. "You've seen me at my worst and yet here you are, still by my side."

Elle rests her head on my shoulder, our shared breaths synchronizing. "We're two once lonely souls, aren't we? But somehow, it feels right."

"Wewerelonely, but not anymore," I concede. "We've both made our share of mistakes." I reflect back to the arrogant plays, the reckless nights, the times I put pride before people. "I'm grateful for those missteps now—they led me to you."

"Me too," she whispers. "My walls were high, my trust scarce. But you, Asher Gray, have a way of melting barriers."

"Only because you let me," I say, feeling the truth of it deep in my bones. "Thank you for this second chance, Elle."

"Thank you for being worth the risk," she replies, her breath warm against my skin.

Our lips meet in a kiss that seals promises and mends fractures.

She breaks apart from our kiss and pulls back from me.

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