Page 100 of A Quarterback for Christmas

Looking out the window at the big metal plane, I frown. “No, I’m supposed to be going to Mexico.”

She offers me a curt smile and shuts the gate.

So, that’s it. There’s nothing I can do but sit here and watch the plane fly away.

What a lackluster ending.

Sitting on one of the seats, I spend the rest of my day in the airport, texting Drew’s number, hoping he’d respond, but the blue dots never appear, which can only mean one thing.

He’s blocked me.

It’s really over. We’re really done.

I flick the paper ticket in my hand, reading the destination.

Maybe I should flee to Mexico. After all, what do I have in Hope if I don’t have Drew? I can’t run track. My father doesn’t want to look at me. I don’t want to look at him either, and it’s not like I enjoy living here. Nothing in this place excites me, and maybe it’s time I face reality.

I don’t want to be here without Drew. But being herewithDrew isn’t an option, either. Where he was everything to me, I ruined everything for him. My dad’s right; my actions would suggest I hate him and I tried to force him out.

A sad reality sits heavy on my chest. Maybe it’s time to move on. Drew and I tried. We imploded in the worst possible way. There’s nowhere else for us to go. So, maybe I need to let him go.

Too bad I don’t want to.

Chapter 28

Bella

Four Months Later

“We’re here.”

With my head resting against the glass, I stare out at the familiar airport before whacking Dave’s headrest.

“Thanks, Dave. I appreciate all the rides you’ve given me since I joined St. Michael’s.”

When he doesn’t answer me immediately, I peer around the seat, noting his closed eyes and pained expression. Aw, is he as sad as I am that this might be the last time he gives me a ride?

“I know. I know. I can’t believe it’s the end either, but don’t you think dropping me off at the airport is a real full circle moment for us?”

He grumbles, which I can only assume is because he’s too choked up with emotion to speak.

Opening my door, I round the car to find Dave already at the trunk with my two full-sized bags ready to go. That’s new. He never usually helps me. I hold my hands out and scoff in surprise. “Woah, D. What did I do to deserve the five-star treatment from you?”

“You’re leaving for good,” he says with no emotion.

I tilt my head and pout my bottom lip out. See. He’ll miss me. It’s not because he’s happy I’ll be gone. It’s that he’s sad to see me go.

With my arms still open, I expect him to come in for a hug, but he pushes my bag in the empty space between us instead.

Frowning, I grip onto the suitcase and pull it up to the sidewalk. “Good luck with everything, Dave. I hope with each ride you give, you get closer to your destination.”

Dave doesn’t respond to my pleasantries; he just walks over to the carts and rolls one out for me. Again, something new, and I smile as he loads the bags up. He grunts as he drags my suitcases onto the cart. I probably didn’t need two full-sized cases for London, but I didn’t want to leave anything behind at Hope. Besides, I’d heard the weather in the UK was as unpredictable as my feelings for Drew, so I’d say it was a good thing to have more options than less.

“I’m not good with goodbyes, so let’s leave it as I’ll look you up next time I visit my dad.”

He didn’t need to know that would likely never happen. To say my relationship with him has been strained after the whole Drew fiasco would be an understatement. He thinks I’ve ruined his chances for another championship this year, and I think he ruined my chance at real love.

Unfortunately for him, my guilty conscience wouldn’t let Drew take the fall for everything, even though my dad begged me to keep it quiet. I didn’t. I told the Dean it was me in the video, and I was the one that broke in. I was politely told that I would need to find a new place to finish my studies at the end of this semester, which was fine by me.

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