Page 150 of The Problem with Players

“A little,” she confessed.

I held a hand out toward her. “That’s all right. We can do things scared.”

“What if he doesn’t want me to ride? I don’t know. I’m just…”

“Coach,” I cut in.

“Yeah?”

“Do you trust me?”

She hesitated for a moment before she placed her hand into mine.

I got Avery saddled up, and Lightning was more than willing to allow her on board. I leaned against the fence as Avery took my big boy for a few spins. They looked good together. Always had. Always would.

In that split moment, I was a young boy watching a young girl riding my Lightning for the first time. And there, once more, I began to fall in love all over again.

I didn’t know falling in love was a repeated action. I used to think it happened once and then it was locked in. But it was clear to me now that the falling never ceased. I was in a free fall, tumbling down more and more for the woman in front of me.

When it came to my love for her, I’d hope I’d never touch solid ground.

In August,Avery laughed more than ever before.

She laughed at my good jokes.

She laughed at my bad ones even more.

That made it a good month for me.

48

AVERY

SEPTEMBER

“Rumor has it that it’s someone’s birthday,” Nathan mentioned as he walked out to the pitcher’s mound, where I was already waiting for our first OSS meeting of September. He had a box in one hand and a food container in the other.

I smiled. “Let me guess, a sister of mine told you about it.”

He sat down beside me and shook his head. “I remembered it from when we were younger.”

“Then you also recall how I don’t like celebrating birthdays.”

“Yeah, but a little homemade cake never hurt anyone.” He opened the container and revealed a beautiful cake with lavender frosting and beautiful yellow piping around the edges. “I present to you a hummingbird cake.”

My mouth parted slightly. “That’s my favorite dessert. My mom used to make it for me all the time.”

He smiled.

He remembered.

“You made me a hummingbird cake?” I echoed, stunned.

“Yes.” He shrugged. “Actually, Priya made it. But I did add the eggs.”

I laughed. “Close enough. Thank you.”

“Always.”

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