Page 141 of The Problem with Players

Priya smiled. “Last week after my AP Chemistry test. Now, come on, guys. I made a new batch of cookies I want you all to try for me.”

The guys shot from in front of my car with haste and started in the direction of Evan and Priya’s place. If I knew cookies would get them to move, I would’ve offered that up from the jump.

Evan hung back with me and grimaced as he watched his daughter walk away. “I still have no clue how she became so wise,” he said.

I patted him on the shoulder. “She was raised by a good man.”

“No,” he disagreed, gesturing toward the other three guys who were playfully pushing Priya around. “It takes a village.” He smirked slightly. “She’s right, too, you know. About Avery. Just keep making her feel seen. Besides, you’ve waited how long for her to come back around? What’s a little bit longer?”

43

AVERY

Daddy and Alex moved all my things into my new apartment while Yara, Willow, and I sat on my new couch, watching the men work hard. I held Teresa Marie in my arms as she slept peacefully. I couldn’t believe there was a new generation in the family. She was as perfect as ever, too.

“Okay,” I said, looking up from the sleeping baby toward my sisters. “I know you’re both thinking a lot, so go ahead and let it all out. I will give you the next”—I glanced at my watch—“three minutes to ask me anything you please about Nathan and me.”

Yara went first. “Do you love him?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Did you freak out because you love him?” Willow questioned.

“Also yes,” I replied.

“Do you miss him?” Yara asked.

I sighed, feeling a flip in my stomach. “More than words.”

“Then go get him,” Yara said, resting a comforting hand against my forearm. “You deserve love more than anyone else, Avery.”

Her words left her mouth, but they didn’t hit my soul. I couldn’t believe them to be true because my self-love was lacking. How could I accept love from anyone else?

“He got offered a job. A dream job at Prest University in Georgia. I won’t stand in his way of that opportunity, especially when I’m so wishy-washy with him. It’s not fair. It’s not right. Besides, he’s made for more than this small town. More than me,” I told them.

“Avery,” Willow scolded. “Stop making yourself sound so small. Anyone is lucky to get you. Nathan would stay for you. I know he would.”

“I do too,” I confessed. “Which is why I pushed him away. I can’t have him give up his dreams because of me. This is for the best,” I said. “He’ll go to Prest and become an amazing coach, and I’ll stay here. Everything will go back to normal. I’ll coach at the high school, and I’ll return to my life as if nothing happened between Nathan and me.”

“But so much did happen, Ave. So much good,” Willow stated. She took my hand in hers. “Avery…does Nathan make you feel?”

“Feel what?”

“Anything,” she said.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, and I nodded slowly. “Everything. He makes me feeleverything.”

Yara’s eyes flashed with tears as she reached out to wipe mine that decided to slip down my cheeks. “Ave?—”

“Time’s up,” I said with a forced smile. “And I think Teresa needs a new diaper.”

The team’stalent only grew more and more as we made our way to state. Which we did—we made it to state!

I couldn’t believe the transformation that took place overthe past few months with the Honey Creek Hornets, and I knew so much of it had to do with Nathan Pierce getting on board. He wasn’t only the best thing that happened to me, but he was the best thing that happened to the team, too.

With the flurry of everything going on, we’d had interview after interview leading up to the final series. The last interview we did was with ESPN, which felt as close to the big leagues as I’d ever get. I was nervous doing an interview, especially after how the media had been toward me, but I knew it would be good to shed light on our team. The more attention we got, the more attention the boys received from the scouts.

As I sat mic’d up beside Nathan during the interview, I tried my best not to look nervous. Nathan naturally took the lead on a lot of the questioning. At some points, I felt as if the interview was trying to make little digs at Nathan about his past career and how it went up in flames. Nathan, being the professional that he’d always been, handled it with grace.

---