Page 11 of The Way We Score

We set records. It was fun, the best years of my professional career. It reminded me of when I used to play with Hendrix in high school, another golden time in my life.

Then he met my sister.

Now he’s a sports radio host and producer, retired from the game, and getting married in a week.

“What happened with Liv?” He’s not letting me off the hook, and I stop walking.

We’ve reached a copse of live oak trees, and the city has placed a nice wooden bench in the shade. It’s not awfully hot yet, so I walk over and take a seat. He follows me, doing the same, and we look out at a boat across the bay, headed down to one of the barrier islands.

“I haven’t thought about this in a long time.” My voice is quiet. “I haven’t wanted to think about it.”

Logan’s dark brow furrows, and his square jaw tightens. “Did she cheat on you?”

“What? Hell, no.” I huff a noise, leaning forward and placing my forearms on my thighs and clasping my hands. “Liv was always true blue. At least that’s what I realized when I finally got my head out of my ass. When it was too late.”

“So what happened?”

“She went to LSU. I went to Bama.”

“What?” Disbelief cuts through his tone. “I don’t believe that for a second. It was more than just that old rivalry.”

Lowering my chin, I rub the back of my neck feeling all the guilt and shame all over again. “Yeah, it was more than that.”A helluva lot more.

“How much more?”

My throat is dry and achy. “I thought we’d be like my parents. They went to the same school, graduated together, gotmarried, had babies. I thought Liv would go with me when I went to the pros.”

“She didn’t feel the same about you?”

My hands are clasped in front of me, and I hang my head. I know she did. She wanted to stay together, but she didn’t want to give up her dreams for my football career.

“I was hurt when she left. I thought we were on the same page about our plans, and we weren’t. I wanted her by my side all the way, but she wanted her own things.”

“Things like what?”

Scratching my chin, I exhale slowly. “All through high school, I’d only ever had my sights set on one college. The only college in Alabama for football.”

Logan’s lips twist. “If I remember correctly, there are two SEC teams in Alabama.”

“I’m talking about serious football.”

He laughs, holding up both hands. “So it’s like that?”

My eyes lift to the bay, and I nod. “It’s always been like that for me.”

“You let a football rivalry come between what might’ve been your one true love?” He’s joking around, but he has no idea.

“It was worse than that.” My stomach is a hot ball of tension. “We tried to stay together. She wanted to do long-distance, but damn, she was so fine. You should’ve seen her on that field in that skimpy uniform. Every guy wanted her.”

“But she was yours.”

A low growl rumbles in my chest, and I rub my fingers over my closed eyes. “You might’ve noticed I can be a bit of a hothead.”

“Not you.” His tone is teasing. “You’re the best guy I know.”

“I’ve had a lot of time to grow up.”

“Before you did all that growing up, what did you do?”

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