Page 3 of The Way We Score

“Garrett.” Her chin pulls back, and she grimaces like I suggested she go to clown college. “The Golden Girls are the best, most historic precision dance line in the SEC.”

My stomach twists as my lips curl in disgust. “But it’sLSU.”

Dylan gives Liv’s hand a squeeze before stepping back and grabbing her book, and I’m pretty sure she can sense my mood. She’s leaving us alone.

“I’ve got to meet Craig. We’re supposed to be practicing this afternoon. See ya, Liv. See ya, Grizz.”

Grizz. Short forGrizzly, because I’m a bear. Only, I don’t feel like a bear. I feel like a dog who’s just been kicked. Hard. I’ve got the wind knocked out of me, and I’m wondering if I’m the last person to know my own girlfriend’s college ambitions.

“How long have you been planning this?” I hear the confusion, the pain in my voice.

Liv blinks up at me, her pretty hazel eyes wide and pleading. “I applied to all the state schools back in November, but Grizz, you’ve known what I want to do. It’s never been a secret.”

Reaching up, I trace my finger across her cheek, moving a lock of strawberry hair behind her ear. Her palms are on my chest, and I move my hands to her waist, pulling her closer to me.

“I never knew you wanted to go to Baton Rouge.”

“You could come with me. You have your pick of teams.”

I almost laugh. “I can’t play for the Tigers. I grew up hating those guys.”

“You don’t have to hate them. It’s only football.”

It’s like I’m inTheTwilight Zone. It’s like I’ve spent the last four years believing one thing, and I’m waking up to discover everyone else believed something completely opposite.

Liv has been a given in my life so long, I can’t even imagine myself without her.

“What about us?” My voice softens. “Don’t you love me?”

I think about every time I’ve held her in my arms. I thinkabout all the times I’ve devoured her lips, the taste of cherry lip gloss on my tongue. I think about her long legs straddling my waist, sitting in the driver’s seat of my truck, her beautiful hair falling around us as I pulled a hard nipple into my mouth. I think of the two of us holding each other so tight as she came apart on my cock, and I lost myself deep in her warm body. So many times, I’ve lost count.

Beyond that, I think of being wrapped in a blanket with her at a bonfire with all our friends, cheering for our home team, prepping for the big games, homecoming, state champs.

I think of her soft lips whispering in my ear,I love you…

She’s always been my forever.

“Of course, I love you.” Her eyes flicker to her hands, and she blinks fast. “It’s only four years. If we’re really meant to be together, we can make it work long distance.”

“But it’s the best four years.” My voice is soft, pleading. “I don’t want to make those memories without you.”

Her eyes lift to mine, and it hurts so much. My dream since I was a little boy—or a smaller human, since I was never really little—was to play for the Tide. I grew up in a house of black-and-white houndstooth and crimson.

Her dream has always been to be a dancer. Not like Dylan’s dreams of New York and the American Ballet Company. No, my girl wants to be a show-stopper. She’s fierce and sexy.

She’s leaving me.

Lifting her hand, she puts a cool palm against my cheek. “I promise, we can make this work. We just have to believe we can.”

I don’t want to believe. I don’t want to work hard. I want her with me always. I don’t want to let her go.

Dropping my chin, I know that makes me sound like a child. “Of course I believe we can. We’ll FaceTime and call and text and do what it takes.”

“We’ll both be so busy, you with practice and games, and me with practice and games.” Her lips tremble as she forces a smile,and a crystal tear hits her cheek when she blinks. “You have to believe we can do this, Garret. If you don’t believe in us…”

An ache grips my throat, and I slide my hand in the back of her hair, pulling her closer into a tight hug.

“I’ll never love anyone the way I love you, Liv.” Thickness is in my voice. “If that doesn’t mean we can make it, I don’t know what does.”

---