Page 12 of The Perfect Love

I shift in my chair, again that sensation of begging crawling up my spine, but then Coach M smiles.

“How long did you play?”

“Pretty much my whole life. It’s something my dad introduced me to at a young age, and I fell in love with it.”

“From the behind-the-scenes things, what are you hoping to get from that? Just being close to the game or preparation for your future?”

“Both, I guess. I’m leaning toward wanting to work with some kind of sports development or management, maybe in a school or college or even a minor league team.”

He nods and claps his hands together. “I have some ideas, but I want to look into a couple of things. Can you stop in tomorrow morning around the same time?”

“Yes, sir.”

I stand and extend my hand to his.

He shakes it, a smile coming through.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

The second I’m outside his office, I let out a whoosh of air. I did it, and to my surprise, I feel lighter now. I don’t think I realized how much facing this reality and finding a way forward was weighing on me. Not that it’s a magic solution to the trauma I caused myself and am still healing from, but it’s progress, and that’s the whole point in this fresh start,Eat, Pray, Love, sparkly rom-com journey I’m on now.

With that weight off my shoulders, I set off to find my way across campus and make today my bitch.

4

Book Boys Are Better

Chelsea

Today has not beenwhat I was expecting.

I anticipated some uncertainty, some anxiety, and probably for something small to trigger me. But today has been… great.

I’ve liked my classes so far, but the shining star of the day has been Promise Advocacy.

From the second I walked in the door, I knew I was safe.

It wasn’t one specific thing, but a low-key vibe. Maybe it’s the quiet space with calming music or the comforting maternal energy, but whatever it is, it’s working. If I’d had a place like this to go after I was raped, maybe I wouldn’t have crashed and broken as badly as I did.

Promise Advocacy is a safe space for women who have faced sexual assault, sexual abuse, or rape. A main focus there is outreach, working with local high schools and the college to provide resources and education to help prevent sexual assault and rape and to give girls and women who have been through it a safe place.

They’re killing it.

A lot of it has to do with the director, Kristen. Up until today, I’d only spoken with her over video call, but she has a decisive yet calming presence. When I applied for this internship—which is extremely competitive, and I got lucky that one of the interns from last year transferred schools so there was an availability—I told my story. It was the first time I’d written out what happened to me and let that story out, but it felt good, and my past experience—horrible as it was—is probably part of what made me a good fit to work here. They have peer counselors and support groups and they want their staff to come in understanding the gravity of the work they do. I get it. And I still need that support too.

Like she knew that, Kristen was waiting by the reception desk to meet me when I walked in, and when we got back to her office, she asked if I was okay. She genuinely cared about what my experience was and where I was at in the healing process. She also reminded me that Promise’s services are open to me too. I was lucky growing up that I didn’t have to work crappy jobs because I helped at my family’s campground, but I’ve heard of the toxic work environments friends and classmates have had to endure, and it’s obvious Promise isn’t anything like that. Even though I spent most of the time there today being shown around and meeting people, I already had that feeling of belonging. It’s where I’m supposed to be. It’s where I can make a difference and help others.

Every experience today was a positive one, and it all left me feeling fantastic. Like the old version of me. The one who was always upbeat, outgoing, and ready for some fun.

Which must be why I’m driving off campus to a lake house a girl I met three hours ago invited me to.

Although, to be fair, I met her at Promise, where she also interns. Rae McKinley was one of the first people Kristen introduced me to today. Rae has been working there for the last two years, and was the one to show me around and introduce me to everyone there. She took it a step further by offering to introduce me to her best friends—all seven of them, who she lives with.

I immediately said yes, then second-guessed it. But when I clarified to make sure it wasn’t a party, her eyes met mine, and a moment of understanding passed between us. We don’t know each other’s stories, but we’ve lived each other’s pain. Then she told me whether I joined her tonight or not, their house is a safe space. It only took her a few minutes to understand what I needed to hear and genuinely care in a way my supposed friends back home couldn’t do over the course of nine months.

Hearing Rae talk about her friends, how they grew up, and her adorable relationship with her fiancé solidified my decision as the right one.

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