Page 107 of The Baller

“Oh, Mills.” I wrapped my arms around her again and squeezed tight. The endorphins were still surfing my blood stream, but the tears were also very close to the surface, and I didn’t have enough energy left to push them down.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because you’re the bestest friend, and I’m so lucky to have you. I wouldn’t have survived the last two years without you. I love you, and I don’t have the words to describe how much.”

Using her sleeve, Millie wiped the tears pouring down my cheeks, neglecting her own. “You saved me when my dad died. I was trying so hard to keep it together for my mom, and my brothers had each other, and if I hadn’t had you, I would have lost it. You never left my side when I was going through the worst time of my life, there’s no way I’d have ever left you when you were going through yours.”

There wasn’t anything more to add, so I hugged her tight. We set off again and soon found ourselves walking through Van Am Quad, which was a throughfare of students at any time of day. We passed through here multiple times a day as it was right by our dorm, but this time, out of nowhere, I started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

I shook my head with a giggle. “This is where we were walking when the guys thought Jake was a creeper, and jumped him.”

“I still can’t believe that. Poor Jake.”

“When are you going to admit to me you have the hots for Jake?

“Admit it?” Her brows shot into the air. “Of course, I do. He’s insanely hot for an older guy.”

“There’s nothing to say you can’t hook up.”

“Not for me. I’ll admire from afar, and fuck with him from close-by,” she laughed.

“Oh, come on, you could totally hook up.”

“No. His job is too dangerous.” The simplicity of her words carried so much weight it made my heart ache.

“It feels like so long ago since that night,” I said, as we passed the rotunda.

Millie wrapped her coat tighter, and squeezed her arm with mine. “It was definitely warmer.”

“Yeah, it was. We’ve gone through a whole season since then.” I huffed a laugh. “You remember saying how we were going to make this place ours?

She nodded.

“I wanted to believe you so badly, but I couldn’t see it. I can now, I can feel it. We’re going to have the best time.”

Her million-dollar smile split her face. “We fucking are, but before then, get your ass in the shower because I’m really hungry and we’re supposed to meet the others for lunch in fifteen minutes.” She pointed to the entrance for our dorm.

“Good job we have a ride then, isn’t it?” I called behind me as I took the steps two at a time.

Go to the gym by myself

“What’re you doing?

“Crossing off an item on my list,” I replied with a smile at Delaney.

“It’s a list of things she wants to do...” Piped up Millie at Delaney’s confused face as she whipped the notebook out of my hands. Her eyes moved down the list. “You can cross more stuff off. You stood up to those frat boys, that counts... spend a day in public… work experience… wait, why’s that dickhead’s name on here?”

I shrugged. “I dunno. I just felt like it should be, but I don’t know what the action is.”

Lux inched closer to me and dropped a kiss on my head.

“I like this list of yours, it’s a great idea,” Delaney chimed in.

“It was Lux’s idea.”

Her eyes shot to Lux, studying him for a second or two. “You know, you’re alright for a Lion.”

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