Page 75 of The First Play

He swears under his breath, resting his forehead against mine. “I’m trying to do the right thing here. For both of us.”

Letting go of his shirt, I sniff again, feeling this odd numbness travel over me. He’s not going to change his mind. I can feel it. There’s nothing I can say or do to make him bend.

This is over.

For a season or a year or forever, I don’t know.

But for now… we’re done.

I stand there in that knowledge for I don’t know how long, fighting tears and whimpering quietly against the door. He holds my face, brushing his thumbs along my cheekbones and not saying a damn thing.

It takes everything in me to finally find the strength to push him away.

I gently nudge him back, crossing my arms and shrinking away from him. “You should go.”

“Sen—”

“It’s time for you to go.” I nod, then sniff again. “Go.”

“Please, I don’t want to?—”

“Go, Zander! Just go!”

He jerks away from my sudden scream, blinking at me like I’ve lost my mind before stumbling away from me.

I squeeze my arms until I can feel my nails digging into my skin, leaving sharp indents that hurt. But I can’t let up.

After a beat of unbearable silence, Zander finally shows a little mercy and walks out of my room.

As soon as I hear the front door shut downstairs, I run to my bed, fling myself onto it, and let those gut-wrenching sobs break free.

CHAPTER 31

ZANDER

I’ve been feeling like shit ever since I ended things with Sienna. That look on her face when she asked me to go… fuck, I knew she probably flung herself onto her bed as soon as I left and cried her heart out.

I cried too.

She probably wouldn’t believe me if I told her, but I did.

When I walked through my dad’s front door, he took one look at my face and knew.

“You did it.”

“Yeah.” My voice broke, and he stood from the table, walking around to wrap his arms around me.

I wasn’t used to hugs from my old man, but he squeezed the back of my neck and held me as I broke apart and cried like a fucking baby.

It’s the weirdest thing, but since football camp, Dad and I have been getting along better. He was really proud of all that I achieved that week. Coach Jones must have talked me up big-time, because Dad’s been all smiles and praise.

And now I’ve gone and done the last thing he wanted me to do, and I could feel his pride as he held me tight and let me mourn.

After that cryfest, I took the longest shower. I stayed in that steaming box until my skin was bright red and wrinkled. It didn’t make me feel any better.

I couldn’t sleep that night, and I haven’t slept well any night since.

I miss my girl.

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