Page 1 of If Everything Was Easy

Prologue

Present Day

Ava- age 21

Ever have one of those days when self-doubt seems to take hold, and not want to let go? You have these dreams, and they’ve been your dreams for so long, that you don’t know how to do anything else. You ask yourself if it’s all been a lie, and you answer… maybe?

I’ve been dreaming of being a professional soccer player for as long as I can remember. My dad got me involved in the sport when I was three. He never pushed, I did that all on my own, but he’s also never tried to talk me out of it. My stepmom, Madi, began coaching me as soon as I could kick the ball. She taught me skills that most little kids had never even attempted. I was playing with the teens when I was ten. This is where I met Danny. Danny’s three years older, and had always been like a brother… until he wasn’t. My life just kinda happened around me, and now as I sit here questioning if this is what I wanted, I wondered if it was all for nothing.

The sacrifices I made over the years: the late-night practices, the missed family time, playing injured, giving up most things a teenager dreams of. Where in that equation was a career-ending injury supposed to be scripted?

When it happened, I almost didn’t believe it. I laid there on the field clutching my leg to my chest and murmuring, “It’s a dream. This isn’t real.” Only it was, and it was the beginning of when it all changed… for the better or worse? I don’t really know yet, and I don’t know if I have the courage to find out. It’s days like thiswhen I needed my mom to tell me what to do. I needed a sign, or something, and I was tired of waiting for it.

Waiting seemed to be all I was doing. Waiting for news, waiting for a future I might not want anymore, waiting for it not to hurt when I thought of him and how he left.

Chapter 1

6 months ago…

Ava

“Are you coming or not?” My roommate, Ashley, stuck her head through my bedroom door. “If you say no… never mind, you can’t say no. I’m not going to let you.” She wagged her finger at me and then stepped the rest of the way through the door.

“I’m not really feeling that festive today,” I groaned as I sat down on the edge of my bed.

“Why? Because Dickbag Danny didn’t call you?” She rolled her eyes. “Forget him, and forget anyone else who doesn’t know how amazing you are.” She grinned. “I have a great night planned, and you can now legally drink your problems away.”

“You know what? You’re right.” I stood up and gave a quick nod. Danny could kiss my ass. If he didn’t remember it was my birthday, then that was on him, not me. “Give me a few to fix this hot mess, and we’re out of here.” I waved her off.

“You better hurry. I’m pouring shots, and I don’t want to have to take yours,” she called from somewhere in the apartment.

“We have practice tomorrow,” I yelled back. Ashley was always up for a good time, and I knew that she knew I wasn’t having the best day. My dad and Madi called me this morning. Thiswas always hard for him. My birthday was always right before the anniversary of my mom’s death. He’s coped better over the years, but it’s still hard for him.

My teammates have been sending me little messages all day to cheer me up because they knew the one person I wanted to see this weekend was my boyfriend, Danny. We’d been together for four years now. At first it was easy spending time together. He went to school here, but he graduated a year ago, and this past winter he accepted a job in Colorado. We rarely saw each other, and when we did he acted like he didn’t have time for me. The last few times I’d called him, he’d sent me to voicemail. I honestly didn’t know why we were still together. I’d always thought he was it for me, but now I didn’t know anymore.

“Are you done yet?” Ashley sighed as she marched back into my room.

“Almost.” I pulled a pair of sandals out of the closet and began slipping them on. “Does this look ok?” I spun. My brown hair was pulled up, and I’d slipped into this pink t-shirt dress. We were just going to one of the bars near campus, but I really didn’t dress up. Most days I was in workout gear.

“More than ok. I wish I tanned like you.” She grinned. “Come on, Justin’s picking us up.” She grabbed my arm and began pulling me to the front door. “He promised he’s being the DD tonight so we could have fun. Isn’t he the bestest?” She giggled and then hiccupped.

“The bestest.” I laughed. “I think you got started a little early.”

“It’s my best friend’s twenty-first birthday!” She pumped her fist in the air. “It should be a national holiday or something.” We skipped down the stairs and out to the parking lot where Justin was waiting. We climbed in, and Ashley rambled off someaddress to him. I wasn’t really paying attention because I didn’t want the sting of Danny’s rejection to invade my night any more than it already had.

“Hey!!!! She’s here!” Sara and Karlie cheered as we walked through the door. The whole team had come out.

“Did you plan this?” I turned and smiled at my best friend.

“You only turn twenty-one once.” She shrugged. “I wanted to make it special.”

“Thank you.” I hugged her.

“Eh, it’s what best friends do.” She grinned as she shouted toward the bartender. “Birthday special for my friend here.”

“Coming right up,” he called back as he began grabbing bottles and pouring what looked to be an entire liquor store into a glass. “Bottom’s up.” He handed it over. It was blue and had whipped cream and sprinkles on top. It smelled like cotton candy, and when I sipped it, it tasted like a mix of cake batter and blueberries. The fact that it didn’t taste like alcohol should have a been a sign that I needed to go slow, but under the encouragement of my friends, I threw caution to the wind for one night and let loose.

Before long, Sara had her phone linked to the sound system, and we were having our own karaoke session in the back corner of the bar. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came over the speakers, and Ashley began belting out the words like her life depended on them into an invisible microphone in her hand. We were three sheets to the wind when the bar started calming down and lastcall was shouted. “This was so much fun. Thanks for making me come.” I stumbled as I wrapped my arms around Ashley.

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