Page 114 of Courtside

“Fuck no!” Sage realized how loud she was and felt her cheeks flush. “No. I don’t want it to be over.”

“So then what are you gonna do?”

“I don’t know,” Sage admitted. “I’m afraid, I think.”

“Of what?”

Sage let out a pained laugh. “Of everything! Of choosing him and him not choosing me back. Of forgiving him.”

“Why?”

“What if I’m wrong and he hurts me again?”

“You know,” Maggie said, walking back over to brace her forearms on the bar in front of Sage. “People don’t talk about how hard it is to offer forgiveness. Not just sayin’ the words, but actually believin’ in it. I think it’s one of the bravest things a person can do.”

Sage hummed. “He’s so tall.”

Maggie cackled. “That he is.”

“And he wants to go down on me.” Sage plucked a piece of ice from her water, squeezing it between her fingers until it popped out one side and skittered across the surface of the bar. She frowned at it.

“I wassonot expectin’ that,” she heard Maggie mutter. “Isn’t that a good thing?”

Sage shrugged, thinking back to the one time she’d let Evan put his face between her thighs. “Dunno. Tried it once and the guy gave me shit for taking too long. Never done it since.”

She looked up and caught Maggie’s horrified expression. “What the fuck is wrong with men,” Maggie said, shaking her head. “So are you thinkin’ about lettin’ David, you know, celebrate lady-taco Tuesday?”

Sage cracked up, snorting loudly before getting control over herself. A little glimmer of vulnerability snuck through the tequila haze. “I don’t let anybody see me like that,” she said quietly.

Maggie, to her credit, leaned in closer. “Like what?”

Sage fumbled for the right word. “Vulnerable.”

Maggie gave her a sympathetic look. “Guess you’re just gonna have to decide if David is just ‘anybody’ or if he’s somethin’ else.”

Sage didn’t know what to say to that, so she refocused her energy on trying to talk Maggie into making her another margarita. Unfortunately she failed, in spite of her whining and complaining about the terrible service. She even threatened to leave a one star online review.

“You’ll thank me tomorrow,” Maggie had said as she ushered Sage out the door and into the passenger seat of her small SUV.

“Why am I in your car?” Sage asked much too late. They were already driving.

“I’m takin’ you home.”

Sage scoffed. “I can walk just fine.”

“You’re irrationally stubborn and very silly,” Maggie commented as she turned into the apartment complex. “Think you can make it from here?” she asked, coming to a stop next to the curb.

“Chya.” Sage paused to lean on the door. “I’m glad you’re my friend.”

Maggie’s eyes softened. “Right back atcha.”

Sage shut the door and started walking toward the gate, pleasantly surprised that her feet and legs were cooperating.

“Sage!”

She turned back to see that Maggie had rolled down the passenger window. “Miss me already?”

Maggie laughed and shook her head. “Don’t even think about goin’ to see him tonight!”

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