Page 208 of The Surprise Play

And I don’t even know if it sits right with me.

“Austin and I think that’s your best move.” Dad pats my hand, his eyes lighting as he gives me a genuine smile. “We’re going to see our football dreams come true, son. You just hang in there and get better as fast as you can. It’s all about mindset. I want you to start filling your head with positive thoughts, telling your body that it wants to heal and is capable of coming out even stronger than before.”

Mom sniffs and starts nodding, her eyes glassy as she takes my other hand. “It’s all going to work out, darling. Austin and Dad will take care of the details, and you can just sit back and enjoy this new adventure, okay? I know it’s not the way we originally planned, but we’ve got your back. We’ll do everything we can to help you through this.”

I glance between my parents’ hopeful faces and know I should be cracking a smile right now.

They’re giving me solutions that I shouldwantto hear. But all I can feel is a deep disappointment, because I don’t love either scenario. If I drop out of school for this training camp thing, I’ll be kissing my degree goodbye… and Satch. I’ll have to leave her sooner than I want.

If I stay, I could fuck up my chances of getting drafted with the best team possible.

I don’t know what the hell to do.

This should be a no-brainer, but it’s not.

I’ve never felt more uncertain before in my life. My course has always been so narrow and singularly focused, but I have a woman who I love now…

A woman who has opened my eyes to more than just the game.

A woman who my parents will never accept if they think she’ll sway my decision away from football.

CHAPTER 63

ELIZABETH

I admit it—I left the hospital, tucked myself around the corner of the building, and had a decent cry. The cold air made my tears feel like icicles, but I just stood there in the glacial breeze and let them fall.

I didn’t sob.

There was no jerking stomach or hiccups popping out of my mouth.

These were silent tears that swelled my throat and made it ache.

I wasn’t crying just because of Wily not introducing me as his girlfriend. It was everything. It all caught up to me in a rush, and I wept for Wily’s heartbreak, for the pain he was going through, and all that he’d still suffer on his road to recovery.

I wept for the fact that his parents didn’t seem to be lavishing him with the care and understanding I felt he needed.

And yeah, I cried because he didn’t claim me.

I’m not sure why he didn’t.

The pained look on his face when he caught my eye before I left the room told me there was more to it.

I need to let logic win on this, keep calm and force those ugly emotions away.

They’re battling to break down the bridge we built over the weekend.

They’re mocking me and whispering in my ear,“He never really wanted you. You’re not worth his time. He was just being nice when he said he loved you.”

But each nasty taunt is countered by the look on Wily’s face when he told me I’m amazing and made me promise to believe him.

He meant it, right?

He wasn’t lying. And he wasn’t just being nice.

He really does think I’m amazing.

So why wouldn’t he tell his parents that?