Love on the Sidelines

Sometime love hits you at the strangest times, like on the lacrosse field.

I spend my days coaching a spirited bunch of teenage girls in lacrosse. It’s challenging, but seeing their passion for the game makes it all worth it. Recently, a new girl joined our team, and to my surprise, she turned out to be Charlie’s niece. Charlie, my brother’s childhood best friend, loves to donate to our team, which drives me crazy, but it helps our girls have a better chance at a future in this sport.
Money has always been a tricky subject for me. My parents left me at my grandma’s house when they came into money, choosing to travel the world without me. My ex-boyfriend, controlled by his family’s wealth, walked out on our relationship when I wouldn’t abide by the rules.
So, when I see Charlie, I can’t help but draw parallels. His generosity feels like a shadow of my past, and it’s hard to separate the two.
But as we travel to lacrosse games and tournaments, I see a different side of Charlie. He’s not just his money.
He’s there for his niece, cheering louder than anyone, always ready with a supportive word. Slowly, my initial reservations fade. The more time we spend together, the more I realize how much I genuinely like him.
Maybe, just maybe, love can begin on the sidelines.

Love on the Sidelines is part of the Sunkissed Summer Novellas, a multi-author series about six former college roommates. They’ve gone their separate ways but love is going to find them all in the exact same summer!