Page 56 of Buzzer Beater

She stopped walking, forcing Olli to stop too.

“What do you mean you think so?” He asked.

“We talked. She told me about a lot that’s been going on with her. She already told me that she forgave me about everything that happened. I think we’re starting anew.”

She tilted her head while Olli laughed. “You have no idea what’s going on, do you?”

I glared at him. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t know what you’re doing. She opened up to you, and what are you doing with the information? How did you react? Are you taking action?”

“I haven’t gotten that far yet.”

They shook their heads at me simultaneously. “Brassard, man,” Olli said, “you need to figure things out.”

I glared at Olli until Emma nodded. “You know we love you, but you’re being so stupid, and I don’t know what else to say. Stop thinking and analyzing and start proving yourself to her.”

With that they walked away without looking back.

Had all of my friends lost their faith in me? I swear each of them had given me a lecture or glare today. They were right though. I needed to get out of my head and focus on taking action.

I headed back to my room and grabbed my laptop. I had an hour to research, then it was time to go for it.

The symptoms for both of her conditions didn’t sound fun. Weight gain, hair loss, fatigue, muscle aches, depression. Plus, she had PCOS messing with her body.

I couldn't imagine not being in control. Everything I ate was carefully considered and planned by my nutritionist, and I worked out every day without fail so I expected my body to react a certain way. As long as I took care of it, it didn’t fail me.

How would it be to have a body that doesn’t follow those rules?

She seemed frustrated when she was talking about it. I understood why.

She saw herself with all the negatives first. She saw the symptoms because that’s what she was feeling.

I didn’t see her that way. She’s just as beautiful as she was five years ago. Sure, she had more curves, but I’d never complain about that, not for one second. No man would.

How could I get her to understand that?

That was my mission. Maybe if I could get through to her, she would believe it. That would be enough. At the end of this week, we may not end up together, but if I could convince her to see herself the way I do, I could leave happy.

“Brassard, are you coming?”

Grant was waiting for me, dressed in pants and a polo. Time had gotten away from me.

I looked down at myself and grimaced. There was no way I could get away without a shower.

“Give me three minutes.”

He narrowed his eyes. “I’m timing you. Starting now.”

I shoved my laptop to the side and went to the drawers to grab clothes before rushing to the shower.

I lathered, rinsed, and dried in record time. I dressed and combed my hair with my fingers once before opening the door.

Grant shook his head and started walking out as I followed. “That was impressive.”

“Thanks.” You got used to getting ready that fast after practices and games. It came in handy in times like this too.

We got to the restaurant and I tried to act normal when I realized that there were only two available spots, one next to Lucy and one next to Elena. Almost as if it was planned. I looked around at the two tables, but none of the Pride was willing to meet my eyes. I shook my head and took the open seat next to Lucy.