Page 74 of Buzzer Beater

“Thanks.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll call you in for a favor eventually.”

I didn’t doubt that. Once he was gone, I opened my laptop and stared at the blank document. The cursor blinked at me. Mocking me.

I almost shut it, but I couldn't quit. I needed to do this. It might be the most important thing I do.

Once I started, the words flowed. I poured every emotion, desire, and pain out on the keyboard. I recalled how we met. The first time I saw her and the first time I knew I loved her, before I told her. How everyday with her had been a miracle. How incredibly lucky I felt to have that time, even though it ended. I knew some people would never know a love like ours. I didn't take that for granted.

I wrote about the breakup. How devastating it was. How I had to pretend like I was okay. How I had to function through it all. How the night of the draft I was miserable because I just wanted her there. How my accomplishments felt empty without her with me.

How I felt seeing her again. The shock after all these years. How she hadn't changed, yet she was completely different. How much that scared me. The hope I’d felt at having another chance at spending even a few minutes with her. I thought that would be enough. Just one conversation, but it wasn’t. I was an addict. One dose of her and I relapsed. All I wanted was for this to continue. I wanted to be with her. Forever.

That was all it came down to. I wanted her in my future. I wanted us to be together. I wanted to marry her. I knew the guys told me proposing was out of the question, but I was ready to do it. I knew in my heart and mind that she was the only woman for me.

I sat back and read over the words feeling overwhelmed, but excited.

I couldn't wait to tell her all of this. Now that my mind was made up, and I was sure, I needed her to want it too.

* * *

The morning passed in a blur. I didn’t sleep. I couldn't eat. I was too full of nerves. The girls knew to get her to the lawn on the edge of the resort at noon. Grant had been practicing all morning and actually sounded really good.

I was hopeful.

At a quarter till, I walked alone to the blanket on the grass. The sandwiches and some other snacks were waiting. Grant would arrive after Lucy.

All I had to do now was wait.

I checked my phone clock at least a dozen times a minute until I saw her walking down the path toward me.

She was here.

A tiny voice in the back of my mind questioned if she would show. Like she might have changed her mind and ran.

She stopped in front of me, with too much space between us for my liking. “Hi.”

She looked so beautiful. I froze, just staring, then finally said, “Hi.”

I snapped out of it and kissed her cheek. “Have a seat.” I helped her down to the towel, waiting to see how she reacted. What did she think this was? Did she recognize it?

“How are you?” I asked after clearing my throat. I was about as smooth as a teenager.

She smiled sweetly. “I’m good. A little nervous.”

“Nervous? Why?” I was the one sweating through my shirt. What did she have to be nervous about?

She looked flushed, but her big honey eyes tore right through me. “I’m not sure. I just feel like I should be.”

I shook my head. “You have no reason to be.” I needed to break the ice, and fast. I took one of the sandwiches and offered it to her.

She accepted it then set it aside.

“Are you not hungry?” I asked.

She blushed. “I’m sorry. I guess I should have mentioned it sooner, but I didn’t know this was a whole lunch thing. I’m gluten-intolerant. Side-effect of my thyroid condition.”

“But you didn't have a problem back in college?”