Page 76 of Buzzer Beater

She jumped up and ran past the grass onto the sidewalk and out of view.

Grant stopped playing. I sat there in disbelief that she’d reject me after I just opened myself up to her.

21

Lucy

By the time I made it back to the room, I was sobbing. My chest burned with each unsteady breath. I rubbed my hands over my eyes, trying to clear them enough to make out my suitcase. I needed to get out of here. I needed to leave.

I never should have stayed. This was a terrible mistake. I never even should have talked to him. I should have avoided him like I’d wanted to from the beginning. I knew exactly how this would end. I knew how much it would hurt, but I didn’t listen to my brain. I followed my stupid heart and now it was breaking. I’d have to walk away. Again.

I grabbed my things from the bathroom and threw them on top of my clothes. Hopefully this was everything. I closed the lid and tried to zip it, but the stupid thing kept getting stuck.

The sound of the door unlocking made me pause.

“Lucy?” Colby called out.

Crap. I thought they’d be off at the beach all day.

I sniffed and turned to her, not bothering to hide my tears. There was no point in trying.

“Yeah?”

“What are you doing?” She took a tentative step closer.

“I’m leaving.”

“Why?” Chloe joined her, looking concerned. It was the Pride, full-force. “Did something happen?”

My shoulders drooped, and the sobs started again. I sat on the bed and let the tears drench my shirt.

“Oh Lucy!” Colby rushed over, sitting down and wrapping her arms around me.

I took in a shuddering breath.

“What did he say?” Chloe looked stern, her jaw tight.

I rubbed away the tears and tried to calm down. “Nothing. It’s not his fault. It’s mine.”

“What do you mean?” Colby asked as she rubbed circles on my back.

“He wants a future that I can’t provide.”

“Honey, we want to help you, but you need to tell us everything.” Chloe had relaxed a little bit and sat across from me.

I blew out a breath and sniffled. “He wants to get married, buy a house, and have kids.”

Chloe looked at Colby then back at me. “Okay?”

I bit my lip, but it did nothing to stop the tears that returned in full force. “I can’t have kids.”

The second the words left my mouth, it felt like boulder had been lifted off my shoulders. I’d never meant for it to become a big secret. I just didn’t like talking about it. It hurt knowing that the odds of me being able to have my own children were slim, very slim. I’d closed that part of my brain and accepted it.

Now I was forced to face it.

“What do you mean?” Colby leaned in close to me, somehow knowing I needed her support.

“I have health problems. PCOS.”