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“Just be sure you both understand what you’re getting into.”

“You mean, we probably need to have the talk.”

He nods solemnly. “I think so.”

Great.

I don’t know if we’re ready for that.

I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

* * *

Maya’s in the lounge after the game, and I pause in the doorway for a minute, watching her being her usual outgoing, gregarious self. Her laugh is infectious, and I love the way her hair moves when she does. There is something truly magical about her, and it rubs off on anyone in her orbit. It’s one of the many things that’s continued to draw me toward her.

But Reid was right about discussing our future.

We’re already in pretty deep so I’m probably a few weeks late in bringing it up.

The truth is, I’m hesitant for two reasons. The first is that she’ll agree that we’ll have a difficult future together with our disparate schedules and the fact that we technically live in different states. I don’t know what I’ll do if she simply agrees to part ways. I’m not ready for that.

By the same token, I’m a little worried that she’s all in, ready to make this permanent. I don’t know if I’m ready for that either.

We haven’t been together long, so I would have liked to coast through the holidays and maybe revisit this in January. Except by January, she might be back in New York full-time or off on location for a movie. My schedule is busy but planned out—she has more control over hers but it changes regularly.

So we have to talk.

“Hi.” She smiles brightly when she sees me, immediately abandoning the group she was talking to. She leans up to kiss me, and I wrap a possessive arm around her waist.

“Hi.”

“Great game, babe. You’ve been on fire this season.”

She’s right. I have the most goals on the team at the moment, with West in second place, and Ashton behind him. Reid is leading the team in assists, which is important too, and we’re first overall in the league. Granted, it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it’s still fun to be in this position.

“I’ve had a good luck charm,” I whisper against her ear.

She beams and winks. “I’ll be sure to keep doing what I’m doing.”

I laugh and grab her hand. “You want to get out of here?”

“Everyone is going out to eat…do you want to go?”

I hesitate. I was hoping to talk but there’s no reason we can’t do both. And I’m hungry. I’m always hungry after a game. “Sure.”

“I hear there’s a Halloween party,” I say as we head out to the parking lot. “And a little bird named Reid warned me that it’s your favorite holiday.”

She laughs. “It is.”

“Okay, lay it on me. What do I have to wear?”

“I was thinking I want to be Cleopatra.”

“Uh oh. I don’t have to be the snake, do I?”

She giggles. “I hadn’t thought of that—thanks for the idea.”

I groan playfully.