Page 118 of Your Play to Call

So we’ll dive right in

On shores, we’ll rush in, pour ourselves holy

You’re everything

She goes from the chorus to the next verse, and I’m in awe. Tears silently roll down my cheeks. I know they’re going to show shots of this later and I don’t care. The melody takes me back to that weekend. Us running through the freezing water on the beach. The moonlightsparkling in her eyes as I told her I loved her. Mountains of bubbles. The feeling of getting this thing right.

Willow finishes the song, her voice strong and clear. The crowd erupts into a deafening roar, and I stand to join them. I try to clap but having one arm in a sling makes this much harder. They show Willow on the Jumbotron, wiping tears from her eyes, wearing a smile that could light some of the darkest places.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I’m walking towards her. She sees me and walks in my direction. The second the crowd knows what’s happening, the whole place goes feral. I truly couldn’t hear myself think.

We finally meet and I wrap her up in a hug with my one arm. She puts her hands around my stomach and puts her head on my chest. She then reaches up to whisper in my ear.

“Tripp. I’m so sorry. I figured it out—”

And I kiss her because I can’t help myself. I don’t let her say another word.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say.

“I had to find a way to say I was sorry. I played my hand knowing it may not work. I was terrified I would come out and you would go back to the locker-room.”

The screams from the crowd rattle my bones, make my ears ring. I hold Willow’s hand with my good one.

“Let’s find somewhere we can talk,” I say as I lead her back to the team tunnel.

Fritz stands right at the entrance and stops me.

“Equipment room is free. I grabbed everything they might need and set it outside the door. That’s also where a decently angry security guard seems to be camping out.”

It has to be Seth. I thank Fritz with a smile before heading towards the equipment area.

I close the door and Willow is already pacing. Her dark hair is in loose curls, pinned back with a Cosmos blue hair clip, including the team logo.

“Tripp, I am so sorry. It was Erik.” Her words trample each other.

Erik. Huh? Now, that’s someone I wouldn’t have guessed. It’s like the final missing piece to a puzzle, clicking into place.

“The slime-ball was hanging outside your hospital room and Seth got him to leave, but it was too late, and this whole thing is a mess, and—”

“Willow, breathe.” I interrupt her and tap next to me, wanting her to sit. She takes a breath and sits next to me.

“You aren’t the only one who needs to hand out an apology. I’m sorry. For all of it.” My voice cracks with joy and relief. I’m thankful for the opportunity to tell her how I feel.

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I thought about it so many times. I’m sorry I made you leave your key.” I catch my breath and place my hand on hers. “I’m sorry for the way I spoke to you, in my apartment. It plays over and over in my head and I’ll never forgive myself.” I can’t even look at her right now.

“Yes. You will. Tripp.” She tilts my chin up, speaking while holding my eyes with hers, her eyes golden with compassion.

“I just want more time,” I say, my voice small.

“We’ll figure it out. We have lots of time.”

“But what about the tour with Asher Wilde?”

“Nope. That was an Erik special and I turned it down. I don’t want to miss a whole season of you playing the game you love.”

“What?” I don’t know if I'm following.

“I’m sorry that someone in my corner did this to you, to us. You didn’t deserve that,” she says. I don’t know what to say so she keeps going. “You and me. My life is better with you in it. I don’t need a tour that keeps me from you for months at a time. I can tour on my, or our, timeline. I’ve earned that.”

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