Page 36 of A Game Plan for Love

She’s nowhere to be found, so I head to the locker room.

Players filter in, followed by the coaching staff. Coach Barrett, our head coach, gives a small speech about teamwork and starting the season out strong.

“Now, we have the game ball,” he says, and it feels like every pair of eyes in the room falls on me. “Monroe, get up here.” I rise to stand beside him, and he clasps my shoulder. “You played with heart today.”

He hands me the game ball, and the room cheers. Henry drags me into a hug when I return to my locker, and my hands shake slightly at the recognition.

“Well deserved,” Deon says, palm gripping my shoulder.

I nod, and grief claws at my chest. More than anything, I want to call Alan and show him the ball. He would have been so proud, and then offered pointers on what I did wrong.

The hot spray from the shower does nothing to wash away the bitter sadness, and when I watch my friends greet the people they love, it only compounds. Henry lifts Sawyer into the air, spinning her around as she giggles. Maren flings herself at Jack, arms wrapped around his shoulders as she whispers in his ear. Nathalie peppers Deon in kisses, and when he blushes, she presses his cheeks together and plants a sloppy kiss on his lips.

Other players greet their loved ones. It’s a room bursting with love. But I’m standing alone.

I’m tapped on the shoulder, and when I swing around, every thought fades away.

Addie wrings her hands in front of her, nibbling on her lip. Her work bag hangs off her shoulder, and she takes a step closer, her chest only inches away from mine.

“I wasveryimpressed,” she admits.

Her eyes drop to my lips, and my heartbeat picks up. “Addie, I’d like to—”

“Victory ice cream!” Nathalie yells, and a round of cheers follows.

Addie’s eyes widen, and she takes a step back, but I catch her hand. “Come with us,” I say, though it borders on begging.

“I only have a babysitter until six,” she says, glancing down at her smartwatch. “I can't. I’m sorry.”

“Let’s get Nora. She can come with us.”

Addie looks stunned. “You want to get Nora?”

“Yes? I miss her.”

She’s hilarious, and I know my friends would love her.

Addie is staring at me like she’s discovering something new. “Alright. We’ll go with you.”

An hour later, Addie, Nora, and I pull up to the small ice cream stand.

“Can I get two scoops?” Nora asks from the backseat.

It took us longer to get out the door than I expected. When Addie and I made it to her apartment, Nora had to show me all the drawings she had made, and then she needed to change and say goodbye to her stuffed animals. The fact that Addie makes it to work remotely on time is a miracle.

“Only one scoop,” Addie responds.

Nora is not a fan of the response, huffing, before she asks, “Decy, can I get two scoops?”

She can’t see Addie’s face, but I can, and the utter disbelief is hilarious.

“Did she just call me Decy?” I whisper conspiratorially.

“Who cares about that? She just tried to sidestep my decision by asking you.”

“Smart girl.” Addie’s lip twitches, and her smile breaks. I turn to face Nora in the backseat. “Your mom said one scoop. What she says, goes.”

Nora’s nose scrunches, and the pink plastic tiara atop her head bobbles when she crosses her arms. “Can I have sprinkles?”

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