Page 8 of Fumble Into the End Zone

I sat back on the purple vintage couch with my hands resting in my lap. My fingers overlapped each other as I struggled to focus on Dr. Choice’s question. In my opinion, I had failed the assignment.

“Mia, I’m up here?” he said.

My chest lifted and fell as his two teal armchairs and wooden desk came into view. Dr. Choice greeted me with a warm smile. His salt and pepper low cut fade matched his tapered beard.

“I brought the cake, but I couldn’t make it through the birthday song without crying. Why am I stuck in this emotional quicksand?”

“Mia, let’s perform a five-minute breathing exercise,” Dr. Choice interrupted my rant.

After we inhaled with our mouth and exhaled through our nose, I was able to get focused.

“Now, we have quite a bit to unpack here. Let’s start with the birthday cake. What made this year’s birthday cake harder than last year?” he asked.

I slumped my shoulders before I answered. “I forgot to cancel the trip to Wonderland and the notifications came a day before her birthday. I wanted to recreate the same pictures my mother and I took in front of Circle Island,” I said.

He handed me the tissue box, and I pulled a few to wipe my watered eyes.

“Mia, I want to challenge your notion of not having the family you dreamed of. You are in the prime of your life and there aremultiple avenues to become a mother. And it starts with you living again,” he said.

I dropped my head. “You remind me of my friend, Stacie, and this double date she wants me to go on.”

“What do you have to lose by going on a double date?” Dr. Choice asked.

My mouth parted in disbelief as he hinted at me giving dating another try. I expected him to say we need to focus on healing.

“Your expression suggested you were expecting me to say something else,” he said.

I crossed my legs and exposed the black heels underneath my pink tailored pants. “Yes, I was expecting you to say...I don’t know. That we need to focus on healing or something.”

Dr. Choice sat back in his seat with a blank expression.

“Mia, do you trust yourself with men?” he asked, and I paused.

I’m unsure on how to answer his question. Watching a good movie sometimes sparked my interest in dating again. However, replaying my own horror love story quickly burned out the flame.

“I don’t know. I still don’t know what within me attracted a narcissist. I was raised in a loving, two-parent household. What if I date again and attract another Nathan and I can’t get out?” I questioned.

Dr. Choice peered up from his tablet. “Narcissists are gifted at masking and love bombing. He showed you an image he never intended to keep. Even after the breakup, they maintain control by keeping you captive through not dating or moving forward. Mia, you have grown, and have additional support. I’m confident in your ability to recognize the red flags,” he said.

I sat back, and anger pinched me. Even after redecorating my house and blocking our mutual friends, Nathan was stillcontrolling me. Maybe I should consider dating again but it would have to be on my terms.

Chapter 3

Player Positions

Marcus

Iknocked on the wooden double doors and waited for someone to answer. As I strolled up the curvy driveway, I admired Bryce’s home. It was a nice, two-story craftsman style house. The natural stone brick cost them a pretty penny and the arch entrance gave it character.

“Man, what took you so long? Your flight landed two hours ago,” Bryce, my new quarterback, questioned.

“I had to wait until those Need A Ride prices dropped. Them folks were talking crazy,” I said.

“Wait, you’ve been sitting at the airport for two hours because of the Need A Ride prices?” he questioned.

“Yes,” I confirmed with widened eyes.

“Dude, I would’ve come and picked you up. You need some cash? You haven’t signed your contract?” he questioned.

---