Page 143 of The Off-Limits Play

Zander’s head slowly rises off the couch, his face buckling with confusion. “What?”

“Yeah. He didn’t know I was listening, but he was telling Nylah that I’m a loose cannon and that she deserves better than me.” I sniff. “He’s right. I just took too long to see it. So… that’s on me.”

“Bullshit, man,” Zander mutters. “You’re not some worthless prick. And you’ve been doing great. You’ve been calm and happy and…” He tips his head. “She had something to do with that, didn’t she?”

My throat is so swollen I can’t even swallow, let alone speak.

“She made you happy?”

“Yeah,” I rasp.

“So… if she made you feel better about life, then wouldn’t it be fair to assume you were doing the same thing for her?”

Squeezing the back of my neck, I shrug.

“Dude, I don’t know her as well as you do, but she strikes me as the kind of chick who knows what she wants. And if she wanted you, then it was for a good reason. She sees something in you.”

My swallow sounds loud in the quiet space.

“She sees something that Coach doesn’t. So… maybe you should start showing him too.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. But…” Zander sighs. “Look, I know you think he’s a prick, but he genuinely cares about his players, and he obviously adores his kids.”

“Exactly. His baby girl can do better than me. Shedeservesbetter.”

“So become better.” Zander says it like it’s just that simple. “Or accept the fact that she wants you no matter what you think you deserve. You make each other happy. Isn’t that enough of a reason to be together?”

“What if I hurt her? What if I tear her down? Ruin her life?”

“What if she hurts you?”

I frown, shuffling uncomfortably as I try to imagine that. How could she ever hurt me? She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Being around her made me feel better. It made me want to be better. For her… maybe even for me.

And then when reality hit, I freaked out.

I pushed her away to save her the pain of having to end things with me. To save myself the pain of having her break my heart.

“You know, according to Sienna, Nylah told her dad the truth about you two.”

“What?” My head pops up, my eyes bulging. “But Coach hasn’t killed me.”

Zander nods. “Exactly.”

I let out a breath, blinking across the dark room.

“Look, he might not want you guys to be together, but it’s really not up to him who his daughter dates. If you love her, don’t let her go so easily.” Zander winces. “I did that once. I let my family talk me into breaking up with Sienna, and it was the biggest regret of my life.”

Licking my lips, I stare at his shadowed face, daring to believe him. Daring for just a second that maybe I could make things right.

“Not being with her is making you miserable, man. So go do something about it. You’re smart enough to fix this, and you deserve to be happy.”

Scrubbing a hand down my face, I grip my mouth and let his words ride through me. And for the first time since I kicked Nylah out of my room, that hollow ache in my chest doesn’t feel so heavy.

Just the thought of getting her back is enough to fill that void.

Well, fuck me.

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