Page 5 of Ready to Snap
Once he’s at the podium, his eyes meet mine and my cheeks heat. I quickly look away and make my way back to the table. He refused to be a guest speaker the last few years, and out of respect, I didn’t ask him if he wanted to speak tonight. Will always surprises me, but seeing his name on the program tonight has to be the biggest surprise to date.
“Thank you, everyone. It is an honor and privilege to speak to you all today. Many of you know I was required by the league to attend therapy after the incident in Boston. What you may not know is I have been in therapy for much longer.” There are murmurs in the crowd, and Will scans the room. When he finds Mary, he offers her a warm smile. “As an athlete, I’m fortunate to have access to some of the best healthcare in the nation, but mental health isn’t always addressed. Depression and anxiety are often brushed off as having a bad day. I stuffed down my emotions for years.” Our eyes meet again, and he doesn’t look away as he softly admits, “I still do.”
When he first trusted me with his story, it broke my heart. Hearing it again, I’m so proud of the work he’s done on himself. I’m unsure why he’s claiming he still hides his feelings—he’s never stopped fighting me since the day he became a Cougar, and always lets everyone knowexactlyhow he feels.
“With help from the Cougars, The Yates Foundation has funded therapy for over three hundred athletes nationwide and encouraged leagues and teams to make it a requirement in our contracts. Because of my own struggles, I’m grateful for the work they do, which is why, this year, I will be personally donating one-point-five million dollars to the charity to help them continue their work.”
Applause fills the space, and the team owner Patrick Johnson gives him a standing ovation. Others follow suit, and I can’t help doing the same. All the while, he never takes his eyes off me. Mary leans over Will’s seat to quietly tease, “I think I know why Will didn’t want me to set you up with his brother.”
Eyes wide, I tear my gaze from Will and squeak, “What?”
Mary gives me the same trademark wink Will often does, then sips her wine and returns her attention to him. We all take our seats, and whatever Will says next to the crowd is lost on me. My mind is reeling—she can’t possibly be insinuating Will is interested in me. He antagonizes me most days and tolerates me the others.
There’s another standing ovation, and Will leaves the stage, rejoining us at the table. As he sits, he rests his arm behind me on my chair and purrs, “How did I do?”
The hair on the back of my neck stands up as shivers cascade down my arms. “Good.”
“Good? Only good? Admit it—I was fucking magnificent.” He sits back in his seat but doesn’t remove his arm from my chair. Raising his voice enough for his mother to hear, he asks, “When’s the date?”
“Date?” Mary gasps, eyes twinkling. “You also have a date?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug and take out my phone, finding a new notification from the app. “It looks like Bill chose a steakhouse for dinner tomorrow night.”
“A steakhouse? Well, that sounds lovely.” While it’s sincere, her tone is laced with disappointment.
Nerves swirl in my gut. It’s been a while since I’ve dated anyone, but this Bill guy must not actually live in his parents’basement based on the upscale restaurant he chose. It’s in Midtown, and actors and other celebrities often frequent it.
The next speaker approaches the podium and taps the mic. With everyone distracted, Will leans in and suggests, “Wear that black dress you wore to the Christmas party. It’ll drive him crazy.”
CHAPTER 2
WILL
Last night’s gala was exhausting, but it was worth it to get under Elle’s skin. I have to be “on” for the public, which always takes a toll on me. I can handle press briefings after games, but speaking about my mental health struggles in front of friends—and Elle—is a whole new level of discomfort. It doesn’t help that I have a game in a few hours and I didn’t sleep well, tossing and turning thinking about last night.
Elle mentioning the steakhouse for her date nearly solidified my suspicions that we matched on the dating app. Procrastinating getting out of bed, I pull up her profile. Without the distraction of the gala and my mother insisting on setting everyone, I scan for the main points that interest me.
Michelle, 33, she/her
5’9”, curvy, Caucasian, blonde hair, blue eyes.
I’m not sure what “curvy” entails, but I love Elle’s full breasts and thick thighs. There’s nothing hotter than a girl with something to hang onto.
Education: Master’s Degree
Occupation: Sports Marketing and Public Relations
Maybe it’s Elle?
In my free time, I like to: spend time with friends, read, complete home renovation projects
Favorite music: 2000s rock
Favorite movie:How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysandJerry Maguire
Smoking: No
Drugs: No
