The End Zone (Out of Bounds, #2)

by Erin MacKenzie

Dating has been non-existent for me for the last year. I’ve tried to find men I could make a connection with, but nothing ever sticks. I want to be in love. I want all of the romance and the comfort that comes with finding your person. But admittedly, I’m terrified of commitment. I’m terrified of trusting someone with all the vulnerable parts of myself only for them to up and leave, to decide they don’t want it. So, a real, true relationship is something I’ve never actually had. I’ve never taken the chance.

I can practically hear my heartbeat with the way it’s pounding. Nate’s still been acting like my best friend, but on steroids lately. Everything is escalated. I’m suddenly realizing how present he has been in my life and how well he knows every little thing about me. I’m noticing how close we are, and how well we interact. Sometimes the things he does and says make me long for just a little more. He buys me keychains with my name any time he sees them, because one day I made a comment about being on a field trip as a kid where they didn’t have my name and I was devastated. He knows my coffee order, for hot and cold because they aren’t the same. He just knows me, and he gets me, and that kind of bond is really hard to find. I think, on some level, I can agree that Nate’s feelings for me have changed, but what I’m more focused on is how that makes me feel.

ask yourself what makes you come alive. Find out what drives you. Find what makes you happy and run with that. Once you figure out what gives you purpose, you’ll find happiness and fulfillment.

I’ve never had a hard time telling a woman I’m interested, but with Mia it’s so much more than just being interested in her. I’m invested. I’m committed. I’m so fucking consumed by everything about her.

“Don’t look so surprised, Smalls. Everything with you is a core memory.”

Fucking vagina, please stop betraying me.

I’ve been afraid of commitment my whole life. I’ve been terrified that letting someone into my personal space, or into my heart, is too risky and will only lead to me being let down and heartbroken like my dad was. I’ve gone through boyfriends and shitty dates for years. Never deeming any of them worthy enough for the long haul because I just didn’t trust it. Didn’t trust them. But I know Nate’s heart. I know that when he says he’d never let anything happen to me, I believe him.

“I’ve watched you date lesser men for years. Men who didn’t deserve even a fraction of your time. Knowing they were touching you, tasting you, fucking you…”

“We’re together, Mia. I’m yours. And I’m not going to wait another fucking second without taking what’s always been mine.”

“I love you. I’ve loved you since before I really even knew what that word meant. I just knew it was you. It was always supposed to be you.”