Unsteady

by Peyton Corinne

No deal needed—if she keeps looking at me like this, I’ll do anything she says.

Instead of waiting for Sadie to acquiesce, I slip my arm under her legs and pick her up in a bridal carry. She squeals lightly but doesn’t complain as I walk slowly back to the gate and all the way into the locker room. “Do what you need to do and then come out to my car. I’ll go wait there.” And without thinking, I drop a kiss to her forehead and pick up my gear bag, turning to leave the room before I can consider how ridiculous that move might have been.

“For the record,” I say, looking out along the lake, across all the life around us. “I am offering.”

I hate this version of myself—the desperate, fear-driven, and hateful girl who wants everyone and everything away from her because it’s too much.

“I think I’m in love with her.” I hear Rhys tell Bennett, but his voice doesn’t lower even a notch. “And she won’t let me in

“If you’d picked up a basketball all those years ago, I’d be courtside for the rest of my life with one of those big foam fingers. If you take up a paintbrush, I’ll buy every piece that we have wall space for. If you use that big brain of yours for engineering or law, I’ll do whatever I can to show I support you until my last breath.”

“I’m gonna say something now, Gray. And I need you to hear me. Really hear me, okay?” I nod. “I love you,” he says,

if you don’t want me anymore, that’s something I’ll have to deal with. But there will never be a day that I do not want you.”

“I’m so proud of you,” I whisper. “I know it takes a lot for you to ask for help. But I’m so proud.”