Hat Trick (D.C. Stars, #4)

by Chelsea Curto

For the ones who fight even when they want to give up. I’m rooting for you.

I’m quiet; she’s loud. The life of every party and vivacious as hell with witty comebacks and a laugh that would bring any man to his knees. And if it were me down there, I’d wear a collar and crawl if she asked me to.

“That implies someone is going to want to fall in love with this.” I gesture up and down my body. All of that—dating, friendships—seems like a far-off dream. “I’m a mangled and messed up piece of a human.” “That’s what love is, Riley. No one ever said it was easy.”

“We help people because it’s the right thing to do,” Maven says. “Even if they don’t want to be helped, we have to keep showing up for them.”

“I really am sorry about not showing up today, Lex. I have good days, but I also have a lot of bad days. I’m trying not to let the bad days overshadow the good ones. It’s hell sometimes. I’m working on it. I promise.”

“Of course I was fucking jealous. He had your attention. And I’m fucking desperate for it.”

“How are you really doing, Riley?” he presses, but nothing about it feels forceful. “I’m…” I trail off and blink back tears. I pull off my glasses and hurry to wipe my eyes, but Dr. Ledlow doesn’t say anything. “I’m okay. I’m closer to good than not, and that’s lightyears better than where I was before. A work in fucking progress, I’d say, but also someone who knows they have a bigger role here and is no longer in a hurry to leave.” I pause to swallow the lump in my throat. “Thank you for asking.”

“Women.” Grant sighs. “So complex. So brilliant. We’re so undeserving.”

“Riley. I’m⁠—” “Fully capable of handling things by yourself. I know that. But guess what? Accepting help doesn’t make you weak, okay? It just means for a few minutes, someone else can help carry the load. And you’ve been carrying the load for me for months. Share the burden with me just this once.”