Page 17 of Full Court Love

It wasn’t the sexy, social one I had predicted, though.

It was the soft and vulnerable one.

And it melted me.

I’m not a macho guy. I’m not the one who goes around getting in fights. That’s more my dad’s speed. He’ll pick a fight over the smallest perceived injustice. I’ve always been relatively laid back, but when I saw Lucy in trouble,something inside me snapped. It made me want to break some necks. Or at least some noses.

I keep replaying the way her voice cracked when she tried to tell me she was okay. This girl is carrying more than I realized. She’s the face of her program, and the face of the entire athletic department at this school. Any misstep has massive consequences, and she’s well aware of that. So, she puts on a façade that all is well all the time, but she shouldn’t have to. I want to take away the burden–or at least help her carry it.

Damn, I’m definitely getting ahead of myself. I don’t actually know if she even likes me. She was trying to tell me to get lost when those guys pulled up. I just happened to be an available shoulder to cry on–not that she actually cried, although I could tell she was close.

I know that I like her, though. Her sass keeps me on my toes. Our conversations are like poker games. Neither of us is willing to tip our hand, but we both keep coming back to the table. I’m already antsy for another round.

As I get the coffee machine brewing, my phone pings. It’s a text from a number I don’t recognize. My heart sinks–this happens every once in a while with my dad. He gets in trouble and needs a new phone or loses his and uses a stranger’s to try to get in touch with me. Normally he just wants money, but thanks to him, I barely have any right now.

When I open the message, my heart does a one-eighty. I don’t even fight the smile as I read.

Hi! This is Lucy:) I got your number from Tyler.

I just wanted to thank you for last night. It meant

a lot to me. Hope you have a great Sunday!

So, she went out of her way to get my number? Yeah, I think my read on the situation is correct. I write back.

Don’t mention it. Just glad I could help.

Are you feeling better this morning?

The little dots disappear and reappear like four or five times. Apparently, that was a more complicated question than I thought. Finally, I get a response, and it’s not at all what I was expecting.

Hi! This is Britt and AJ and Kya. We stole Lucy’s

phone and would like to cordially invite you to

our Friendsgiving celebration later today as a

thank you for rescuing our precious little Lucy

last night. The theme is “bake what your mama

gave ya.”

I chuckle as the next message rolls in.

Basically, just make a family recipe. We are really

proud of the title, though, so you better appreciate

it.

Another message.

AJ needs it to be known that she came up with it.

And another.

Tyler is also welcome to come!