34. Eden
EDEN
The next morning, I drag myself out of Connor’s bed early, big brain and all.
As we’d fallen asleep, I’d reminded him I needed to leave right when the sun came up to work on that paper. Plus, I wasn’t sure how I would feel this morning, after all of that honesty. The vulnerability. So I wanted to keep my easy out, even though the date had been incredible.
But…my morning mood is amazing. I’m relaxed and happy. The blond man sleeping soundly in the bed should be intimidating. I expected to feel awkward when I woke up. Instead, I want to get one last hug.
So, once I’ve cleaned up in his bathroom, I fulfill the promise he elicited to wake him up before I left.
“I’m taking off, Connor.” My voice low, I brush my hand across his bare shoulder.
He snaps awake, startled—alarm on his face. Oh crap.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
His expression calms as he takes me in. “You’re good. I just need a minute to settle in the mornings sometimes. Come here?” He pats next to him on the bed.
I immediately join him back in the bed, and he wraps his arm around my waist. As I hoped. It felt wrong not to touch him again before I left.
He adds to the connection by kissing the top of my head. “Last night was…fucking everything.”
“For me too.”
I feel him settle more into the bed. “So you’re okay? With everything we did?”
I shoot him a smile. “I am. I…it felt so right to me.”
His eyes are gleaming. “Good. Same here. I can’t wait to explore more. How’s your week?”
“Similar to how it’s been. The fall is nonstop, as I’m sure it was for you at Princeton. Classes, homework, practice, game.”
“Sounds familiar, yeah.” He takes his free hand and starts playing with my hair.
“Oh, and I meant to tell you, Rori’s going to be the keynote at a fundraising dinner for Tolliver in a few weeks. I’m one of the student speakers.”
“That’s quite a combo, the two of you.”
“I won’t say anything to her about us. I mean, if I even chat with her at all.”
“I’m not worried, beauty.” He smiles. “Can I see you next weekend? Your game is Thursday again?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe Sunday night after the Waves game? It’s at one, and I should be home by five thirty, give or take.”
“That should work.” Monday’s a federal holiday, so I don’t have classes and won’t need to rush out. I punctuate the plan with a peck of my own, this time on his lips.
His eyes twinkle as we separate. “That was bold of you when I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”
“What can I say, you make me brave.”
“You’re already brave. Brilliant and beautiful too. But I’m glad to be here as reinforcement.”
“Me too.” Reluctantly, I pull myself up to a sitting position. “I guess I better go work on my paper.”
He rolls over and props himself up on an elbow. “I’m going to do my homework too.”
I stand up and stretch my arms. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“I’m going to look into other things we might enjoy. It’s not fair to have you do all the research.”
I tingle at the thought of him exploring more things we could do together. Next weekend seems too far away.
I don’t admit that, though. I just giggle back. “Well, keep me posted.”
Five minutes later, I’m out the door. But it takes a couple hours before I can successfully concentrate on my paper and not what happened last night.
It didn’t help that Bree tried to pepper me with questions as soon as I walked in the suite. I shooed her away until my lunch break.
“There she is.” She rolls her eyes on the couch once I open my bedroom door at one. “I was about to get worried.”
“Just writing this paper. It’s taking forever. I know what I want to say, but the words are not coming out.”
“I’m all ears for your venting later. But first, hellllooooo, how did it go with Connor?”
I give her high-level details only: the book excerpts we “experimented” with and how it went well.
“You’re blushing,” she squeals. “You really like him? Or are you embarrassed?”
“No, not embarrassed, not with you.” Bree is uninhibited, and I’ve heard much spicier details from her own hookups than I shared about last night. “I do…I think I do like him a lot.”
“Heck yes. This is good. It’s a long time coming.”
I know what she means. Connor and I have been dancing around each other for so long, and it’s surreal to finally get here.
“He asked me to hang out next weekend. I wish it were sooner, but…”
“You’re so busy.”
“Yeah.”
“Girl, I don’t know how you’re going to fit a boyfriend in. But I’m sure you’ll make it work.”
I frown. What she says jostles memories of my parents’ warnings a couple of weeks ago.
Bree misreads my reaction. “Sorry, probably shouldn’t have used the B word.”
“No, it’s—I mean, it’s too early for a label, but you know me. I’m not a casual dater.”
Though now, our conversation triggers another worry. Will Connor be okay if I’m not available for huge chunks of time? Would he want a girlfriend who’s MIA a ton, if things keep evolving between us?
Suddenly, I’m stressed again and want to retreat. “I need to eat pretty fast, so I can get back to work. We can talk more once I survive this paper?”
She nods, and I head back to my room after I heat up a frozen meal. Not exactly the ideal lunch for an elite athlete, but whatever.
We don’t end up talking more about my situation, though, because the week is so jam-packed. Practice is especially intense because we’re playing a fellow contender for the NCAA championship, North Carolina, on their pitch.
For me, personally, the game carries extra weight because their striker, Gabby Michaels, is also a hot prospect for the US senior team. I’ve only seen her play a couple of times because she’s younger, eighteen, and a freshman.
The beginning of the game makes it clear that her skills have only improved. She blows past Alondra in the fifth minute, and curves a gorgeous shot around our goalie, Mo. Then she crushes a penalty kick in the second half that Mo never stands a chance against.
I score a meaningless goal toward the end, but we still lose 2–1. Not great. Our first loss.
Still, I do the right thing and congratulate her after the game.
“Looking good out there. I hope we end up playing again in December.” That is, at the NCAA College Cup.
“Me too.” She gives me a big grin as we shake hands. “Though I’m sure we’ll be playing against each other no matter what next year.”
It takes me a second to compute what she means. But then, oh—“You’re leaving school for the pros?”
“Yeah, I finally convinced my parents that it was the best move. College will be there later, you know?” She shrugs. “I mean, it’s great you’re finishing your degree. Admirable. But I don’t want to lose any more time before I’m in the pros.”
“Totally. Well, see you soon either way, maybe.”
Our conversation creates a residue of discomfort through the next day, as I work to get ahead of my homework for Monday. All my peers, now younger peers, are storming into the pros.
At the very least, the SoccerQueens interview is booked for tomorrow, so I can confirm my plans publicly and set up being under consideration for pro teams in the future.
I just hope I haven’t waited too long to claim my spot.
THE NEXT DAY
SoccerQueens YouTube
YELENA: Hi, everyone. Welcome to SoccerQueens Speak, a weekly interview series where we hear from the best of the best in women’s soccer. And I’m so excited to have this guest here today. The best player in college soccer, in my opinion, Eden Larsson.
EDEN: Hi Yelena, that’s so nice of you! I’m thrilled to be on.
YELENA: It won’t be the last time, I hope.
I want to talk today about all sorts of things—your fight for the College Cup this year, what it’s like to be among the rising stars playing for the country, your goals for making the USWNT.
But let’s start with some official news, about your plans for after the season is done…