10. Bryce #2
Bryce: Thank you. I’ll be there.
I glance at the time. I’ll have to rush, but I’ll be there. I toss my gear down and sprint to the showers.
I walk into Al’s Pizza with five minutes to spare. A quick glance around the dining room tells me Hadley’s not here yet.
It appears to be a seat-yourself establishment, so I snag a table in the corner. It’s not as private as I’d like for this conversation, but it’s something.
The server comes, and I order water for myself and a diet soda for Hadley. The minutes tick by and six o’clock turns into five after.
Then ten.
I start to panic. My mind runs through all the things I should have said when I had the chance. Everything I should have done differently.
I check my phone again. No messages. My heart drops.
“Hey,” Hadley says, sliding into the booth across from me. “Sorry I’m late. I got held up at work.” She grabs the menu and flips it open. “Are you going to say anything?” she asks, snapping me out of my daze.
She came. I didn’t realize just how scared I was until she sat down across from me. “You came,” I say, relief clear in my tone.
She tilts her head to the side. “I said I would.”
I nod. “Thank you,” I say, my words coming out in a rush.
“Don’t thank me yet,” she says. “I haven’t decided what to think just yet, but Paige convinced me to hear you out.”
“Remind me to send Paige a gift basket,” I tell her.
Hadley laughs. “Introduce her to Colt Bradley, and she’ll be Team Bryce forever.”
I laugh. “Good to know,” I say, already wondering how to make that happen. I could use as many people on my team as I can get.
“So,” she asks, “what are we ordering?”
After deciding on pepperoni pizza, without spinach, and a basket of garlic knots, we place our order.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” I say again. “I was afraid you wouldn’t give me a chance to explain.”
She doesn’t look at me right away. Just picks at her straw wrapper until it’s shredded into tiny pieces. I let her avoid me. I’m the one who made it weird.
“I’m sorry,” I say, my voice rough. “I should’ve told you. I shouldn’t have waited.”
She nods, her eyes slowly rising to meet mine. “I get why you didn’t tell me right away.”
“You do?” I ask, shocked.
“I said I understand, not that I like it.” She looks away, scanning the room before bringing her eyes back to mine. “I live in DC,” she says with a small shrug. “I’m used to people telling you what their job is before they even tell you their name. It becomes their whole identity.”
It feels like there’s more to the story, so I stay quiet, giving her space.
“I’ve seen what happens when your job is all people see about you.” She gives me a half-smile. “I’m sure it’s similar for athletes.”
I let out a relieved breath. She does understand.
“Yeah,” I say. “As soon as people find out what I do, they’re asking for tickets or angling for introductions to other players.
It’s awkward and uncomfortable. Dating is…
well, let’s just say it’s challenging. It’s hard to know who likes you for you and who likes you because of the game and the perks that come with it. ”
She nods, encouraging me to continue.
“I felt like for the first time, I could just be me. No walls, no act. No wondering if what I said was going to show up in an article somewhere.”
“I get that,” Hadley says. “But, also, you didn’t trust me. And that hurts.”
I don’t answer right away.
“I…” She’s right. “I’m sorry. If I could go back, I’d do it differently. I’d tell you sooner.”
“Here we are,” the server says, putting the pizza and garlic knots on the table. “Anything else I can get you?”
“Not right now,” Hadley says. “Thank you.”
She nods and walks away, leaving us alone again.
Neither one of us reach for the food right away. The conversation still sits heavily between us. I wait for Hadley to put a slice onto her plate before taking two for myself. “This smells great.”
“It’s the best pizza place around,” Hadley says, blowing on her pizza. “Paige and I order from here a lot.”
We eat, making small talk between bites, and while it’s not as comfortable as it was, it’s not nearly as awkward as it could be.
Hadley finishes her food and sits back, hand on her stomach. “I’m stuffed.”
“Would you like to take a walk?” I ask after paying our bill.
“Sure,” she says, and my heart swells in my chest.
We leave and stroll quietly for a few minutes before I notice a bench in a green space. “Want to sit and watch the sunset?”
She smiles and nods. “That sounds nice.”
We settle onto the bench, and I turn toward her. “I really am sorry,” I say.
“I know,” she says. “You were trying to protect yourself.”
I nod, and start to talk, but she holds up a hand.
“That doesn’t mean I’m okay with it. Honesty is important to me. It’s kind of a sticking point, actually.”
My heart stutters. Is she going to walk away after all?
“I know,” I say. “I wasn’t trying to hide who I am,” I say. “I just… I liked who I was with you. Without my job hanging over my head.”
“I liked who you were with me, too,” she says.
“Do you think we could get back there again?” I ask, holding my breath.
She chuckles, but it doesn’t sound happy. “I honestly don’t know what we’re doing. You’re leaving.”
“Eventually,” I say, hating how that sounds.
“I have a little over a week that I’m here for the tournament.
Can we just see what happens between now and then?
Please? I’ve never met anyone like you, Hadley.
I know I messed up. And I can’t say I won’t mess up again, but I can promise I’ll never intentionally hurt you. ”
Her eyes meet mine. “You better not,” she whispers. “Don’t make me regret giving you a chance.”
My heart soars. “Never,” I tell her.
We sit on the bench a while longer until the sun sinks low painting the sky in gold and pink.
“I should get back. I have an early morning.” Hadley stands, and I join her.
“Can I walk you home?” I ask, realizing we aren’t far from her apartment.
“I’d like that.”
We start down the sidewalk, and our hands brush, but I resist taking her hand this time. I’m not sure we’re there anymore.
She saves me from wondering when she slides her hand into mine.
And for the first time in the last twenty-four hours, I let myself believe I haven’t lost her after all.