12. Sebastian
twelve
Sebastian
With my mom finally home and things back to normal, Ava and I decide it’s time to return to San Jose. Our relationship has transformed drastically over the past few weeks, and what we had planned to be nothing more than an arrangement is turning into something much more real than either of us anticipated.
If I had known I would feel this way about Ava, I might never have approached her with an offer like that. I’ve never felt tied to a woman before, but with Ava, it’s different. She makes me feel whole, like I’m finally safe to be myself. There’s no need to pretend or perform around her, even when the cameras are on me. She’s changed my world in ways I didn’t think were possible, especially my perspective on relationships.
After the whirlwind of Chicago, returning to our normal lives feels strange. I’ve missed a lot of practice, and Ava has work to catch up on after taking time off. As we settle back into our routines, I focus on my game, but I can’t stop missing her. Spending so much time together in Chicago has made her absence feel even more profound.
I’ve never seen my mom so happy around anyone I’ve dated before. Usually, my girlfriends are met with an eye roll, and my mom can’t wait for them to leave. But Ava won her over from the start, and I can’t blame her—Ava has a way of winning people over effortlessly.
“You know, the big game is just a week away,” Jimmy yells over the phone.
“You have nothing to worry about. I’m on it,” I assure him, grabbing my gear and heading out for practice.
Before leaving, I call Ava. I miss hearing her voice.
“What are you up to?” I ask.
“Just finishing up work. Do you want to get something to eat?” she asks.
“About that,” I begin, hesitating for a moment. “I won’t be able to see you too much this week. Big game coming up, and I need to stay focused.”
After everything we’ve shared, it feels awkward to tell her this, but I need to keep my head in the game.
“I completely understand,” Ava says, her voice calm and supportive.
Her understanding makes me smile.
“You’ll be coming to my practice, right?” I ask, wanting to make sure she’ll still be there .
“You know I wouldn’t miss it for anything,” she replies.
It feels good to be back on the field, and having Ava there cheering for me gives me an added sense of purpose. She’s become a source of strength for me, and I’m determined to do my best for her.
I still have every intention of keeping my promise to Ava. After practice, I send Rubin an email with Ava’s presentation and follow up with a phone call to fill him in on the project details. Rubin is impressed and assures me the rest of the funding will be taken care of. I know it’s just a matter of time before everything falls into place for her.
Each day after practice, I head to the sidelines to steal a kiss from Ava. Knowing she’s there watching me makes me work harder. She’s changed me in ways I can’t explain, making me a better man with every passing day.
Finally, it’s game day. Ava is in the stands, cheering loudly, when the camera catches her. Her face appears on the big screen, and I see her cheeks flush as she buries her face in her hands. For a moment, I panic, unsure of how she’ll handle the sudden attention. But then she removes her hands and flashes a bright smile, shouting my name with pride.
I shake my head in amazement. I know her father will have plenty of questions when he sees this, but I can’t help but admire how gracefully she handles the spotlight .
We win the game in the final minutes, and the stadium erupts in cheers. Overwhelmed with emotion, I run to Ava and pull her into my arms, kissing her deeply.
“The cameras are watching,” I whisper against her lips.
“Then let’s give them something to see,” she says with a sly smile, kissing me back just as passionately. I know her kiss isn’t for the cameras—it’s for me.
That night, we head out to celebrate. The atmosphere is electric, the room filled with laughter and joy.
“I almost forgot to tell you,” Ava says, leaning in close so I can hear her over the noise.
I turn to her, giving her my full attention.
“Rubin called!” she says, her excitement shining through. “He’s agreed to fund the rest of my project!”
“This calls for a double celebration,” I announce, pulling her in for a kiss.
Her eyes light up with joy, and I can’t help but feel a sense of pride knowing her hard work is paying off—and that I played a small part in making it happen. She deserves every bit of success coming her way.
We spend the night enjoying great food and even better company. As I look at Ava, I realize how much she’s motivated me to focus on what truly matters in life .
She’s not just the woman I never expected to fall for—she’s the one I can’t imagine life without.
My eyes open to an email from my father’s lawyer, informing me that my inheritance is being transferred to my account. The conditions were met: I cleared up my reputation and made amends with everything keeping me from my purpose.
I couldn’t be happier. It feels like all the pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together, and I know who I have to thank for that—Ava. She hasn’t just brought joy to my life; she’s given me direction. I can feel my life shifting for the better, and it’s all because of her.
As I get ready for practice, my phone rings. The name on the screen makes me sit up straight. It’s Ava’s father.
“Uh, Coach Harrison, hello,” I stammer, my nerves suddenly on edge.
“I have one question, Sebastian,” he says, his tone firm.
I know this isn’t about the game. He must have seen the footage of me kissing Ava on live TV.
The silence between us feels deafening.
“Do you love her?” he asks.
The answer comes to me before I even have time to think, and it surprises me.
“I do, Coach Harrison,” I admit, my throat tightening.
For a moment, there’s nothing but silence on the other end. Then his voice comes through, steady and deliberate.
“Make sure you don’t hurt her. Or else.”
“Not a single tear,” I promise him.
The call ends, and I realize I’m sweating. But one thing is clear—I’m determined to keep that promise. Ava means more to me than I ever expected.
Now that the game is over and I have a free week ahead, I decide it’s time to spend some quality time with Ava. We’ve shared incredible moments, but it’s been a whirlwind, and I miss the simplicity of just being with her.
I show up at her door unannounced, Chinese food in hand.
“You came!” she exclaims, flinging her arms around me.
“It feels like I haven’t seen you in forever,” I say, kissing her passionately.
“I missed you too,” she whispers, holding me close.
She’s in her pajamas, her hair tied up in a ponytail, looking effortlessly beautiful. She opens the bag of food while I grab wine glasses from the cabinet. It’s going to be a cozy night with good food and movies.
“Are you sure you want to watch this one?” I ask, eyeing the thumbnail of the horror movie she’s picked out .
“I love horror movies,” she says, her ponytail bouncing as she settles onto the couch.
I would never have pegged Ava as a horror movie fan.
We curl up together, digging into our spaghetti Bolognese while the movie plays. By the halfway mark, I can’t help but look away from the screen, but Ava is completely engrossed.
“This is the best part,” she says with a laugh, taking another bite of her spaghetti.
Horror movies have never been my thing. As a kid, they’d keep me up all night.
Suddenly, Ava pauses the movie.
“Why’d you turn it off?” I ask.
“I can’t be the only one watching the movie, Sebastian,” she teases, scrolling through the list of films.
She finally lands on an old comedy.
“How about this one?”
I nod, but my mind is elsewhere. I remember what Ava said to me back in Chicago—how she told me she loved me. She hasn’t brought it up again, and it’s been weighing on me.
“I have something important to tell you,” I say, holding her hands in mine.
Ava looks at me, her expression suddenly serious .
“Your father called,” I begin.
Her eyes widen. “He did?”
“What did he say?” she asks, sitting up straighter.
“He asked me a very important question,” I say, watching her carefully.
“What question?” she asks, her curiosity mixed with nerves.
“He asked if I loved you,” I admit.
Ava freezes. “And what did you say?”
I grin, trying to make her sweat a little.
“Sebastian! Tell me!” she insists, her anticipation evident.
“I told your father that I loved you,” I say simply.
Her eyes widen further. “Why would you say that?”
“Because it’s true,” I confess, locking eyes with her. “I do love you, Ava. I’ve fallen madly in love with you, and I’m in this for real.”
Tears glisten in her eyes as she wraps her arms around me.
“I love you too, Sebastian,” she whispers.
In her warm embrace, I feel whole. For the first time in my life, I feel like everything is exactly as it should be.