Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
It’s never taken me so long to write a Howler Report. I’ve typed and deleted these two sentences so many times it's embarrassing.
Blame it on the end of my date last night, or the fact that I need to write about the amazing point guard who has the boy I like in a chokehold.
I take a deep breath, refusing to let a boy affect the way I support women’s sports.
Come on, Howler Girl, you got this.
The Lady Wolves will be taking on our rivals in their annual back to school scrimmage tonight. Are you planning to show out for these baddies? Word on the street is, this is going to be their season.
Done. That wasn’t so bad.
I send the email over to the head editor. Thank God, he has a new intern covering this game tonight. I’m just not sure I could do it.
The other open tab on my laptop grabs my attention. The only excitement I’ve felt in the past twelve hours is from these emails. I always thought I wanted it to be Maverick, but after the reality of our situation set in last night, I’m actually thankful it isn’t.
It means someone else out there wants to talk to me. Wants to get to know me. And for a girl who didn’t get a lot of attention as a kid, I crave it more than I should.
A text comes through on my MacBook.
Mav
Are you at your place?
Me
Yes.
Mav
Can I come by?
Peyton
Sure.
My stomach churns. I hope Maverick has been honest with himself, because I’ve accepted the reality. And I’m okay with it.
A few minutes later, a knock sounds at my door. Taking my fiftieth deep breath of the day, I try to calm my nerves before I open the wooden slab.
“Hi,” I greet with a smile.
I hate the defeated look on his face.
Maverick Leblanc is a good guy to his core, and I know he didn’t set out to hurt me. I hope he knows that.
“Hey, you,” he says, his normally devastating smile not reaching his eyes as he steps into my apartment.
He smells like a fresh shower and cinnamon.
“I came straight from morning practice.” He leans against the counter in my studio kitchen.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper.
“Yes, I did. You deserve answers.” Reaching for my hands, he takes them in his.
This time, he gives me a genuine smile. “You are so beautiful, do you know that?”
I try to dip my head, but he lifts our hands and nudges me to look at him. “You are.”
In this moment, I can feel how much he means it. I actually believe him too.
“Thank you.”
Even with what I know is about to come, if there’s one thing my months with Maverick Leblanc has given me…it’s a confidence boost.
We stand there in silence for what feels like minutes.
“Tell me what you came here to tell me, Maverick. It’s okay.”
Now he’s the one dropping his head, and I can tell this has been weighing on him.
“I have regrets when it comes to my relationship with Shay… Things I haven’t dealt with. I never meant for this to happen the way it has, and I know that’s not fair to you.” He tugs on his hair.
“It’s okay, I get it. I’ve watched you two over the years. Even saw you the other night in your room with her. There’s definitely something special between you, and I don’t want to stand in the way of that.”
He observes me, taking in my words and likely realizing my excuse to leave The Wolves Den early the other night was bullshit.
“I’m sorry you saw that,” he whispers.
I shake my head. “It was clear she was who you needed in that moment. I tried to ignore it as much as I could, and that’s my own fault.”
He reaches up, tucking a piece of hair that fell from my ponytail. “I hope you know how special our time together was to me. How amazing you are.”
I smile. “It was a pretty amazing few months.”
“I have no doubt I’ll turn on SportsCenter one day and see The Howler Girl broadcasting on prime-time.”
That makes me chuckle, and I can’t help but smirk. “I like how you think.”
“You won’t be a stranger, will you?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be around.”
“Good.” He smiles and surprises me by pulling me into a hug.
When I pull back and look up at him, I hate the pain I still see on his face.
“Maverick…”
“Yeah?”
“You’re a good guy. I hope you know that.”
It may not have gone the way I hoped it would, but I’m thankful for the time I had with such a genuine person like Maverick. He showed me that there are good men out there, maybe even a jock or two.
He leans down, kissing my forehead. “One day, I know you’ll find an even better guy, and he’ll be one hell of a lucky man.”
And even with the heartache of it all, somehow, in this moment, I believe him.