This is everything I’ve worked for since I was eight years old and Dad first put a football in my hands, but all I can think about is how she looked last night when she said no. Sad and broken.
My phone buzzes.
Tiff:Landing in 20. Ella is vibrating with excitement to see her favorite person.
Right. The airport. I need to stop moping around the house and get there.
I type back quickly.
Zach:See you soon.
I don't know what I'm going to tell them. Tiff will know something's wrong the second she sees my face. She always does. But Ella—fuck, I can't let Ella see me fall apart. Not today.
I check my reflection in the hallway mirror before heading out. The bruise on my jaw from Chris's punch is darker now, purple spreading toward my cheekbone. At least I can use the excuse of a hard training session with them.
The drive to the airport takes twenty minutes, and I spend all of it trying to figure out what to say. Honey's busy with work. No, Tiff will call bullshit immediately. She's not feeling well. Too vague. She'll meet us at the game.
The last one is a little too hopeful. Will she show up at the game? I don’t even know what she’s feeling right now.
I pull into the arrivals area just as Tiff texts that they're at baggage claim. By the time I find parking and make it inside, I spot them immediately—Ella's jumping up and down next to a luggage cart, her blonde pigtails bouncing, while Tiff wrestles with two suitcases that definitely exceed the weight limit.
Seeing them has finally given me a reason to smile.
They’re home. Finally.
“Zach!” Ella's shriek echoes through the terminal. She breaks into a run, and I barely have time to brace before she launches herself at me. I catch her, lifting her up as she giggles loudly.
When I bring her down, I hold her in a hug for a little longer because the weight of her in my arms is the first thing that’s felt solid since Honey walked away last night.
“Hey, Ella-bear.” I press my face into her hair, breathing in apple shampoo and goldfish crackers. “Missed you.”
“Where's Honey?” She pulls back, brown eyes searching behind me. “I brought Mr. Nibbles for her birthday!”
She holds up the stuffed fox, its ears are bent from being squeezed too hard on the plane.
My chest tightens. “She's, uh—she had to work this morning.”
Ella's face scrunches. “But it's her birthday.”
“I know, baby. But she'll see you soon, okay?”
“Okay.”
Tiff arrives with the luggage cart and pulls me into a one-armed hug, but I feel her stiffen when she sees my face. “What the hell happened to your jaw?”
I set Ella down. “Covey U defense thought I was looking at him the wrong way.” I shrug. “It’s fine.”
“Uh-huh.” She doesn't believe me, but she lets it go for now. “Let's get out of here.”
I load the bags into the trunk, only able to hear Ella talking about how Mr. Nibbles got scared during takeoff while Tiff straps her into the car seat.
“Someone’s wired,” I say, walking past Tiff to get into the car.
Tiff groans as she shuts the door. “Yeah, she’s been wired the entire flight. She was too excited to sleep. Kept asking when we’d land so she could see you and Honey.”
I hear how carefully she says Honey’s name. She knows something’s up. I’m not surprised. She’s one of my best friends, after all.
By the time we’re on the highway, Ella is out cold.