“No.”
“Maybe someday, though, huh?”
He craned his neck to look into my eyes.
“Maybe.”
“You okay?”
“You fucked all the words out of me.”
A grin slid across his face, but it quickly faded. Had he realized this might be the last time we were together for a while? That we might never get back together?
“I love you, Brooke. No matter what happens.”
“No matter what,” I said then sat up. “I should go.”
“What?” He sat up too. “No. Stay tonight.”
“No, we need to get used to being apart. It’s been nice sleeping next to you, but we have to be practical, Austin.”
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
“Fuck practical,” he said, also getting to his feet.
He stared at me as I slipped on my panties.
“Be realistic, Austin. We both have so much else going on right now. I’ll wait for you.” I put one leg into my pants then the other. “Will you wait for me?”
“Of course I would wait, but we don’t need to split up.”
“We do,” I said. “Your coach is kind of crazy, but he’s right. Y
ou need to focus all your energies on going pro after you graduate. Having me in your life will just distract you.”
“No…”
He walked around the bed and put a hand on my shoulder as I buttonned my jeans.
“Yes, Austin. It’s the only way.”
“Sleep on it at least, okay?” he begged.
“Okay, but I’m sure it’s the only thing for us to do. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Can you hand me my bra?”
“I’d rather not,” he said, but bent down to pick it up off the floor. “But here.”
I took it from him and put it on, reaching around to fasten it as he watched.
“Look, I’ll think about it, okay? Get some sleep tonight. You need to think about football.”
He frowned, not looking happy.
“I’ll call you.” I leaned against his body and kissed him on the lips. He resisted. “Don’t be that way, Austin.”
“Be what way? In love? That’s like telling me not to breathe.”
“Okay, now you’re being dramatic.”