40. Chapter 31

The piece from Tea Time has been circulating everywhere. I am so grateful to all the people who helped find and expose the truth. Since then, my phone hasn't stopped. I have had hundreds of text messages and calls. It was so bad I couldn't take it anymore and kept my phone silent.

The only person I want to hear from is the one who hasn't sent a text or called.

I run my hand through my hair and blow out a deep breath as I pull into the Mavs training center. Telling Brie I love her wasn't something I planned; the words just came out. But now I'm second-guessing myself and worried I scared her off. I don't regret it; I meant every word. It's just the fear of not knowing what will happen next and that I scared her away.

I rub the tightness in my chest and take a deep breath. After talking to Susie, I'm giving her space. Susie told me I need to let Brie be the one to decide how to move forward. All I want to do is reach out and talk to her, make her feel safe, but Susie is right. If Brie feels trapped, she will run. I need to distance ourselves a little so she can come to her own conclusion. It's the right thing to do; I just don't like it.

If I wasn't seeing her in a few days for her school"s track and field event, I'm not sure I could actually do it.

When I walk into the locker room, the guys start asking me questions about Brie. I raise my hands in the air.

"I haven't talked to her yet." I shrug. "I'm giving her space."

"Dude, no!" Johnson yells.

"Are you crazy?!" Darius comes up and shakes my shoulders, and I can't help but laugh. I love these guys. There is nothing like being part of a team, but sometimes, they get a little too involved in your life.

"Hey," I yell, putting my hands up again. "Did you forget that we have the track and field day at Pleasant Valley Elementary School?"

"Speaking of that, Susie and I talked about what you could do." Adam has a mile-wide grin, and I pretend to glare at him for dating my sister.

"Oh, you were talking about me, were you?" He slaps me on the back as I put my duffle bag in the locker.

"Get used to it, dude; I think I'm going to be around for a while." I groan but can't keep the smile from my face. I couldn't have picked a better man for my sister if I had tried, and I did. It turns out Brie called that one. My heart clenches at the thought of her, and my smile dims a little bit. I'm not giving up hope, but not knowing is killing me a little. I shake it off and catch the last part of what Adam says. "...drawings."

"Drawings?" I look at him with my brows drawn.

"Were you not listening to me?" I offer a slight grin and shrug. "Dude, I feel so unloved."

"I'm listening now," I throw back at him.

"Susie said Brie used to draw you pictures."

I feel my eyes squint as I try to figure out exactly what he's talking about. Drawings? Huh? I don't remember anything she used to draw for me—oh wait! Yes, I do. She used to draw these stick figures of me holding a football with her and Susie watching on the side of the field while holding up "Go Josh" signs. Warmth spreads throughout my body, and the corner of my mouth turns upward as I think about those. I can't help but chuckle at my responses when she gave them to me—I was awful. I was your typical boy. When Brie would hand them to me, I would act like I was all grossed out, crumble them up, and then throw them on the ground.

I was eight, and eight-year-olds are supposed to act grossed out when a girl likes them. Plus, she was my little sister's friend, double gross. The smile on my face gets wider as I remember the younger version of me, who secretly thought Brie was cute but had to pretend to hate her.

Suddenly, an image of Brie pops into my head as she retrieved the picture I threw on the ground, turned it over, flattened out the wrinkles on her knee, and then calmly walked to my parent's front porch to put the picture in the mailbox. Later, when no one was looking I went and took it out. I hid it in my desk drawer in my bedroom.

Years later, I was cleaning out my desk and found it. I didn't tell her how adorable I thought it was, but I did tease her mercilessly about it. Watching her face turn multiple shades of red was one of the cutest things I ever saw. Of course, I had to keep pushing until her nostrils were flaring, and she tried to rip the picture out of my hand. Her jumping up and trying to get it still makes me laugh. She was so persistent.

I wasn't about to let it die, so I did the only thing I could: frame it and hang it in the living room for everyone to see. She tried to remove it more than once, but anytime she did, someone would yell at her to leave it alone. She still covers her face and groans whenever it catches her eye.

Wait! That's it. And with the help of the kids, it will be perfect!

"That's brilliant." I slap Adam on the shoulder, and he beams at me.

I pull out my phone to text Finn.

Me:I need your help.Me: Can you contact the Principal at Brie's school and ask if they could help me with something?

Finn:Sure! What is it?

Me:I'll let you know after practice.

Finn:guy throwing hands up gif>

I laugh as I throw my phone in my duffle bag. If I can get the principal to work with me, I will have the perfect idea. Brie is going to love it!

"Who got that cardboard standup printed out?" I yell to the entire locker room as everyone heads to the practice field.

"That was all Johnson," Michaels yells and points in Johnson's direction over the sound of cleats as the team walks down the hallway.

"What do you need, and when do you need it?" Johnson asks. "I have a connection that can get it done in less than 24 hours."

"Awesome! I'm still ironing out the details, but I will let you know when I do." I pat him on the back, put my helmet over my head, and buckle up the chin strap. The next thing I know, everyone is ribbing me and making kissing noises. I shake my head and laugh out loud.

I know that Susie said to give Brie space, but there is no way I will let her have so much that she talks herself out of us. It makes perfect sense why she's afraid. Dang it, I'm afraid, too. Being in love with someone is at the same time, the most exciting and terrifying experience. And I've never been so scared of anything in my life.

But I'm more afraid of losing her, and I will do whatever I need to to make sure that doesn't happen. So be it if that means putting it all on the line and losing.

Brie is worth the risk.