Chapter 62

One day, I had everything I ever wanted. I had Division I colleges making me offers and the girl of dreams agreeing to come with me. I had love in my heart and felt it in return, and then… it was gone.

I don't want to compare it to the day my parents died, but it's hard to deny the similarities.

It was just like any other day…

… until it wasn't.

And the one comparison I can't seem to shake is that I don't understand what happened in either scenario.

I don't know how I got here.

I sit at the front of the classroom now, so I don't have to look at her, and I eat my lunch in my van.

It's been two weeks.

Harlow's been taking the bus to school. I see her riding her bike down the driveway every morning. Jonah said he offered to take her, but she declined. The only time she gets in his car is after work when he drives her home. He didn't ask what happened between us or the reason we broke up. He probably knows better than I do.

Harlow and I don't speak. Not at school or at work.

She doesn't go to the open practices, and she doesn't come to my games.

I've learned to play through the pain of her absence.

"Jace," my computer science professor calls out, pulling me from my thoughts. "Can you hang back a minute?"

I nod, and around me, the rest of the students pack up their things. I'd been in such a daze that I hadn't paid attention in class, so much so that I didn't even realize it was over.

Backpack over one shoulder, I make my way to the front of the classroom, stopping in front of my professor, who's no doubt about to question my lack of attention today.

"What's up?" I ask, and he sits on the edge of his desk, handing me back my test from two weeks ago. In big, fat red marker is an A+.

"Hundred percent," he states. "Not one question wrong."

I lift my eyes from the paper to him.

"Jace, you're the top student in my class by far. You're a high school senior surrounded by twenty-somethings, and you're killing it." He slaps my arm, the same way my coach does when I perform well on the court. "If basketball doesn't work out for you, you have a pretty decent plan B here."

"Thanks," I tell him. "But I plan on accomplishing both."

I leave the lecture hall and immediately take out my phone, ready to text Harlow the news. But then I remember… and I wonder how it is I could ever forget.

I had goals before Harlow.

Dreams and aspirations that weren't limited to basketball and her coming with me. I pushed back offers while I waited for her to tell me what she wanted.

I realize now that was my mistake. Now, most offers are off the table. I walked away from them as easily as Harlow walked away from me.

Lesson learned.