Chapter 1

6 months ago…

Ava

"Are you coming or not?" My roommate, Ashley, stuck her head through my bedroom door. "If you say no… never mind, you can't say no. I'm not going to let you." She wagged her finger at me and then stepped the rest of the way through the door.

"I'm not really feeling that festive today," I groaned as I sat down on the edge of my bed.

"Why? Because Dickbag Danny didn't call you?" She rolled her eyes. "Forget him, and forget anyone else who doesn't know how amazing you are." She grinned. "I have a great night planned, and you can now legally drink your problems away."

"You know what? You're right." I stood up and gave a quick nod. Danny could kiss my ass. If he didn't remember it was my birthday, then that was on him, not me. "Give me a few to fix this hot mess, and we're out of here." I waved her off.

"You better hurry. I'm pouring shots, and I don't want to have to take yours," she called from somewhere in the apartment.

"We have practice tomorrow," I yelled back. Ashley was always up for a good time, and I knew that she knew I wasn't having the best day. My dad and Madi called me this morning. This was always hard for him. My birthday was always right before the anniversary of my mom's death. He's coped better over the years, but it's still hard for him.

My teammates have been sending me little messages all day to cheer me up because they knew the one person I wanted to see this weekend was my boyfriend, Danny. We'd been together for four years now. At first it was easy spending time together. He went to school here, but he graduated a year ago, and this past winter he accepted a job in Colorado. We rarely saw each other, and when we did he acted like he didn't have time for me. The last few times I'd called him, he'd sent me to voicemail. I honestly didn't know why we were still together. I'd always thought he was it for me, but now I didn't know anymore.

"Are you done yet?" Ashley sighed as she marched back into my room.

"Almost." I pulled a pair of sandals out of the closet and began slipping them on. "Does this look ok?" I spun. My brown hair was pulled up, and I'd slipped into this pink t-shirt dress. We were just going to one of the bars near campus, but I really didn't dress up. Most days I was in workout gear.

"More than ok. I wish I tanned like you." She grinned. "Come on, Justin's picking us up." She grabbed my arm and began pulling me to the front door. "He promised he's being the DD tonight so we could have fun. Isn't he the bestest?" She giggled and then hiccupped.

"The bestest." I laughed. "I think you got started a little early."

"It's my best friend's twenty-first birthday!" She pumped her fist in the air. "It should be a national holiday or something." We skipped down the stairs and out to the parking lot where Justin was waiting. We climbed in, and Ashley rambled off some address to him. I wasn't really paying attention because I didn't want the sting of Danny's rejection to invade my night any more than it already had.

"Hey!!!! She's here!" Sara and Karlie cheered as we walked through the door. The whole team had come out.

"Did you plan this?" I turned and smiled at my best friend.

"You only turn twenty-one once." She shrugged. "I wanted to make it special."

"Thank you." I hugged her.

"Eh, it's what best friends do." She grinned as she shouted toward the bartender. "Birthday special for my friend here."

"Coming right up," he called back as he began grabbing bottles and pouring what looked to be an entire liquor store into a glass. "Bottom's up." He handed it over. It was blue and had whipped cream and sprinkles on top. It smelled like cotton candy, and when I sipped it, it tasted like a mix of cake batter and blueberries. The fact that it didn't taste like alcohol should have a been a sign that I needed to go slow, but under the encouragement of my friends, I threw caution to the wind for one night and let loose.

Before long, Sara had her phone linked to the sound system, and we were having our own karaoke session in the back corner of the bar. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came over the speakers, and Ashley began belting out the words like her life depended on them into an invisible microphone in her hand. We were three sheets to the wind when the bar started calming down and last call was shouted. "This was so much fun. Thanks for making me come." I stumbled as I wrapped my arms around Ashley.

"You weren't the only one needing to blow off steam. We've got a big week coming up. Next Saturday's game is the Legacy Game."

"Please don't remind me." I sighed as a bit of reality creeped in. I've been pushing it away for weeks.

"It'll be great. We'll win, they'll retire the jersey, and you'll be the only Slone they're talking about on that field." She side-hugged me, and as I wobbled, the room tilted. "Justin's waiting outside for us. Let's get you home, birthday girl."

"Home," I whispered. Home was a place where my mind could wander, and the deafening quiet let me question whether I was the one who could live up to her legacy.

The ride back to the apartment was quick and uneventful. Ashley jabbered away about some movie she wanted Justin to take her to for their next date, and I stared out the window, watching the street lights pass above us. We pulled into the parking lot, and Justin pulled into a space. Just as I was getting ready to open the door, Ashley growled, "What the hell?"

My head snapped up, and there sitting on our steps was none other than my boyfriend, Danny. I swung the door open and wobbled to my feet.

"What are you doing here?" I squealed as I attempted to run to him. I flung my arms around his neck, and pressed my body against him. He smelled so good and my alcohol soaked brain didn't even care that he hadn't called me today.

"I was in meetings all morning, and then I've been flying here to see you. I'm sorry I didn't call, but I thought spending time together was better." He smiled down at me as my eyes filled with tears. "Don't cry. I love you." He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to my lips. "Seems like you've been doing a little partying tonight."

"Someone needed to take her out," Ashley grumbled from behind me.

"Ash," I warned. I knew they didn't like each other, but lately Ashley's been getting more and more vocal about it. "How long can you stay?" I turned back to Danny.

"Only until tomorrow night. I have to be back in Denver for a big meeting on Friday." He grimaced.

"So you're going to miss the game?" I whined. Danny hadn't been to a game since he graduated and it bugged me.

"I'm here now. Let's get inside so I can get out of these work clothes." He tugged at his tie.

I turned to go up the steps and Danny followed. I knew if I pushed him, it would just turn into another argument. We've been having a lot of those lately.

"I don't want to hear whatever is going to happen in there." Ashley moved her finger in a circle as she pointed to my bedroom door.

"We'll try to behave." I giggled as Danny lifted me up on his shoulder, and smacked my butt. I pushed everything aside that I was upset about, and lived in the moment. Right now he was here, and we were going to celebrate my birthday all night. I'd probably feel like death run over at tomorrow's practice, but tonight I didn't care.

"Ava." His voice was gruff. I could feel his warm body press against my side.

"Too early. Need sleep," I mumbled as I attempted to bury my face in my pillow.

"It's time for practice." He pressed a kiss to my neck, right below the ear. "I'll reward you after," he whispered.

"I don't know if I can handle any more reward." I rolled to my side. Every part of me ached, but in a good way. "Coach is going to be so hard on us today. Only three more days till the Legacy Game."

"You were born for this. I know you can handle it." He chuckled as he rolled to his back, taking his body heat with him.

"Why don't you come to practice? We could grab food after and visit some of our old hangouts." I was feeling better about him missing the game.

"Can't. Gotta work." He tossed his arm over his eyes, shielding his face. "And before you start, this was the compromise I made to make this trip." He sounded like my dad did when I was little and I complained about his traveling for work.

"Fine. I get it." I was short with him as I climbed out of bed. I quickly dressed in practice clothes, and then grabbed my gym bag to head to the living room. "You had plenty of time to fuck me, but you don't actually want to spend time with me. Noted!"

"Ava. Don't be like that. You know that's not true," he muttered. He still had his arm over his eyes.

"Right." I shook my head as I rolled my eyes. Why did I put up with this crap? Because I'd been with Danny long enough and had been told that we were perfect for each other enough that I didn't see myself with anyone different.

Ashley was already pouring a protein shake into a travel cup when I sat down to put my shoes on. "Can we go? Like now?" I grumbled.

"Oh, is douche bag being a douche bag?" She grabbed her keys off the counter. "I don't know why you let him treat you like this, A. You deserve so much better." She flung open the door and motioned for me to go ahead of her. "I mean, even if he is good in the sack. That's not all there is, ya know?"

"I know." I sighed. The truth was, I did know. I just never pictured myself with someone else and I guess I'd become complacent over the whole thing. It wasn't always like this, though. Danny used to be so attentive. We had the same interests, then it was like he moved on in life and forgot all about me. He called less, came back to see me less, and didn't seem to act like he wanted to be with me unless we were in bed. I kept hoping that things would be better, and I kept waiting for them to change, but now I wondered if I was only fooling myself thinking that they would.