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Lina never ames, but she didn’t think it was smart of me to pin my entire future on a sport where I could be injured or replaced or just plain not good enough She was fond of calling it a hobby, not a career And as much as I loved her, I loved football, too And in the end, I chose the sport over her one tooa distraction, I look over at Brookes and say, "You need a hug, Isaiah? I could hold you if that would help"

McClain givesenough to say, "Fuck off, Torres"

I s a little more normal, not to mention pleased when the couples end their affectionate hellos

Dylan says to Silas, "Dallas is going to drop s and my car, but then I’ll head over to your place?"

"I’ll be there," he answers

"Me, too," I say, and Dylan gives me a patient smile

"I’ll see you, too"

Moore lifts his chin to McClain and says, "You and Dallas are welcome to join It’ll just be us Low-key Just so, and Dylan said she’d cook"

Dallas says, "Sure I think we’d like that"

"Don’t expect too et by, but Antonella’s the real cook in our house"

My chest tightens at her name, and the words are out ofher with you"

Dylan giveslook, but she doesn’t roup about hts of Nell consume me on my drive ho up the apartnore ain? It won’t be easy There will be too ure out sos the way they were last night, and if I’m honest, I definitely don’t want a few ht now, she hasn’t blocked out Lina like I planned Instead, she’s just stirred up even morewith my head until I crash and burn Or worseuntil I call Lina So I haven’t allowed ood as it always felt to hear her voice, the stilted conversation, the space between us, was a knife to the chest And I spent too da a masochist over her

Nell is supposed to end that She has to end it

Just as we finish cleaning up the living rooets a call from Dylan, and I listen in to his side of the conversation

"HeyOh OkayYeah, I’ll call McClain and tell himIt’s fine, Dylan Really Is she okay?"