“Regret?” I don’t mean to laugh, but that’s what happens. “Regret?” I deadpan.
“Noah, damn it—”
“You think I give a shit about my football career right now?” My voice raises an octave with every word, and I release Ari’s hand to protect her from the anger vibrating through me. “You think I’ve thought about it since I’ve been here? Since she has been here? Because I haven’t, not fucking once.”
“I get that this is fucked up and shit’s not normal right now, ok. Don’t fucking forget that is my sister lying there!” Mason shouts, pointing his finger at Ari. “But don’t think for one fucking second that this is what she would want you to do, because it’s not.” He’s standing right in front of me now. His glare is sharp, but his entire face falls, as does the pitch of his voice. “It’s not, man.” His eyes soften just a bit, and his voice lowers. “It’s not man. She wouldn’t want this for you.”
I just stare at him a minute, slowly nodding.
“I hear you. Honest, I do, and I know you’re right, but if there’s ever a time for me to be selfish, this is it. Because despite what she or anyone else might think is right for me right now, there is no way in this fucked-up world we’re currently living in that I could go out on that field and do a damn thing while my reason for breathing is lying here.” I shake my head slightly. “My regret would come from leaving her, not from staying. I could never regret being where I am right now. This is where I belong. This is where I’m staying. Nothing changes that and nothing is more important.”
Mason’s jaw flexes, his brows caving. He reaches out, clamping my shoulder, and gives me a little shake. “That right there, my man, is why I haven’t kicked your ass yet,” he says on a chuckle, making the rest of us join in.
The mood settles a moment, and everyone goes back to what they were doing a moment before, so I take a deep breath, swallowing a few mouthfuls of warm coffee.
“You realize it doesn’t matter if you pulled out of Pro Day, right?” Chase says, not bothering to take his eyes off the TV. “You already completed your college eligibility, and you were already confirmed as a prospect.” He looks my way. “The compliance department already signed off with a big green go. You’re in it.”
I hold his gaze until he looks away, only then dropping mine to my lap, forced to consider his words.
He’s not wrong. I know what I was signed up for, just like I know who’s interested.
I also know I’ll pass on every single offer that comes in.
Lifting Ari’s hand, I lean forward and bring it to my mouth, placing a small kiss along her knuckles. My eyes close and I press them a little firmer, cupping her hand with both of mine, speaking against her skin without a word whispered.
I imagine her thumb brushing along mine, just as it does.
My body goes stiff, my eyes flying open. I don’t dare move.
Don’t dare speak.
Her thumb twitches once more, and my head darts up. I jerk closer.
The others fly from their seats.
“What?! What’s wrong?!”
“What is it?!”
“Noah!” Mason snaps.
“She—” I shake my head, not taking my eyes off her face. “She moved. Her hand. She moved.”
My eyes fly from her face to her hand, back and forth, and her wrist jerks next.
Cameron’s hands clamp down on me, squeezing. “Oh my god! She moved! Mason, she moved!”
My head turns to look at the others, but my eyes wait until the last second to flick their way.
Mason’s eyes gloss over, and he glances from me to her. “Is she finally… think she’s…” He swallows, unable to say the words out loud.
I open my mouth, but nothing comes out, so I turn back, release her, and reach up to cup her face in my palms. Slowly, I stroke her cheeks.
“Open your eyes for me, baby,” I breathe as Mason grips my shoulder tight for support. “Juliet, open your eyes.”
Her lids begin to flutter, and the room fills with small gasps.
My heart rate spikes, my lungs squeezing, pleading she’ll fill them with hope once more. With purpose.
“This is it,” Cameron croaks, tears falling from her eyes. “She’s waking up. Ari, come on girly, wake the fuck up.”
“Baby… come on,” I whisper, trying my damnedest to keep my emotions under control but failing.
I watch, waiting for my world to start spinning again, as my girl ever so slowly opens her eyes.