"How could you not tell me the second that you kissed?" Alani started screaming the second that she got out of her car. She came running at me with her arms outstretched, squeezing me tightly while continuing to babble into my ear.
"There was a lot going on," I laughed.
"I've been here for years, waiting for something to happen between you, mentioning it every time he had a high school dance, every time anyone we knew got engaged, any time he so much as looked at you I would say that you guys were going to get married, and you always said that I was wrong!"
"Wait, how did you even find out?" I asked as she began to grab her board from the back of her car.
"That's the problem, I, your best friend after the Sanders boys, have to find out through my own boyfriend because you didn't even think to tell me days after you sucked each other's faces!" Alani exclaimed, clearly slightly disappointed but still altogether thrilled at the development.
"Okay, okay," I paused to laugh again, "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I wasn't sure if it was going to be official until yesterday, which before you ask, it is now. There's just been a lot going on lately."
We began to walk down the path that was worn through trees and underbrush to get to the beach. "I know it had been a lot since the accident, so I'll let it slide this time," Alani smiled.
Alani had tried to reach out twice since the accident, but I had just been so preoccupied with Will that I had let the texts go unread. It wasn't the best move, because I definitely had time to answer them, I was just too consumed with worry to respond. And then I was consumed with the potential of romance, which was a less legitimate excuse.
"Girls, I need less screaming and gossiping and more paddling, hurry it up," Coach John's shout echoed up the hill that we were walking down, and we stepped our walk up to a jog. Coach ended up being the one that brought me away from Will and back to Alani, which may have been for the best.
There wasn't much time to talk once we were in the water and trying to pay attention to Coach John's directions, but Alani felt free to send suggestive smirks my way. New relationships were always exciting to her, but the fact that this one included two people that she had been pushing together since the beginning of time ensured that she would be stuck on this for awhile.
We spent an hour and a half in the water, but the waves were sub-par. The wind had picked up in the morning and the waves were choppier than ideal, so other than Alani landing a nice air, the day was pretty boring. I would probably have to go on a run later to make up for the shorter session, but you could only surf what the ocean provided.
"Hey, do you want to go grab food or something?" Alani asked as we loaded the gear back into our cars.
I glanced at my phone, noting the time. "Um, when do you leave next?"
She pursed her lips and thought for a second before answering, "My next comp is January 3-8th, so around then?"
"Could you text me the day before you leave and we'll go get shaved ice then, I promise that I will respond? I just told Will that I'd watch a movie with him this afternoon and I'm trying to make the most of the time we have before one of us leaves," I smiled apologetically.
"Girl all that you needed to say was Will and you had a free pass," she winked, "I'll see you on New Year's day for the shaved ice then. Or before if you want to hang."
By the time that I got home and had showered and changed, it was early evening. Will handed me a plate of leftover spaghetti when I walked into his house before he sat down on the couch in front of the television. "So, I think that I have two great options for tonight," he announced with a suspicious grin. I nodded at him to proceed.
"We haveee Soul Surfer," he pulled up his watch list on the TV, "and, drum roll please..."
After a few seconds it was clear that he wasn't going to say it until I gave him a drum roll, so I rolled my eyes and drummed on my legs. "42! Or Moneyball, that is another valid option, but I prefer the Dodgers."
I raised my eyebrows at his overly enthusiastic expression. "We're really branching out on the sports tonight, huh?
Will folded his arms and made a face. "Pick one or I will."
"42 it is, then."
Will smiled happily and clicked it before quickly burrowing into the couch next to me. His head was on a pillow that sat up against my side as he laid facing the TV, his long brown curls spread over the pillow. I ran my hair through them and caught his smile as the movie began. "Someone's getting cuddly, huh?" I teased.
"I figured that it's allowed now so I might as well take advantage of it," he smirked.
Will enjoyed sharing tidbits of information as the movie progressed, and he sat up against the couch about halfway through. He promptly wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I took the opportunity to nestle my head into his chest.
"I had no idea that you were capable of this," Will laughed, the vibrations from his chest echoing in my ear.
I smiled slightly. "I'm figuring it out now."
"It's fine by me, I was just hoping that I wouldn't scare you off by being touchy."
"You exposed yourself in the hospital on that one, bud. You fell asleep on my shoulder instead of your pillow more times than I can count."
He laughed and we quietly watched the rest of Jackie Robinson's achievements play out. The movie ended and I sat up off of Will to stretch, and he glanced out the glass doors that led to the porch. It was dark, but the moon was bright and made the sand glow. "Want to go for a walk?" He asked, brushing his hair back into place. The flow was real.
"Yeah, sure."
He led the way back onto the beach and slipped his hand into mine. The air was cool, which meant that the ocean felt warm in comparison when we walked barefoot through water that was gliding up the beach.
"CJ Yelich dropped out of this year's draft class," Will said, prompting me to look at him confusedly. "Everyone thought that he was going to go this year, but for some reason he's transferring and going for the draft next year. It's crazy." Will shook his head.
"Why does it matter?"
"Nolan Bellinger, I think you said you met his girlfriend last year when we played them, well he and Nolan were fighting for the first spot in this year's draft. It was a big drama, their dads are friends and Viviana Yelich is CJ's twin but is dating Nolan. They would have dealt with each other, and then if I went for it next year some of the space would have been cleared. I'm not fooling anyone into thinking that I would have been the first pick, but I was hoping to get more attention without them. If I had theoretically gone for the draft next year I would now be dealing with Yelich, and that would be a tough look."
"Oh yeah I remember, I said that you were my best friend when you were hitting and she claimed the guy who caught the ball as her boyfriend," I laughed, remembering.
"Well, now you can call me that too," Will smiled, bending down to kiss my temple as we walked.
"Yeah, that is crazy about the draft though," I twisted my foot nervously in the sand, creating disfigured footprints. "Were you really going to go for it? Like play in The Show?"
"You're already on the Tour, so I figured I might as well be in The Show," he joked before pausing and giving me a flat sort of smile, "My coaches told me that I would make it. I guess that I would have gone for it, I just didn't tell you because I didn't know if I would really be good enough. You never knowing seemed easier than having my professional athlete best friend know that I wasn't talented or athletic enough. I guess that it doubled at making you less disappointed if something like this happened."
He gestured at his legs, which were only stuttering slightly at this point. We had left the walker back at the house, but he was doing just fine at a slow pace. I squeezed his hand. "I had no idea that you were that good-- are that good," I corrected quickly.
Will gave me a playful glare at that and shrugged. "It's okay, I won't be the same player if I ever make it back onto the field. But if UH is the end of the line for my ball career, I'll work on my cheerleading skills," he grinned.
"That would be fun," I smiled while my stomach turned. The idea of Will staying sidelined was sickening-- and I was hoping that it wouldn't be true.
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Threw in a few references to Third Strike Rule by brandnewb ;) you guys should check her story out (and How to Hit a Homerun) as long as you still read mine hahaha
I also took my cast list down but have been working on some aesthetics for fun, so those may be up soon. Just need to do Evan's. Anyways, drop any fun covid safe thanksgiving/holiday plans you have if you want :)