“I . . . don’t know. A total collapse in common sense, I guess.”

“You know what you have to do. Apologize to Nathan. And keep apologizing to him. Tell him you love him. You’ve told him you love him, haven’t you?”

She wiped her nose. “Well, no.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “Tell him you love him. That you’re sorry. And keep telling him until he listens to you. Until he believes you.”

She sighed. “I hate being wrong.”

Her mother laughed. “I know. But it’s good for your character. Think of it as part of growing up.”

“Being a grown-up sucks.”

Her mother put her arms around her and cuddled her close. “Don’t I know it. Every time I’ve had to apologize to your father, I’ve thought much the same thing.”

Mia laughed.

Once she finally got over crying and feeling sorry for herself, Mom made her shower and get dressed. They went out for lunch and went shopping, and by the second day she felt a bit more like herself.

She was still sad and felt awful, but she had renewed hope. Because her mother was correct. She was going to have to find a way to make amends with Nathan. She might not ever get him back, but she had to make things right between them.

She was smart.

She’d figure out how.

THIRTY-NINE

THREE GAMES INTO THE SEASON AND THE SABERS were three and oh. Nathan was a goddamn machine on the field and he felt incredible about it.

As long as he could play football and not have to think about anything else, life was damn good.

“Feel like celebrating tonight?” Jamal asked.

“Nah, my parents are in town so I’m heading over to hang out with them.”

“Oh, great.”

“But thanks for the invite. And great game again. You rocked those two touchdowns today.”

“Hey, only because of you and your rocket arm, my man.”

He finished up his interviews and packed it up. His parents were in town for the home game today so he was meeting them at the house for dinner. They had Sam with them and he was looking forward to catching up with his little brother.

“Nathan!” Sam flew into his legs as soon as his dad opened the door.

“Sammy!” Nathan scooped him up and twirled him around. “Hey, you’re heavy.”

“That’s because I’m big now.”

His dad laughed. “It’s always the same with you two. Hey, Nathan.”

“Hey, Dad.”

“I saw you play football today.” Sam plucked at his football jersey. “I’m wearin’ your number.”

“I see that. It’s probably why we won today.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “You think so?”

“I know so, buddy.”

He played with Sam for a while, until his little brother decided to go hang out with his friend next door. Then Nathan sat down with his parents while his mom fixed dinner.

“You’re looking solid out there on the field, Nathan,” his dad said. “Press coverage says you’re like a machine.”

Nathan laughed and took a sip of the soda his mom had given him. “Thanks, Dad. Things seem to be gelling well for the team. It helps to have a lot of great weapons to throw to.”

“Don’t I know it.”

“How’s Mia?” his mom asked. “I didn’t see her at the game today.”

“No idea. We aren’t seeing each other anymore.”

Her mom looked shocked. “Oh, no. What happened?”

“Tara,” his dad said. “That’s not our business.”

“But you two were so close. I thought it was love.”

“Yeah, well, it wasn’t.”

“Mick, go grab Sam from the Millers’,” his mom said. “It’s time to eat.”

“Okay.”

After his dad left, his mom sat next to him. “What happened?”

When his mother asked, you didn’t get to dodge the question. So he told her everything.

“You know she did that to protect you.”

“I didn’t need protecting. And I didn’t need to be treated like one of her clients.”

His mother took his hand. “I can understand how you might see it that way. But I think Mia was genuinely frightened for you. And maybe you could see it her way. You do realize she’s in love with you, and she sacrificed the relationship for the good of your career?”

Nathan shook his head. “Nah. She didn’t care enough to save it.”

His mother sighed. “Men and their pride. It’s always so black and white with you. If you take some time to really think things over, maybe you’ll think differently.”

“I don’t want to think differently.”

She smiled at him. “That’s because you’re hurt. But you love her, don’t you?”

He didn’t want to answer that.

“You don’t have to tell me. But search your heart, Nathan. Because a true love like the one I think you have with Mia only comes around once in a lifetime.” She brushed his hair away from his face and it reminded him of being a kid again. “I’m always here for you. Anytime you need to talk. You know you’ll never be too old to need your mom.”

He squeezed her hand, then leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Nathan.”

After dinner, he drove back to his condo. He had plenty of time to think about what his mother had said.

Had he just reacted to what Mia said without thinking about her motivation?

They’d been friends forever. She had never done anything to hurt him. And she’d always been in his corner where his career was concerned. She’d never been callous or thoughtless. Hell, that just wasn’t her.

Until she’d dumped him, of course. And that’s all he’d been thinking about lately.

But they’d been growing closer and closer, and he’d known he was in love with her. He could have sworn her feelings were the same. Which was why it had been such a shock when she’d dumped him. If he was honest with himself, thinking back now, she’d looked as hurt about it as he had. But he’d only thought about his own feelings.

Had she really sacrificed their relationship for him?

There was only one way to find out, and that was to talk to her.

He wasn’t ready yet. And maybe that was his ego talking, but he needed to sound out his feelings with someone he trusted, someone who’d understand what he was going through. Right now he needed to talk to one of his boys.

He texted Jamal. He was free, so he went over to his place.

He lived in a condo similar to Nathan’s. It had been a while since he’d been here, and Nathan could see Wendy’s influence. There were flowerpots and some trendy new art on the wall along with decorative pillows. And was that a new couch?

“Added some new shit to the place, huh?”

Jamal cracked a smile. “Wendy. Did I tell you she’s moving in?”

“You didn’t.” He followed Jamal into the kitchen.

“Beer, energy drink or water?” Jamal asked.

“Water’s good, thanks.”

Jamal fixed him a glass of ice water and they went back into the living room. Nathan pulled up a chair and Jamal sat on the sofa.

“So things are getting serious between you two, huh?” Nathan asked.

Jamal nodded. “Yeah. I’m in love with her. She’s good for me.”

“That’s great, man. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. So what’s up with you?”

“It’s Mia. She’s got my head all screwed up.”

Jamal leaned back against the sofa. “Talk to me.”

He told Jamal everything that went down between Mia and him, what she’d done, how the breakup happened and why.

“Huh.” Jamal took a long swallow of his energy drink. “That’s messed up.”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t blame you for kicking her to the curb for good. She’s trash.”

Nathan frowned. “I wouldn’t go that far. I mean, she messed up, definitely.”