“I don’t want another jersey.”

Bryan smiled, “I can have it say your name, darlin’.”

Elli looked up at him.

“That’s not the reason I don’t want another jersey. I’m fine.”

“So you say. I know you’re not, darlin’.”

“I am,” Elli snapped.

Bryan let out a frustrated breath as Elli continued to watch the guys.

“Who did you sell your seats to tonight?”

“I don’t know. Someone on StubHub.”

Bryan nodded, “You know, if you don’t want them anymore, I can give them to someone else.”

Elli shook her head, “I do want them, I just wanted to sit with you for a while.”

“Gracious me, you’re lyin’ your tail off,” Bryan said with a laugh as Elli looked up at him.

“I am not.”

“Well, I don’t want you to sit up here anymore. You depress me,” he gave her a cheeky grin as he grabbed a hot dog off the buffet.

“Fine, I’ll sit down in my seats next game.”

“Sure you will.”

“I will! And how am I depressing you!?”

“You’re a walking zombie, darlin’. It’s sad how much you’re hurtin’ and won’t try to make it better or get the hell over him. Do you think he’s okay? Because I sure don’t.”

“I’m not a zombie, I’m fine!”

“So I’ve heard,” he said with a shake of his head.

“And why don’t you think he’s okay?”

“Because he isn’t! I saw him the other day and he’s a mess. He couldn’t even look me in the eye, Elli. He probably thinks I think he is the sorriest piece of shit, especially after-” Bryan stopped, and Elli cut him a look.

“Especially after what?”

Bryan took a bite out of his hot dog, holding up a finger for Elli to wait. She knew he was buying himself some time, and it drove Elli crazy! He took more time than needed to swallow before speaking.

“I’m sure he knows you told me what happened.”

“So? You do think that, don’t you?”

Bryan looked deep into Elli’s eyes.

“Honey, if I believed he did what you said he did, do you really think he would still be on my team?”

Elli’s heart came up into her throat, “But I thought you kept him because I asked you not to trade him!”

“No, baby girl. I’m hoping, praying, really that you’ll come to your senses, but honey I don’t know how much time you have to do that.”

“What?”

“He hasn’t signed his contract. He’s a free agent, and I heard he has offers. He could leave at anytime.”

“Oh,” Elli said as her world crashed around her. Why it felt like her chest was seizing up really didn’t make sense to her. Shouldn’t she be happy he might be leaving? Maybe then she could get over him.

“If he leaves, he leaves. I don’t care either way,” Elli made herself say as the arena went dark.

With that, the conversation was over, and Elli was glad. Because if they kept talking, she was sure that her Papa would see right through her.

Which he probably already did.

Elli was finally hanging up all her clothes from the many bags that she had dragged in from her living the next afternoon when the text came.

Are you going?

It was from Harper.

Elli wiped her face, clearing the tears away. She had been hanging the clothes that she had bought when they were in Boston, and each outfit that Shea had picked out brought a whole new round of tears.

She ignored the text, and continued to hang the clothes she would probably never wear in her closest as she listened to her ‘break up’ playlist she had made. It consisted of a bunch of disgusting, sad ass country music, that wasn’t helping Elli’s notion to move on at all. When her phone went off again, Elli rolled her eyes before picking it up.

Come on, Elli, please.

She continued to ignore the text. If Harper wanted to give up their friendship because Elli wasn’t over Shea yet, and didn’t plan on making amends with him, well forget her then. As she unzipped the dress bag that held three of the most gorgeous Gucci dresses money could buy, Elli’s stomach heaved. Shea had loved all of them, saying she should wear them when they went on their vacation that summer. She ran her hand through her hair. God, she missed him, and just the thought that he might be leaving hurt her even more than she expected. He had told her so long ago that if they weren’t together then he would have no reason to stay in Nashville. Which he didn’t. Elli was nothing important. She hadn’t heard from him in weeks. Not that she would have answered anyway, but still. He was probably over her, moved on.

But what if he wasn’t?

Elli glanced down at the phone, watching it blink and beep, waiting for her to answer it.

What if he wasn’t over her, and was just waiting for her to make a move, to come back to him. What if Harper was right? What if Papa was right? Could she really truly get over him if he left without her knowing if he still loved her? If he still wanted to be with her? Why did it matter, though? She made her bed, she broke up with him, didn’t give him the time of day, even though deep in her heart, she still felt he would never hurt her.

She slammed her hands against her head, wishing she wasn’t such a basket case.

What the hell was she supposed to do? Her phone beeped again, and she glanced down at the message from Harper.