DRILLS LUKE

The turf crunched under my cleats as I pushed through the last sprint. My legs felt like lead, and my lungs were on fire. Sweat trickled down my face, stinging my eyes. This wasn't rehab-it was torture disguised as "progress." "Pick it up!" Jonathan barked from the sidelines. "You're not dead yet, so move like it!"

I muttered a curse under my breath but dug in for the final stretch. My shoulder ached with every pump of my arms, but I gritted my teeth and pushed past the pain. When I finally hit the line, I doubled over, hands on my knees, gasping for breath. "Fucking hell," I panted.

A loud clang echoed across the field, and I glanced over to see Josh racking a set of weights. He was working on strength drills, his knee brace glinting under the sun. Jonathan stood over him like a drill sergeant, making him add another plate. When Jonathan finally called for a break, Josh dropped onto the field next to me with a dramatic groan, sprawling out like a starfish.

"You look like shit," I said, lying flat on my back and staring at the sky.

"Thanks, asshole," Josh shot back, throwing an arm over his face. "You smell like a dumpster fire, so we're even."

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I smirked, too tired to argue. "Man, it feels good to be back. here,"

Josh grunted, shifting his arm just enough to squint at me. "Even with Jonathan riding our asses like this?"

"Even with that," I said. "Missed this place."

"Missed getting my leg turned into jelly," Josh muttered sarcastically, but his tone softened. "Yeah...missed it too."

We let the silence settle for a minute, both of us catching our breath. The heat from the sun and the familiar smell of the turf felt like home in a way nothing else did.

Then I ruined it.

you thinking, telling Sarah

time it wasn't playful. "Really, dude? We're doing

glare at him. "Because it's been eating at me since you opened your big

on his elbows, glaring back. "Look, I wanted to help her out. We wouldn't be here without her, alright? And-" He tapped two fingers against his temple. "I got the vibe something's not right with her up here.

eyes. "You done? Or do

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offered for her to stay. So yeah, I'm gonna

sitting up fully now. "Look, genius, I didn't just invite her to crash on the couch and braid Laura's hair. I gave her two weeks. Two weeks where we keep an eye on her and figure

around, stalking Jess. Rather the

the hell

a hand dismissively. "You didn't see the way she looked at you after that article came out. Like she was planning your wedding in her head or

I

maybe-just maybe-if she's here, seeing you and Jess in real life, it'll click that there's no fairytale ending

is her showing up at

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stopped. As much as I hated to admit

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