Picture Perfect

11.

~Sam~

I think for a moment on everything that's said and I want to reply. I want to tell him no. And say it's not his job to protect me. That I don't want it, but I'm weak. I kind of need it. But he can't, well he shouldn't be the one to give it to me.

"We have a game in two days, when does he get back?"

"Tomorrow night." I tell him.

"Well, you don't have to make a decision right now. Stay the night, think about it. Talk to me tomorrow." He speaks in an understanding tone.

I look up and I want to kiss him, but I can't. I don't know why I told him what I did. He'll never look at me the same. To know that I've been used, ran through, worn out. I'm ashamed.

"I'll think about it. But I've got to go home. He'll know if I'm not, we have cameras. I left the alarm on too. I don't want him asking any questions." I'm technically not lying because all of what I'm saying is true. I just don't want his eyes on me.

He bites the inside of his lip as if nervous about my decision.

"Kyler, we can't... if Garrison finds out this shit is going to be so messy. I don't want to do that to you. I can't let my bullshit bring you down. We can be friends, and see each other around, like at Bari and Eli's until something else is figured out, if it's supposed to be figured out."

He grabs my hand as if going to give me a hand shake. He twists it back and forth gently.

"You don't need to worry about me. But I get it. Just know that I'm here for you. And I don't see you for anything other than Samantha. Nothing you told me changes how I think of you, or feel about you."

Fuck. I kind of want to cry. This is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me and I'm not even being dramatic.

How am I supposed to want to leave him alone when he says all the right things?Not only the things I want to hear, but the things I've always needed to?

~Garrison~

Because of the break we've had this past week, coach is running a mandatory scrimmage even though it's game day and we usually get to rest after our morning workouts.

Jabari and I are the first to get here and I find it to be the perfect time to ask him for advice.

"Jabari, I know things have been real different between us following what happened a while back, but you're still the bruh, and I could use a little guidance on something?" I start as I take a seat in my locker which is two down from his.

"For sure. Talk to me." He speaks as he changes his shoes.

Something is wrong with my wife. She's not speaking, she's not eating, she's not doing anything other than sleeping. It's been like this since I got back from my sister's in Milwaukee. I think the distance has finally broken her. Maybe this is about more than just Thanksgiving though. Maybe this has been coming for a while. Because I keep fucking up, and fucking her over.

"Have you ever cheated on Elijah?"

He sits silent for a second as if confused that I asked him that. And then he chuckles a little and shakes his head no.

"Nah. I've honestly never even thought of it. I don't see anyone else but her. I haven't since I met her, it's kind of how I knew she belonged to me. I'm not letting that go for nothing. Plus, I know how much damage doing some shit like that can do to both her and our family and I'd never want to be the reason for causing that kind of pain." He looks straight ahead, almost as if in a trance-like state.