Even The Playing Field | BOOK #1 IN THE PSU SERIES

forty-five

It was sitting on a table that held all types of fruits on top of it.

"Oh my god. Matti." I gush as he looks down at me and laughs.

"Again! You're crying again!" He laughs as I giggle through tears. I wipe my face with my hand and cover my mouth with the same hand. Everyone on the call laughs at me as I wave at them. Matti walks towards the table as I stand by the door.

For years I had wondered why life hadn't been fair to me. And now that I have a life worth living and a life that I should be deserving of, I can't fathom my reality.

"Happy Birthday NJ!" Reese yelled through the screen as I chuckled. I nodded towards the screen. I walked towards Matti and sat down in front of the camera. "Thanks guys." I smile at them and nod.

I take in the scenery in front of me and stare.

I was so happy when I should be at my saddest.

I was leaving everything behind.

Matti waves a strawberry in front of my face as I snap out of my head. I giggle at him as he feeds me the fruit. God—I felt so odd, it was like I was comfortably uncomfortable stepping out of my comfort zone.

I was so used to the mindset of only being on a team by myself because everyone else would hurt me in the end, but Matti wouldn't do that. It was time I started opening up and loving the new life ahead of me because it was what I had deserved.

In some fucked up way, I was living the life my mom should've had with my dad. In some really fucked up way, I think my mom sent Matti to me. To show me that not all men are like my dad.

Mattison Williams was nothing like my dad and I wish I would've seen that a lot earlier considering the fact that we went through all those struggles and fights so early on. Hell, we were still very early on being together now, but we were made for eachother.

We were supposed to be together.

"Naomi! Happy birthday!" Caden and Finn's mom popped out from behind them on the screen and I smiled, "Thank you!" I spoke as everyone smiled at me.

I observed and saw that we were all eating breakfast together as if we would when we were all together.

And maybe mom sent them to me too. She knew I would never have a perfect family and although my grandpa and grandma were my blood, these guys were my family.

They were my brothers and sisters. They were the people who would look out for me if I needed it. If I needed a shoulder to cry on, they would supply it. Mom sent these people to me because it was everything she never had and she wanted me to have it.

I reached forward for a piece of pineapple and put it in my mouth.

"Pineapple, you know what they say about pineapple?" Reese teased as I chuckled and everyone else groaned. "That isn't a real thing." Finn spoke as he raised his eyebrows.

"Wanna come test that theory out?" Reese winked at Finn through the screen as she gave a look of disgust. Caden cleared his throat and glared at him through the screen.

"Can't blame a guy for trying." He spoke as we all laughed. "Reese, where are you?" I asked as he smiled.

"My mom is in California, my dad lives in Pennsylvania." He bites into a piece of toast as Blake snorts. "Your mom is so fucking hot." Blake speaks as Reese smirks, "Careful big boy. I'll fuck your mom and it will make CNN and Fox News." He warns as Nat groans.

"Can't you boys ever be normal?" She whines as Matti shakes his head no. I giggle and continue to eat the fruit. They all indulge in a heated conversation as I look at Matti and smile.