End Game

Finding The Source

"Tell me what's bothering you."

Leaning against the car, Darnell asked seriously.

"Man... Everything is all over the place right now. I'm not getting professional offers, I feel lost about my life, and I'm incapable of making the woman I love happy. I'm doing everything wrong."

"Spence, get out of your head for once and look around for a minute. You're living out your football college dreams, while some people have to start from scratch to make it to a new team. You were able to make your and Billy's dream of becoming an All-American come true, while he was still alive. You're leaving your mark in a world that expects us to fail, miserably. Don't you know who you are to this community?"

Hearing those words hurt me somehow. It reminded me of how fleeting every moment is, and how quickly we tend to forget how much some of them mattered to us.

"And when it comes to Olivia, I think I'm well aware of how that girl feels about you. Despite all you've made her go through while broken up, she still made it a mission to make you happy. If that's not testament enough, I don't know what is. She's been through a lot, but getting back with you took her more courage than you can imagine. She put herself back on the line, with the full knowledge now that a break up is no longer impossible because it already happened once." He continued.

"Yo, slow your roll, Mister therapist." I joked.

We both laughed before he spoke again.

"No, but for real... it's easier to advise other people than to face your problems."

"Trouble in paradise?" I asked.

"Not really... I think we're just both on edge because she's leaving soon and we don't really know when she'll be able to visit again, even for the holidays."

"Then why are you wasting your precious time arguing and being mad at each other instead of loving one another?" I told him, resonating with the same advice he gave me earlier.

"Now, who's acting like a therapist?"

We shared another earthy laughter before I left. Heading home immediately, I didn't want to stop anywhere after wasting two hours that I could have spent with my girl.

When I got home everything was quiet. The back doors were closed, the lights were out and the only noise I could hear was coming from Asher's room. I made my way upstairs, slowly walking to my room.

I was expecting to see Liv laying down and pretending to be asleep, but she was nowhere to be found. I quickly checked my phone, which I had not done in a couple of hours, and finally saw a text letting me know that she was sleeping at her mother's house.

My heart fell at the thought of my behavior pushing her away again, and I panicked. Trying to call her didn't work because she was not picking up, but I insisted until she texted me that her mom was asleep next to her and that she'd call me the next day.

"Damn it, Spencer!"

I told myself.

OLIVIA

I lied when I said my mother had an emergency and needed me to sleep at her house, but I had to get away from Spencer for the night.

His behavior brought me back to that night he single-handedly ended our relationship after assuming I was checked out. I knew now what his mind was capable of making him do, and I was avoiding it. I admit it, I ran away.

Knowing that he could make a decision based on a moment of distress reminded me that we still had a lot to work on.

"Are you still up for tonight?" Layla asked me.

We were having a late lunch date after my classes the next day, catching up on life.

"What is there tonight?" I asked her.

"Liv! It's Jordayla's first game night!"

"Oh, my God! I don't know if I'm more horrified by the fact that you guys made up your ship name or that you parade it proudly!"

"No, we didn't. Spencer did. Your boyfriend loves creating new words."

"What? How come I never heard him say this?" I questioned.

"I don't know. Don't tell me he's never told you your ship name. OMG!" Layla exclaimed.

I looked at her, confusion written all over my face when she said that.

"What is it?"

I asked, curiosity eating me alive.

"Drumroll... It's Spelivia! How cool is that?" She laughed.

"And you mean to tell me that my ever-so-serious boyfriend came up with this? I'm flabbergasted."

We laughed at the ludicrousness of the conversation as we left for downtown. Layla wanted to buy a few more things for her game night, but all I wanted to do was get some sleep.

I couldn't catch any sleep the previous night because of all the thinking about my boyfriend's next actions. Fast forward to the party at the Baker Residence, I was excited to see all of my friends gathered for the first time in months.

Patience and Coop made it home just in time for the night and I was grateful to have all of my support system back. I was put in charge of the snacks, for some reason, but I didn't complain because Layla had it way worse than me.

Jordan was in his party planner era and wanted everything to be perfect, whatever that meant to him.

"Hey, Spence! Great timing! You'd better talk to your best friend before I get into my Layzilla mood. I'll let you figure out what he wants exactly while I go do anything else."

Taken by surprise, Spencer only had time to take off his jacket and follow Jordan outside. Standing next to the snack table, I was a bit disappointed that he didn't look for me first.

"It's perfect! Thanks, Liv!"

After spending twenty minutes pestering Spencer outside, Jordan complimented my spread now that he was back in the living room.

"Perfect is my middle name. But thanks."

I could sense Spencer's eyes on me as soon as he walked back in. He looked confident, but most of all happy to see me. I looked back at him and smiled softly, not knowing what to do.

He mouthed "Come over here" and gestured for me to follow him upstairs. Taking one last breath, I mustered some courage and did so.

Here goes nothing.