The guys crushed us. Brynn still in my arms, laughing hysterically at this point and so was I. They moved away so the team could offer a "good game" handshake to the Eastern High Players. I put Brynn down and she moved over to the benches to wait for me. I noticed my parents soon joined her.

I made it down the line with Tyler's help. "Good game, Nash. Pretty impressive," the captain of the Eastern team conceded.

"You too. You made it nearly impossible," I said will a chuckle. Not wanting to downplay our skills but I am a big believer in luck and me making that shot, getting the free throw, was definitely part luck.

I saw two of the scouts talking with Mike and Terrance and felt glad about that. Coach said they were interested in all five of us but I told him I'm holding out for the big leaguers.

My Dad comes over. He couldn't stand being by the sidelines anymore. The look on his face spoke volumes. "How's the foot, Kiddo?"

"Hurts," I tell him, honestly.

"You think it's broken?" he said, helping me over to Mom and Brynn.

"Not sure, I can't seem to put too much pressure on it." And I see the frown crease his brow.

"We are going to have to get it X-rayed."

"Dad, can't it wait? I'm not going to die and I only have a few hours with Brynn. I don't want to cancel and spend my night in the ER."

"It may get worse if not treated properly." This statement surprised me as it came from Brynn.

"You want to cancel?" I asked disheartened. I had been looking forward to being together all day.

"Of course not, I'm going with you, and that's saying a lot, as I really hate hospitals," she tells me.

"You want to spend our first date in the emergency room with me?" That's just crazy talk.

"I want to spend time with YOU. If you're going to be in the Emergency Room, then what other choice do I have?"

"I don't know cancel, do something more fun, cause a distraction so we can make a quick get away."

"With that foot, don't be ridiculous, you'd never make it to the doors," Brynn said matter-of-fact and this causes me to laugh as it makes me think she thought of it too.

"Alright, let me get showered and we can go." My Dad helps me walk back to the locker room. Brynn was left with my Mom and I wondered and almost feared what they would be talking about until I got back. It was the best motivation to make this the quickest wash up and dress in history.

Taylor is standing by my locker, when I hobbled out of the showers. He has that look on his face. Like he's let me down in some way.

"How's the foot?" he asks.

"Going to get it x-rayed so we'll find out soon enough. Right now it just hurts," I say pulling my shirt on.

"I'm really sorry, Finn."

"What for? You didn't run me over," I say as I finish dressing.

"No, but because I was being a big baby. I screwed up the game. We wouldn't have had to work so hard in the end, and so that would have never happened to you."

"Wow, that's a bit of a leap, don't you think? Eastern High is no joke. We could have easily been out matched this game even if you were in the whole time, and I benched you the first quarter so that was my decision."

"But what if it's serious? What if you can't play the rest of the season? What about your scholarship?"

Too many questions, none of which I want to deal with right now. Hadn't even thought of them yet. "X-ray first, then I'll deal with whatever it is, I guess."

"You're on the list," Tyler added moodily.

It was then I understood. No one on the list gets hurt. It was a pride thing for him. And I am most definitely hurt. "This isn't your fault, Ty, and truthfully you deciding not to be my friend, hurt way more than this," I say pointing at my foot, which is now swollen and not going back in my shoe, damn.

Tyler chuckles. "Sorry about that, too."

"Hey, don't sweat it. We're good now right?" I ask, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it.

"We're good."

"I have her address," I say, hoping it may give him a glimmer of hope. I had deleted her numbers as requested and her texts but left her address under an alias on my phone, just in case.

"Already know it," he says with sly grin.

Oh, he is in deep.

"And I appreciate your offer of earlier, but you're right, I need to Man-up. I'll get her back on my own. I've loved her since the moment she walked into our class. Now that I know for a fact she's interested, there is no way I'm letting this die but I promise whatever I do, won't come anywhere near you and your Mom."

"Thanks for that," I say, although I'm not entirely convinced it's a promise he can keep. "Can you give me a hand, I left Brynn alone with my parents and that can't be good."

Tyler laughs. "No, definitely not good."

Tyler does an impersonation of my Mom complete with higher pitched no nonsense voice, "So, Brynn what exactly are your feelings towards my son? Do you think you may one day be serious about him? You will of course make sure his education comes first, there's plenty of time for marriage and children AFTER college."

I groan, as his impersonation is not that far from what my mind was already concocting.

"On the flip side, if she's still there, I can take it as a sign she must really like me," I add laughing.

My dad is right outside the door of the locker rooms.

"I'll take him from here, Ty. You need a ride home?"

"No, I'm good, Mr. Nash my Mom's here," Tyler said, handing me over to my Dad for support. "Thanks, though."

"Any time, say hi to your parents for us," my dad says.

"Will do. And Finn, give me call with an update will you?"

"Yeah, Ty."

Tyler goes back towards the auditorium, to find his mom. Dad starts leading me down the hallway. "He's a good friend."

"He's the best," I say, trying my to keep the weight off my foot and my dad as I hobble along.

"Where we headed?" I ask.

"Mom is pulling the car around to the side entrance. There is a handicap exit there and she figured it would be easier for you than having to tackling all those stairs out by the front."

"Smart thinking."

"One of the many reason's why I married her."

"Brynn with her?"

"Yep, those two chat like old friends, probably because she reminds your Mom so much of Rebecca."

"You knew, Brynn's mom?" I asked surprised.

"Yeah, you owe that woman your life, you know?"

This stopped me in my tracks, causing my dad to stop as well. "How so?"

Dad laughed making him look years younger. "Well, I was pining after your mom years before she even knew I existed."

"Really?"

"Yep, and one day Rebecca caught me checking your mom out, and without a moments hesitation came right over to ask if I had feelings for your mom. I was so taken back by the question that I answered it honestly instead of putting on the normal teenage bravado. She smiled and wrote down an address of a restaurant, she said she'd make sure that your mom would be there by 8 o'clock. If I wanted a chance, that I had best show up."

I liked Brynn's mom already. I wish I had the chance to meet her. I couldn't believe I never heard this story before but I guess it hurt too much for them to talk about Rebecca considering what happened to her.

"So then what happened?"

Dad laughs again thinking of the memory. It was obviously a good one.

"I get there 15 minutes early and waited. I thought I'd have to go home and change my clothes. I was sweating so bad. I was so nervous. Then they walked in..." My dad sighed. "She was so beautiful. I can picture it like it was yesterday."

Shaking his head, he got back to his story, "Anyway, now I was there, they were there, but I had no idea what I was to do, and then Rebecca leans in to say something to your Mom. She laughs and Rebecca gets up from the table. I'm guessing she gave the excuse to use the bathroom. She walks past my table and says, "Go get her, Tiger."

"When I paused, she looked me dead in the eye and said, "It's go time, now or never."

"She spoke my language, being a ballplayer. So, I got up, strode over to your mom's table and introduced myself. Turns out your mom had been crushing on me as well and Rebecca knew it. When she had seen I was interested, she took fate into her own hands and gave us a shove in the right direction."

"Wow!" I say taking it all in. "So, Rebecca is the reason you two got together?"

Dad looked wistful for a moment. "Yeah. We were so absorbed in one another, it was awhile before either of us realized she never came back. Your mom checked the restrooms and she was gone. Your poor mom was so torn between wanting to check up on her and staying to hang out with me that I offered to take her home."

"Instead she asked for some change and called Rebecca on the payphone. Rebecca had told her she wasn't feeling well and when she had seen us together that she thought she'd just go home, so not to interrupt, that she was fine and that we were to enjoy ourselves and that's exactly what we did. We've never been apart since."

I just stood there trying to absorb it all.

"You got a good girl there, Finn. Your Mom and I like her a lot and not just because she's Rebecca's daughter but it is a bonus."

I couldn't help but smile. I know I don't need my parent's approval about who I date but it felt good all the same.

"Just be careful."

My smile turned to confusion. "What do you mean?"

"She's damaged, Finn. Broken, in a way. You may be the one to put her back together but she's fragile despite her brave face, words and actions. Handle with care. You may be just what she needs, but then again she may just break your heart."

"Are you saying I should be careful with Brynn's feelings or that I should be careful of them, and safeguard myself?"

"Both, if it's even possible. If she hurts you it won't be intentional. She may withdraw, out of fear of what you have to offer. You don't do anything halfway, you never have. So I know if you're interested in her, you're all in."

"So, you think I shouldn't care so much for Brynn?"

"No, I'm saying, 'Go get her, Tiger. It's go time, now or never.' "

"Thanks, Dad."

"No, problem. Kiddo. Now lets go get our girls."