Bryan's POV
The sun sat high in the sky, casting long shadows over the field as we waited for Coach to show up. The air was thick with the scent of cut grass and dirt, the familiar sounds of gloves popping and cleats scuffing against the dirt filling the space around me.
Ethan and Kevin were messing around, tossing a ball back and forth while Kyle leaned against the dugout, looking half-asleep as he sipped from a sports drink. A few of the other guys stretched, talking about last night's game on TV, but I wasn't really paying attention. My mind wasn't here.
It was still on Amber.
It had been almost two weeks since Valentine's Day, and I hadn't been able to shake her from my thoughts. Everything about that night was burned into my brain-her voice, the way she looked at me, how she let go completely. How she let me have all of her.
I had always thought I had the upper hand with her. That I was the one messing with her head. But now? She had me wrapped around her little finger, and she didn't even realize it.
I was still thinking about it, still feeling her ghost on my skin, when Coach finally walked up, his clipboard under his arm, his whistle hanging loose around his neck.
"Alright, assholes, listen up," he barked.
That got everyone's attention. Ethan shut up. Kyle straightened. Kevin tossed the ball aside.
"First order of business-half of you are playing like absolute dogshit," Coach continued, his voice gruff. "And I'm not about to let that slide. I don't give a fuck if your girlfriend kept you up all night or if you've got an exam next week. You come onto this field, you show up. You play hard, or you get the fuck out of my sight. Got it?"
A chorus of "Yes, Coach" followed.
I smirked.
He was in a mood today.
Coach exhaled, shaking his head. "Now for the real reason I called you all over here. We got recruiters coming to our next big game at the end of the month."
Silence.
Then, the shift.
Guys looked around at each other. Whispers broke out.
"Shit," Ethan muttered under his breath.
Coach continued, "I'm talking D1 schools, some league scouts. So if you want a shot at something bigger, this is it. You want to play after college? You want a future in this? You want a fucking contract? Then you put in the work, because they're gonna be watching every single one of you."
Kyle let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "This just got real."
Kevin elbowed me. "You hear that, Munzo?"
Yeah. I fucking heard it.
This was it.
The thing I had been working for.
The thing I had spent years training for.
And now, it was right in front of me.
But instead of feeling excited, instead of feeling that rush of adrenaline I usually got before a big game, all I felt was a knot twisting in my stomach.
Because I wasn't just thinking about baseball.
I was thinking about Amber.
About how we hadn't talked about this yet.
About how, if I got an offer-a real one-I would have to leave.
And she still had another year of school.
Fuck.
Coach clapped his hands together. "I don't need to tell you what this means. The pressure's on. You show up, you play like your lives depend on it. And maybe-just maybe-one of you walks away with an offer that changes your whole damn future."
Future.
That word hit me harder than I expected.
I ran a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. I had time. Three weeks. Plenty of time to figure this out.
Right?
"Alright, enough standing around like a bunch of lost puppies," Coach barked. "Let's get to work. I want to see full intensity today-no half-assing drills. Munzo, you're up first."
I rolled my shoulders back, pushing everything else out of my head.
I needed to focus.
Because if this was my shot, I wasn't about to waste it.
--------
The sun was starting to dip lower, casting a warm orange glow over the field as practice wrapped up. The air smelled like dirt and sweat, and my muscles were sore in the best way. Coach had worked us hard today, and with the recruiters coming, he wasn't about to let us slack off.
I grabbed my water bottle from the dugout, taking a long drink before wiping my face with the hem of my shirt. Kyle walked up beside me, stretching his arms over his head, looking just as beat.
"You were in your head today, man," he said, glancing at me.
I frowned, capping my bottle. "What?"
Kyle raised an eyebrow. "You heard me. You played fine, but your head wasn't all the way in it."
I sighed, rolling out my shoulders. "I was focused."
Kyle snorted. "Sure. And Ethan's a genius."
I gave him a dry look, but he wasn't wrong. I had been distracted. Every time I tried to focus on the game, my thoughts drifted back to the recruiters, the future, and Amber.
Kyle leaned against the fence, watching the rest of the team pack up. "You thinking about the game?"
I ran a hand through my damp hair, exhaling. "Yeah. Kinda hard not to."
"It's a big deal," he said. "You know you got a shot, right? You're one of the best players on the team."
I shrugged, but I knew it. I had been working for this for years. I had the stats, the skills, the drive. But knowing I had a shot didn't make it any easier to deal with.
Kyle studied me for a second before smirking. "Or is this about something else? Someone else?"
I shot him a look. "Don't start."
Kyle held up his hands, still smirking. "I'm just saying, you've been different since Costa Rica."
I didn't respond.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Instead, I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder. "I gotta go."
Kyle chuckled. "Say hi to Amber for me."
I flipped him off over my shoulder as I walked off the field.
The walk home was quiet, but my mind wasn't.
By the time I arrived to my place, I could already see Amber through the window, sitting on the floor with Lily, both of them surrounded by colored pencils and paper.
I took a second, just watching.
She looked so at home here, laughing at something Lily said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
My chest tightened, but I ignored it.
Shaking off the feeling, I headed inside, tossing my bag near the door.
Lily was the first to notice me. She lit up, jumping to her feet. "Bryan!"
She ran straight at me, wrapping her arms around my waist.
"Hey, kiddo," I said, ruffling her hair. "You being good?"
She nodded, grinning. "Amber and I are making a princess story."
I glanced at Amber, who was watching me with a soft smile. "Princess story, huh?"
Amber shrugged. "Lily's the author. I'm just here for moral support."
Lily grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the couch. "You can help!"
I let her drag me over, sitting down beside Amber. My body was still buzzing from practice, sore but relaxed now that I was here.
Amber leaned into me slightly, her warmth seeping into my side. "How was practice?"
I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. "Long. Coach is on our asses about the big game coming up."
Her brows lifted. "The one at the end of the month?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Recruiters are coming."
Amber sat up a little, turning to face me fully. "Wait-really?"
I smirked. "Yeah. Big deal and all that."
She stared at me, her expression shifting into something I couldn't quite place. Then, she smiled, nudging me gently. "Bryan, that's huge."
I shrugged. "It's something."
She rolled her eyes. "No, it's everything. This is what you've been working for."
I glanced away, nodding. "Yeah."
Amber frowned, studying me. "You don't seem excited."
I let out a slow breath. "It's just a lot to think about."
She didn't say anything for a second. Then, she reached over, resting a hand on my knee, squeezing gently.
"You'll do great," she said softly.
I looked at her, and for a moment, everything else faded. The game, the recruiters, the pressure-none of it mattered.
I squeezed her hand back. "Yeah. I hope so."
Lily suddenly climbed onto the couch, settling between us. "Can we finish the story now?"
Amber laughed, pulling her into her lap. "Of course, princess. Let's get back to it."
I leaned back, watching the two of them, something warm settling in my chest.
No matter what happened next, I knew one thing for sure.
Amber was becoming a bigger part of my life than I ever expected.
The TV droned on in the background, some movie neither of us were paying attention to. Amber was curled up against me, her head on my shoulder, her legs tucked under her. My arm was wrapped around her waist, my fingers absentmindedly tracing little shapes against her hip.
It was late, and Lily had finally passed out after making me read the same princess book three times in a row. I swear, I could recite that thing in my sleep now.
Amber shifted slightly, looking up at me, her voice soft. "You okay? You've been quiet."
I exhaled, debating if I should even bring it up. But she'd find out eventually.
"Ethan's inviting everyone to his cabin next weekend."
Amber blinked, her brows lifting. "Wait-like, for the whole weekend?"
"Yeah." I ran a hand through my hair. "Just us and the guys. Thought it'd be good to get away before the game."
She hummed like she was considering it, then tilted her head slightly. "Can I invite Isabella?"
I shrugged. "Yeah, I don't care."
Amber grinned, already excited, but then her eyes flickered with something else-hesitation. And then-
"What about Blake?"
I froze, my fingers pausing against her hip. "Why him?"
Amber rolled her eyes. "Because Izzy will want him there."
I groaned, already regretting this entire conversation. "Great."
Amber snorted, burying her face into my chest as she laughed.
I rubbed my hand down my face. "It's Ethan's cabin. I don't even know if I can say yes."
Amber tilted her head, giving me an innocent look that was absolutely fake. "Oh, so you're scared of Ethan?"
I scoffed. "I'm not scared of him."
She smirked. "Uh-huh."
I groaned, pulling her closer, squeezing her waist a little too tight just to hear her squeak.
"Fine," I muttered. "But if Blake gets annoying, I'm throwing him in the lake."
She just hummed, tucking herself deeper against me, her fingers still tracing slow, absentminded circles on my chest.
I let the conversation settle, enjoying the quiet.
A weekend at Ethan's cabin. A break from everything.
Maybe it was exactly what I needed.
Or maybe it was going to be a complete disaster.
Either way, it was happening.
(Amber's POV)
Friday morning was an absolute disaster.
Not the kind of minor mess that could be fixed in ten minutes-no, this was a full-scale hurricane, and the eye of the storm was our dorm room.
The last few days of spring break had been great-lazy mornings, ballet rehearsals, and spending time with Bryan. But now? Pure chaos.
Clothes were everywhere-on the bed, the floor, hanging off the closet door like it had exploded. My suitcase sat half-packed, half-forgotten, and I had zero idea what was actually inside.
Across the room, Isabella was in just as much of a crisis.
She was standing in front of the mirror, holding up two sweaters-one beige, one navy-her expression like she was choosing between life or death.
"Izzy, they're literally the same," I groaned, shoving socks into my suitcase.
She gasps, looking personally offended. "Excuse me? One is a turtleneck. The other is a crewneck."
I stared at her. "...Okay?"
She sighed dramatically, throwing them onto her already insane pile of clothes. "Ugh. I'll just bring both."
I shook my head, already regretting every decision that led us to this moment.
We had all week to pack. A whole week.
Instead, we had spent that time binge-watching movies and scrolling aggressively on social media. So now, we were paying the price.
I grabbed my toiletry bag, shoving it into my suitcase before looking up. "What's the weather like at the cabin?"
Isabella shrugged. "Cold, but not too cold. Definitely sweater weather. But we're also bringing swimsuits for the Hot tub."
Right. Hot tub.
Ethan had mentioned that his family's chalet had an outdoor hot tub, which meant I needed to pack a bikini-one that wouldn't make me self-combust if Bryan saw me in it.
I chewed my lip, digging through my drawer until I found a safe option-a black two-piece that was cute but not too revealing.
Isabella took one look at it and scoffed.
"Oh, absolutely not. You're bringing the red one."
I froze. "What red one?"
"The one with the little tie in the front."
I shook my head. "Nope. No way."
She grinned. "Why not? Bryan would love it."
My face heated instantly. "We're going on a trip, not filming a commercial for Victoria's Secret."
Isabella rolled her eyes but threw the red bikini into my suitcase anyway.
I was too tired to fight her.
Then my phone buzzed.
Bryan.
Bryan: You better not be running late. Me: We're not late. Bryan: You're last-minute packing, aren't you? Me: ...No. Bryan: Lying doesn't suit you, Ballerina.
I groaned, muttering under my breath. Why was he like this?
Isabella peeked over my shoulder, reading the messages. Then she grinned.
"Bryan checking in on his favorite person?"
I gave her a flat look. "He's nagging me about being late."
She laughed, tossing a scarf into her suitcase. "He knows you too well."
"Unfortunately."
My phone buzzed again.
Bryan: Ethan says we're leaving in two hours.
Me: Tell Ethan to mind his business.
Bryan: Tell Izzy to hurry up too, because I know she's making you late.
I showed Isabella the message.
She gasped dramatically. "Excuse me?" She snatched my phone and started typing.
Isabella: First of all, rude. Second of all, Amber is the problem, NOT ME. Bryan: Yeah, okay.
I took my phone back before she could start an actual war with him.
"Okay," I sighed, finally zipping up my suitcase after sitting on it. "I think I have everything."
"Same." Isabella stuffed one last sweater into her bag. "Oh, wait-what about Blake?"
I froze mid-step. "...What about him?"
She tilted her head. "Did Bryan say yes to inviting him?"
I groaned. "I mean... kind of? I asked, and he said it's Ethan's cabin, I don't know if I can say yes, but fine, whatever."
Isabella grinned. "So that's a yes."
"It's a grudging yes."
She waved me off. "Same thing."
I rolled my eyes. "If Blake gets punched this weekend, I'm blaming you."
Isabella giggled, grabbing her bag. "Blake can handle himself. But if Bryan throws him into a snowbank, I'm filming it."
I shook my head, grabbing my stuff before she could make this situation any worse.
An hour later, after triple-checking we had everything-chargers, snacks, sweaters, too many unnecessary things-we were finally ready.
I grabbed my suitcase, practically dragging it to the door, turning to Isabella. "Okay. You ready?"
She slung her backpack over her shoulder and grinned. "Let's go before Bryan shows up and drags us out by force."
I laughed, following her out the door.
We were officially on our way to Ethan's cabin.
The drive had been loud, chaotic, and slightly terrifying.
Ethan drove like he was in a car chase. Kevin and Kyle spent half the ride arguing over music choices, which resulted in Kyle taking DJ duties hostage with his playlist of "underrated indie classics." Bryan, sitting beside me, grumbled the entire time while I just tried to survive in the backseat.
By the time we finally pulled up to the cabin, I was seconds away from kissing the ground out of pure relief.
But then, I saw the place-and suddenly, the near-death experience was worth it.
The cabin was beautiful.
Nestled between tall evergreens, the rustic wooden chalet sat peacefully in a clearing, overlooking a partially frozen lake. Snow covered the ground in thick layers, untouched except for the narrow driveway leading up to the front porch. Warm light spilled from the windows, and the sight of smoke curling from the chimney made it look like something straight out of a winter postcard.
Isabella let out a low whistle as she stepped out of the car. "Damn, Ethan. This is nice."
Ethan just laughed, completely unbothered.
We all grabbed our bags and started heading up the porch steps. Bryan was walking beside me, one hand gripping his duffel bag, the other resting casually on the small of my back like it was second nature.
I liked it way too much.
Inside, the cabin was even cozier than it looked from the outside.
The interior was all warm wood and soft lighting, with a massive stone fireplace crackling in the living room. Thick blankets were draped over the couches, and a pile of firewood was stacked neatly beside the hearth. The windows stretched tall, offering a view of the frozen lake outside, the trees casting long, soft shadows in the late afternoon light.
I set my bag down, spinning slowly as I took it all in. The cabin was even cozier on the inside-warm wooden walls, a massive stone fireplace crackling in the living room, and plush couches with soft blankets draped over them. The windows stretched tall, offering a view of the snowy trees and the partially frozen lake outside.
"This is... really nice," I murmured, still taking it all in.
Bryan shrugged, his duffel bag slung over his shoulder. "Yeah. Not bad."
Kyle dropped his bag by the couch, stretching his arms over his head. "Alright, what's the sleeping situation?"
Ethan pulled a keyring from his pocket, tossing a set of keys toward Kyle. "You and Kevin get the room upstairs. Amber and Izzy, you guys have the one next to them."
I nodded, already relieved that I wouldn't have to sleep on the couch.
Ethan continued, pointing lazily toward the hallway. "Bryan, you get the room at the end. Blake, yours is next to his. And I get the best one, obviously."
Bryan grunted approvingly, already heading toward the hallway, but Ethan's grin stretched wider.
"Oh, but don't worry," Ethan added. "I made sure my room is right next to yours in case you miss me, Munzo."
Bryan stopped mid-step, exhaling sharply.
"Jesus Christ."
Ethan smirked. "You literally have your own room, and you're still complaining?"
Bryan pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't trust you."
"Good," Ethan shot back. "You shouldn't."
Kyle flopped onto the couch, kicking his feet up on the coffee table. "This is already the best trip ever."
Kevin stretched his arms, glancing toward the kitchen. "Is there food, or did you just assume we could survive on vibes?"
Ethan pointed toward the fridge. "Fully stocked. But we should probably go get more snacks later."
Isabella plopped down beside Kyle, rubbing her hands together dramatically. "Okay, but first things first-the hot tub. Where is it?"
Ethan gestured toward the back door. "Right outside, past the deck. It's already heated."
I perked up at that. A hot tub after hours of traveling in the cold? That sounded like heaven.
Bryan nudged me lightly. "You bringing the red one?"
I felt my whole body heat up instantly.
Isabella, of course, grinned like a devil.
"She is."
Bryan smirked. "Good."
I grabbed the nearest throw pillow and whacked him with it.
Kyle laughed. "Yeah, this weekend's gonna be hilarious."
I sighed.