Page 158 of The Path to Loving Him
“In the bag, Gabby. I got this.”
Some might think it’s cocky, but it’s not. Bennett truly believes in himself, and that doesn’t come naturally. Him having such faith in his abilities comes from constant hours of practicing, day in and day out.
I believe him. This is just the beginning.
“Good.” I pull away and say, “I’m sure someone else wants to say hi to you.”
Ryland walks up to Bennett and pulls him into a huge hug. I stand there, watching over these two men in my life, appreciating one another as they pat their backs. It’s a beautiful thing because I know how much Ryland mattered to Bennett when he was in high school. Bennett relied on Ryland to be a voice in his life other than me. A safe space. A wealth of knowledge, and one of the reasons the scouts came to watch Bennett play.
It was Ryland.
Now that I think about it, I realize that a lot of Bennett’s chances came from Ryland. He wrote to scouts and colleges, telling them he had a standout player they needed to see play. Sure, Bennett made a name for himself, but Ryland helped get eyes on him. And I’m just remembering that now.
When they pull away, Ryland says, “You played fucking phenomenal.”
“Thank you, Coach Rowley,” Bennett says, his cheeks staining pink. “I’m really glad you could come watch me play. Meant a lot to me, and that you drove my sister too. I know she would have been a nervous wreck the entire time.”
“Trust me, she was.” Ryland chuckles. “I still think she’s trying to calm down from the nerves.”
“I’ll sleep heavily tonight,” I say.
“I think we all will,” Ryland says and then grabs his to-go bag. “Well, I’ll let you two catch up.”
Bennett’s brow creases. “You’re not staying?”
“No, man. I want you to catch up with your sister. This is a special moment for both of you, and I think it’s best if I head out. But you owe me a dinner, understood?” Ryland points at Bennett.
“Deal.” Bennett holds out his hand, and Ryland shakes it before pulling him into another hug.
“Really proud of you, man. You proved today that the dream can be a reality with determination and putting in the work. You’re the ten percent.”
“Ten percent?” Bennett asks.
“Ten percent of players who make it. You’re now a part of that elite club. Hold on to it, and don’t take it for granted.”
“I won’t. Promise.”
“Good.” Ryland gently pats Bennett’s face, then turns toward me. He grabs my hand for a moment and says, “You have the address?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Okay, see you later.”
“Bye.”
Then he takes off, leaving me alone with my brother. We both take a seat, and I hand him a Diet Coke that I ordered, knowing he’d want one. “Tell me everything?—”
“What was that?” Bennett asks, the corner of his lips tilting up.
“What was what?” I ask.
“Uh, that little exchange with Coach Rowley.”
“What little exchange?” I ask, the skin at the nape of my neck tingling.
“You guys touched hands, then looked at each other like something’s going on there.”
“What? Nothing’s going on,” I say, but even I don’t believe it as it’s coming out of my mouth.
