Page 10 of With the Assist

I wiggle my eyebrows. “I figured the surprise would be more fun.”

“This is why we’re friends.” Avery turns to glance at the Blades’ table, her humor dimming. “The one shoveling appetizers down his throat is looking at me.”

“Ignore him,” I say, rubbing her shoulder. “But Avery, he’s not Damon.”

Her eyes go cold at the name. She dated Damon for a year before they broke up a couple of months ago, but she refuses to talk about why it ended. The ballroom isn’t the place to unravel heartbreak, though, so I let it go.

The lights dim slightly, signaling the start of the ceremony. Presenters shuffle onto the stage as it begins with the usual lineup of awards: community impact, lifetime achievement, and youth coaching excellence. Names are called, and winners pose, smiling for the cameras.

My hands clap along, though my mind drifts in and out. Sitting here surrounded by the hum of the crowd, my nerves have me second-guessing my speech.

I risk a glance across the room, finding Nathan’s brown eyes already on me. He’s relaxed with one elbow propped casually on the table, watching me with quiet curiosity.

I turn back to the stage before the moment can become anything more. I’m only here for my team.

“And now, the Athlete of the Year Award.” The presenter clears his throat.

My hand presses into my thigh to keep my foot from tapping.

“This honor recognizes outstanding performance, leadership, and sportsmanship at the highest level of competition. This year’s recipient led their team to win the NWSL Championship, while serving as captain and center midfielder for the Boston Tempest.”

The room fades until there’s only his voice.

“She recorded the most assists in the league this season and maintained a ninety percent pass completion rate. Her commitment to her team sets a standard for excellence.”

There is a beat of silence before my name is spoken.

“Congratulations to Wesley Miller.”

My table erupts, chairs scraping back in a chaotic chorus. My teammates shout my name as if we scored in overtime.

When I reach the microphone on the stage, I find Nathan’s eyes again and nod at him. This time, his surprise is unmistakable. Embarrassment flickers beneath it, coloring his cheeks. My lips twitch with amusement as he realizes they had unknowingly insulted me to my face.

The speech in my hand crinkles under my tightening grasp. The words written on it no longer seem appropriate. I set the paper on the podium, deciding to wing it.

“Being captain of the Boston Tempest is an honor I carry with pride, not just for the wins, but for the work behind them. The early mornings, the rehab days, and the sacrifices we all make to play the game we love.”

“It reflects every teammate who trusts me, every coach who pushes me, and the young athletes who watch from the stands, dreaming of standing where we stand.”

The faces in the crowd blur as silence grips the room. My eyes stay locked on Nathan for the next part, considering my experience with him tonight sums up the experience of most women in sports.

“This award has never been given to a woman before. I checked,” I joke. “So tonight, I accept it on behalf of every female athlete in this room. Most of us don’t get the fame, glory, or money our male counterparts do. The path we take to play the sport we love does not come easy, yet we commit our lives to it anyway. Because of that, we know better than to take a second of it for granted. Thank you for trusting me with this honor.”

I step back as the applause picks up. The mayor takes the stage, saying something into the microphone that stops me cold only halfway back to my table.

“And now, our favorite tradition of the evening, the annual charity auction.”

My stomach plummets.

No.

I forgot about this part.

A spotlight pins me in place. I smile, though I’m sure it looks half-crazed.

“Every year, our athlete of the year donates a day of their time for this auction. The highest bidding athletic team will receive a full day with Wesley, including a walkthrough of training, conditioning, and game preparation. Not only is this a fun way for our sports teams to see how another team excels, but all proceeds will go toward our city youth recreation programs.”

I swallow hard. A whole day dedicated to this means more time away from my training schedule. Normally, I could choke that down, but the glint in Nathan’s eyes causes my stomach to sink even further.