Not because of Viliame’s appearance—but because of what it might augur. Danny had been sixteen when Jake’s girlfriend—Esme’s mother—died. He knew what could happen in hospitals, knew that sometimes, people didn’t come out. And Calypso had been sick too. Meningitis. It had stolen her life before she’d ever had the chance to spread her wings.

So yeah, he’d been fucked up at seeing Viliame hooked up to all those machines. But he’d been there for his friend, as had Jake and the others on the team. They’d come and hung out with him at his rehab sessions, hyping him up each time he hit a goal. Then later, Viliame had always had a mate with whom he could train.

Four years on and he was an integral part of his club team and had made the national squad multiple times.

“I shouldn’t moan, huh?” he said. “After Vili came back from that?”

“Ahem, not the misery Olympics, remember?”

He sucked in a breath. “Yeah, got it.” Weaving his fingers through hers, he let everything move through his head.

Catie didn’t interrupt, as if she could guess exactly what he was doing. She probably could. It should’ve been scary to be with someone who knew him that deep, but it wasn’t. It was… peaceful. He didn’t have to worry about any kind of shield or wall or image. He could be himself, flaws and scars and bad habits and all.

Catie gasped.

Following the trajectory of her shining eyes, he began to laugh, joy chasing out the remaining slivers of tension. “Come on. I’ll buy you a bag.”

One of Catie’s long-term addictions was a particular franchise of roadside stands that sold freshly roasted nuts. Candied pecans with crunchy almond coating was her drug of choice.

“Why are they even open?” Catie said as they joined the queue of three. “It’s after midnight.”

The person in front of them turned around. “Concert,” she said. “Stand hit the crowds going in and is probably waiting for them to exit for a second go-around.”

“Good we got here before the masses,” Danny said.

The other woman nodded, then headed up to place her order. Soon enough, it was their turn. After he’d paid and they were walking again, Catie happily munching on her snack while he took the odd one, he realized he was happier than he’d been for a long time.

Not that he’d been depressed or anything. He’d just felt… off. He still couldn’t explain why. Or why that feeling had crept into his game. He just knew that things were different when he was with Catie.

Were better.

“Daniel Esera!” The high-pitched squeal had him wanting to hide behind Catie, but it was too late.