Crossroads (Book Three)

Chapter 27

Lyla

This morning started off as amazing as a day can nowadays, with Shawn's arms wrapped around me as I snuggled securely beside him. My annoying phone alarm put an end to our cuddling session after the fourth time I hit the snooze button. We had a quick breakfast at his house before we drove to campus together. We shared a long lingering kiss before parting ways to our classes.

The moment I took off in a different direction from him, my body ached to be next to him again, to hold his hand and kiss him whenever I felt like it. I powered through the day with the knowledge that I would get to see him tonight after his game. I just have to get through track practice first.

I head into the indoor track and fall into my usual warmup while a few team members slowly trickle into the gym. I can't fight off the nerves in my stomach as I run my laps. The worries of next year have returned full fledge since Shawn's words last night. A large part of me is happy for him and crazy proud of him for his accomplishments. But the selfish side still overtakes my positive thoughts and my mind is flooded with all the what ifs for next year.

I'm relieved when our coaches finally show up and call us over to fall into drills. All my focus goes to running through each workout and trying to perfect my techniques. By the time we're done I am a sweaty and wobbly legged mess, but I feel amazing at the same time.

I move right into stretching, knowing I will need to move through them quickly so I can hit the showers and race home to change for Shawn's game. Someone sits down beside me on the track and I look up to be greeted by a smiling Will.

"That practice kicked my ass," he groans dramatically as he reaches forward to grab his toes.

"They didn't go easy on us," I agree with a light laugh. "Are you still coming with Megan and me to the game tonight?"

"Definitely, I will pick you two up around six thirty if that works?"

"Sounds like a plan."

"Hey, did you hear about that summer overseas program in South Africa?"

"No I hadn't heard anything," I answer truthfully as my curiosity peeks. "What is it?"

"They're offering it to students here. You don't even have to be studying anything in the medical field, they are opening it up to everyone. Basically you go over there for the whole summer and help with building some clinics and also working at them."

"Wow, that sounds pretty cool actually," I say as I imagine doing something like this.

"Yeah, I already put my application in," Will says excitedly.

"What? You're going?"

"I'm going," he answers with a small chuckle as he nods his head. "You should apply and come too," he adds with an encouraging smile.

I honestly think about the idea of going for a moment. I've always wanted to do something like this and go help people in less fortunate countries. I just never considered doing something like this over a summer in college. The opportunity excites me and I know I want to do it if I can make it happen.

"Maybe I will look into applying for it," I tell him, trying to not sound too excited when there's no guarantee I'll be able to go.

"You should," he tells me as he stands to his feet and offers me his hand to pull me up to my feet. "I'm going to hit the showers, but I will see you later tonight."

"Yeah, sounds good," I tell l him as I make my way towards the changing room with my mind distracted by this new potential opportunity.

"You should totally go!" Megan squeals excitedly as her arm reaches out and smacks me in the shoulder.

"Ouch!" I groan playfully as I rub the area and she rolls her eyes at me.

We are ready for Shawn's game and just waiting in the living room until Will shows up to drive us. I just finished telling Megan about the summer program and I think she's even more eager then I am for me to go.

"Seriously Lyla, you have to do this," she tells me, her tone serious as she stares across at me on the couch.

"I want to," I admit with a long sigh. "But I still don't even know what's going on with Shawn and me for the summer let alone next year."

"Who cares what he is doing, you should go," she encourages me again. "He can always go with you too," she adds and I nod my head in agreement.

The idea that we could go together already occurred to me while I was showering in the locker room earlier. The program is open to all students so Shawn and I could both apply and spend the summer together still. We've never talked about doing something like this, but I have no doubts Shawn would be up for it.

"I know, I know," I say as I nod my head. "I just need to talk with him about our plans before I go jumping into something or getting myself excited over it in case I don't end up going," I explain.

"I can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't go," Megan says as she stares me down, daring me to challenge her with an excuse and really only one comes to mind at this point.

"If Shawn takes a contract to play somewhere next year he would be gone for training with them for half the summer, plus we'd be apart all next year. So I would want to spend what time I could with him this summer before he goes," I tell her, feeling pathetic as the words leave my mouth.

"I get it," she says softly as she offer me a sympathetic look. "But I just want you to really think about this. I think you would do amazing over there and really enjoy it. I don't want you to miss out on this opportunity because Shawn has plans of his own that you feel you have to accommodate," she adds softly.

I look across at my best friend and try to keep myself from crying at her kind words. I feel somewhat foolish that I've become the girl to centre her goals and ambitions around a boy, but I know I need to talk with Shawn about this before I jump to any conclusions. He very well might want to go with me this summer.

We still don't even know if he will be offered a deal to play next year, I mean no one has made an official offer yet. I could be blowing all this up in my head when the solution could be simple.

"I will, I promise," I tell her and she leans forward on the couch to wrap me into a tight hug.

A knock at the door has us pulling apart and standing up. I grab our purses off the kitchen counter while Megan opens the door to unveil Will. We slide our boots on and I hand her purse over to her before we head out.

On the drive over I run through different approaches to take in bringing up the conversation with Shawn later tonight. I know I need to get it out there before I chicken out so I'm going to tell him tonight. I rehearse my speech neurotically in my head until I'm happy with how it sounds. Tonight I will put all my worries and concerns out on the table and we will figure things out.