Page 193 of Love Unwritten

“Nope.” I readjust my position in my seat.

“You could always work out tomorrow if you’re feeling guilty.” She waves the milkshake in front of my eyes. “It’ll be worth it.”

Guilt is the last thing I’m feeling, and based on her teasing smile, she knows that too.

Her voice drops as she says, “I’ll even join you.”

I blink. “I thought you hated working out.”

“I never said I would be participating.” She winks. “Turns out I’m allergic to cardio.”

“Explains why you failed PE.” She had mentioned it once during one of our hikes in Hawaii, and I’ve never let it go since.

Her nose scrunches with distaste. “The coach was such a dick.”

“I know. I couldn’t stand him.”

“Didn’t he coach the soccer team?”

“Yup.”

“Why did you put up with him, then?”

“Because my uncle loved me being part of the team.”

“Did you love it?” Ellie is getting better at asking me pointed questions like this one, and while I appreciate her paying attention, it makes evading the truth harder.

I pause for a second before answering. “No.”

Her mouth falls open. “Weren’t you the captain, though?”

“Yeah.”

“But why would you play a sport you didn’t love?”

I stare out the truck’s window. “I think you know why.”

“I want you to tell me anyway.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve been holding this all in for years, and I think it would be good for you to open up about it.” She touches my face affectionately, and I turn to face her again.

Fine. I can do that. For her.

“My uncle always talked about how he loved being on his old team and how he wished Julian would do the same.”

“So you stepped up.”

I nod. “Julian was too focused on school and his other clubs, so I took advantage of the opportunity to be a favorite for once.” My gaze drops, and shame pours out of me in waves. “My uncle was so happy. He went to almost all the games once I joined the team.”

“You played a sport with a coach you didn’t like because it made someone else happy?”

“I know it seems stupid—”

“It’s not stupid, Rafael. It’s so damn sad that no one ever took notice.”

“To be fair, I was really good at hiding it, and it’s not like I hated sports.”