Page 90 of Penalty Shots

"You wanna talk, Bonner?"

"Yes, like adults," he says. "What the hell is this."

"Thisis how we settle a score around here."

"This is insane." He hesitates but ultimately moves to the center. "Now what?"

"Talk."

The speakers softly playApologize by Timbaland.

"Ok. I wanted to tell you that you win."

"I win?" I say, standing with arms crossed in front of him.

"Yes. I made the mistake of thinking I could somehow fulfill her. Rina is a special woman. She's reserved but fierce. You never know what she's really thinking."

"No, you don't," I agree.

"But," he continues. "She deserves to be with someone who's willing to do whatever it takes to figure her out. I let my ego get the best of me. And all I did was hurt her."

This isn't going how I thought. I put my hand up, and the music stops. The lights come on.

"I'm going to tell her myself, but man to man. You win."

"It was never a competition, Bonner."

He shakes his head, "No, it wasn't. Because if I were being honest with myself. I knew I didn't stand a chance against you."

"What are you talking about?"

Bonner goes on to explain that he connected with Rina at a press event. She remembered seeing him in college, and he asked her out for coffee.

They talked about life and losses. Conversation flowed easily between them. But the entire night, Rina kept bringing up one name. Keelan Landry.

How obnoxious I was. How I could never just listen. How I always found a way to get everyone's attention.

"She couldn't stand you. And still, she couldn't stop talking about you. Every topic always led back to you. But she was so hurt. So beautifully broken. And all I wanted to do was help her feel better. So I vowed to help her forget you. And it was the stupidest promise I ever made," he admits.

I drop my arms, DJ Novo slipping away as he sees the way this conversation is going.

"Because it was always going to be you. I should've known it from that first night. You were the thorn in her side and the only one who could make her feel. And I would always just be… your replacement."

I don't say anything. I know what this woman means to me. I know I want nothing more than for us to be together. But I didn't think anyone else could see it so clearly, too.

"So, Landry. You win. And I've asked my lawyer to expedite the divorce proceedings."

"I see," I say.

"So, yeah," he says, looking around the now-empty training room. "That's all I wanted to say before I head back to Austin. That and I'm sorry for hitting your face."

I shrug. "Don't be. It makes me look meaner." I rub the small scar under my eye. "Besides, I landed a few hits too. So… I guess we're even."

We start walking out of the room.

"Okay, but I did make you bleed. None of your hits made me bleed, so I think I hit harder."

"Bonner?"