With almost no spots left in the parking lot, Naomi pulled up next to a black SUV like the one Tara drove. Perhaps Ian's temperamental car was in the shop. When she glanced at the passenger window, the blood drained from her face. Her hands threatened to strangle the steering wheel. Salty tears burned her eyes.

Should she peel out of the parking lot? Call Kieran and spend the night crying into his arms?

Breathe, breathe again.

You're a grown-ass woman. You've been hurt before and survived. This is the same.

Moving on was harder when her ex was making out with the woman he claimed he liked less than Naomi. How could he claim he and Naomi would be end-game and return to Tara like nothing happened? It had only been two weeks!

Her grip tightened on the steering wheel as her nails dug into the rubbery material. One detail about her sexuality had unsettled their entire history and relationship. Was Greg rubbing it in her face by showing up with Tara?

Quit dwelling, the game will start, and you haven't warmed up. No sense in getting injured by jumping in cold.

With a trembling breath, Naomi stepped outside, shutting the door with more force than usual, not a slam but a noticeable sound. Her gaze shot to the SUV's passenger window, where Greg pulled away from Tara. Naomi hurried to grab her equipment, but in her haste to leave the house, she'd strewn half her articles across the backseat. She shoved her water bottle, jersey, and snacks into her bag then shut the door, only to meet Greg.

Thanks a lot, Past Naomi.

He stood with wide eyes like a deer in the headlights.

"Nomi."

She shouldered her sports bag and acknowledged him with a simple, "Greg," like he hadn't shattered the fragments she'd cobbled together of her heart.

Tara rounded the vehicle and froze upon meeting Naomi's gaze. "You didn't come early? Ian was determined to beat you to practice today."

"Looks like he did. Tuesdays are my late training sessions. Speaking of time, I need to get on the field."

"Unfortunately, so do I," Greg said to his new significant other.

Naomi stalked off before she heard more, but his footsteps caught up to her twenty seconds later.

"Nomi, I'm sorry. That wasn't how I wanted to tell you about Tara."

"It's fine. It's not a surprise." Naomi pressed her lips together.

His tone climbed. "It's not?"

She tried to keep her answer in the logical realm to spare herself pain and embarrassment. "You weren't over her. What happened between us cleared up any confusion about your feelings."

He quieted, and when she dared to look in his direction, his Adam's apple rose and fell. "I'm not the bad guy here. You turned me down."

Why was he blaming her? He'd made his choice.

"Does that make me the villain? For having the self-respect to not date someone who'd want to change me."

"Who said I wanted to change you?"

It had been written all over his disappointment at hearing how often they would have sex or that she'd never find him sexually attractive. In the way, he asked if she was sure about her identity as if her uncertainty would 'cure' her.

"I've been through this before, Greg. I know the signs. We would have hurt each other worse as our expectations didn't line up."

He stared at her like she'd stuck him. "You're basing that on your exes and wouldn't trust I'd be different."

This conversation was too much when she needed to focus on the game.

"None of this between us matters, Greg. You got confirmation Tara's the right person for you, so enjoy it."

Naomi hurried toward the bench, where she suspected Greg wouldn't want to continue this chat, especially when their teammates would overhear them. She exhaled a shaky breath. God, that was bitter, but she wouldn't subject herself to more break-up talks with her ex right now.

It killed her he went from a great friend to an awkward ex in the blink of an eye.

Without bothering to change her shoes, she ran out to warm up her throwing arm with Ian and Marc.

"I was worried you weren't coming," Ian said with a smile.

In retrospect, hanging out with Kieran would have left her more emotionally sound, but she was here and not willing to let Greg get the better of her.

"Tara mentioned you wanted to beat me here."

Ian and Marc shared a glance then focused on her. "You ran into my sister?"

"In the parking lot."

Marc bit his lip like he wanted to speak but said nothing.

Ian tossed the ball to Naomi. "I asked her not to come."

The ball hit her glove with a gentle impact. Naomi hurled the ball to Marc with enough unintended intensity to make him wince.

"It's fine. It would happen eventually." She had needed more than two weeks, but she would manage.

Marc threw to Ian and shook his mitt. "I'd hate to see you when things aren't fine."

Naomi laughed, even though pain echoed in his statement. "Sorry. That was unintentional."

"I liked him better when you two were together." Marc turned to Ian. "No offence to your sister."

Naomi sighed. "You can't compare a few weeks of casual dating to a two-year relationship." Even if she had desperately wanted him to. "We weren't compatible."

"I tried to warn you he wasn't serious," Ian said.

Marc laughed. "Then you don't know Greg. He's been into Nomi since junior high."

Her chest burned. Would their relationship have ended differently if she'd been bolder then? It was normal for teen relationships to build up to intimacy, especially if he was her first, but she also hadn't understood her asexuality then, so it might have hurt her.

"He got me out of his system."

Ian spat on the ground. "Asshole."

"I appreciate the loyalty. I'll try not to let it mess with my game."

"Don't sweat it if it does. We all get thrown off, and it's beer league. I'll buy you a drink when it's all over," Marc offered.

"You won't be shunned for that?" Naomi asked. She didn't want to make things awkward in their living situation.

"It's shitty for both of you, and he understands that."

Plus, he'd go to Tara's place after the game. She would fulfil all his sexual needs in ways Naomi never could. Why was that so important to him? It was growing harder and harder not to cry.

"We can all get shots," Ian added with a grin.

Naomi pictured Greg making out with Tara passionately in the SUV. No wonder he chose Tara. Naomi could only ever freeze when he got that heated with her. It was weird because, with Luke, kissing had been fine, fun even, but everything was intense with Greg. Would all her relationships end like this?

"Nomi?" Ian's tone was softer than earlier.

Fuck, she couldn't fall apart here. Not in the middle of the field with an audience. Warm arms wrapped around her torso, and sandalwood and sage scents surrounded her. She relaxed into Marc's hug, and he stroked circles on her back like he would when she'd partied too hard and was stuck with the consequences.

"He's hurting too. He's just hiding it better," Marc whispered.

"But they're back together."

"He's impulsive."

She let out a dry laugh. "Hardly."

"With you, he has always been. Do you think Greg ever cared about softball or running until you showed up?"

"He's a skilled player and runner."

"Because it matters to you, so he tries. Game nights are the only ones he doesn't stay late at the office."

She pulled her head away from his chest and looked into his brown eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

"That you shouldn't feel like the only one falling apart. That relationship was real even though it was short, and it's okay for its loss to be painful. Scream, cry, and freak out as much as you need. We got you."

Naomi smiled despite her aching chest. "Thank you. I'll save that for the bar."

"We'll have your back there too."

Someone cleared their throat nearby, and she and Marc turned to find Ian with his arms crossed, glove resting on his left elbow. "Come on, you two, softball is serious business."

"Get in here." She invited him into their hug circle, putting her arms around both men's shoulders. "Thank you both for dealing with my shit."

"You'll do the same for me if I don't hear about my summer internship soon."

Naomi chuckled and shook her head at Ian. "You're so brilliant I can't fully understand how smart you are. You'll get good news."

"Thanks, Nomi. He's a fucking idiot who never deserved you."

"We figured out too late we had different relationship priorities."

Marc eyed her like he was discerning her meaning, but she took it as a cue to clear her head with a run.

She pushed herself harder than she should for a warm-up, but she needed her adrenaline to drown out the pain welling in her chest.

Chin up. You still have good friends, a great job you love, and you have shared ownership of a house that you'll never lose to a nasty breakup.

Deep breath.

Independence is your strength.

Another deep breath.

Dating Greg would have only damaged you in ways you've already been hurt. You made the right choice despite this pain.

***