My Superstar

Chapter 6: Bryce’s Epiphany? (Bryce’s POV)

Her family owns the Minnesota Storm?

Holy s**t.

Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of playing for that organization. The Minnesota Storm weren’t just a football team to me—they were the standard. The goal. The dream.

This whole time, I thought Kalia and I came from completely different worlds.

I never thought a girl could understand my world.

Turns out… she is my world.

Before I could finally say everything I was feeling, Kalia’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Bryce, look…” she sighed. “At the end of the day, I’m here to focus on myself. Finding love would be a bonus, but you need to figure out what’s holding you back before I could ever be involved.”

My chest tightened.

“I’m drawn to you. I don’t know why, but I am. I just don’t do heartbreak. I’m not going to be with someone who doesn’t know what he wants. So… I hope we can be cool.”

Damn.

Why did that hurt so much?

Because I was drawn to her too.

And the worst part?

I couldn’t imagine being just friends with her.

I just didn’t know how to be anything else.

“I understand, Kalia.”

The words tasted like poison.

“Friends?”

I looked over at her.

“For the record… I don’t want to be just friends.”

A small smile tugged at her lips.

“Same.”

Her expression became unreadable as she stared out at the view. I couldn’t tell if she was admiring the scenery or fighting the same battle I was.

Then a phone rang.

The silence shattered.

Kalia glanced down at her screen, and instantly her entire face lit up.

“Bryce, I’m so sorry. Give me a second. I have to take this.”

I leaned against the railing while she stepped away.

I couldn’t hear much of the conversation, but I could see her.

The excitement.

The smile.

The way she practically glowed.

God, she was beautiful.

A few minutes later she returned.

“Sorry about that. And thank you for bringing me here. This place is incredible.”

Her mood had completely shifted.

“Can we head back? I have a visitor I’d love for you and Coach Kelley to meet.”

A visitor?

“And you want me to meet them?”

She laughed.

“Yes, Bryce. Now come on.”

Thirty minutes later we were pulling into the facility.

During the drive, I learned even more about her.

She played basketball growing up.

Played saxophone.

Sang in choir.

Lead in 5 theater productions.

Every answer somehow made her more impressive.

More impossible not to like.

The second I parked, she jumped out of the car.

Then sprinted toward a man waiting outside.

My stomach dropped.

She launched herself into his arms.

Who.

The.

Fuck.

Is.

That?

He caught her effortlessly and spun her around while she laughed.

I felt sick.

No.

No way.

She couldn’t have had a man this entire time.

Could she?

“BRYCE!” she yelled. “Come here!”

Like she was excited for us to meet.

As I walked closer, the guy finally turned toward me.

Wait.

I know him.

No.

There’s no way.

IS THAT JETS?

Justin “Jets” Carter.

Star wide receiver for the Minnesota Storm.

I immediately pulled out my phone.

“Damon. Get to the facility. Right now.”

I hung up before he could answer.

Kalia smiled.

“Bryce, this is Justin. Justin, this is Bryce, the starting quarterback for the Bullhorns.”

She hadn’t looked at me once since she ran over to him.

And he hadn’t taken his eyes off her either.

I’m f****d.

“Nice to meet you, bro.” Justin grinned, showing off an iced-out grill as he extended his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Big fan, man. Nice to meet you too.”

Now what the hell are you to her?

“How do y’all know each other?”

The two of them exchanged a look.

A look.

The kind that immediately made me hate the answer before hearing it.

“Justin’s one of my closest friends,” Kalia said.

Friends.

Yeah.

Sure.

I wasn’t buying it.

“Well…” she said awkwardly. “Should we head inside? I’m sure Coach Kelley wants to meet Justin before we go to dinner.”

Dinner.

Alone.

I nearly threw up.

Inside, Kalia, Coach, and Justin instantly fell into conversation.

I watched from across the room.

They looked comfortable together.

Effortless.

Like they’d known each other forever.

I hated how much it bothered me.

Right on cue, Damon finally showed up.

“Bro…” he stopped dead in his tracks. “Is that Jets?”

I nodded.

“The Jets?”

Another nod.

His eyes widened.

“Wait… why does he look so comfortable with Kalia?”

I closed my eyes.

“Damon.”

“He looks at her how you look at her.”

“Damon.”

“Ohhhhhhh shit.”

“Please shut up.”

“I’m trying to.”

Coach eventually walked over with Justin.

“Kalia and I need about an hour to go over tomorrow’s practice plans,” Coach said. “Justin wants to see what you’ve got, Bryce.”

Justin grinned.

“Maybe we’ll steal you for the Storm in a couple years.”

I couldn’t help smiling.

“Let’s do it.”

For the next forty-five minutes, we ran routes.

And honestly?

It was the most fun I’d had in months.

Eventually we took a water break.

Justin sat beside me.

“So…” he said casually. “You trying to get at Kalia?”

I nearly choked.

Before I could answer, Damon jumped in.

“Nah. Bryce doesn’t believe in love.”

I smacked him.

Hard.

Justin raised an eyebrow.

I sighed.

“I’ve never had a real relationship, man. But yeah… I’m feeling her.”

I looked toward the facility.

“And I think I already screwed it up.”

Justin was quiet for a moment.

Then he nodded.

“A little advice from someone who knows her.”

I listened carefully.

“No matter how ugly the truth is, Kalia values honesty. Every single time.”

His expression softened.

“I wish the cards played out differently, but—”

“JUSTIN!”

Kalia’s voice echoed across the field.

She was standing near the entrance.

“Are you ready? We need to head back to my dorm so you can get ready before our reservation.”

My heart sank again.

Justin stood.

Then looked back at me.

“She won’t be available forever, Bryce.”

I swallowed hard.

“Someone is going to come along and give her everything she’s ever wanted.”

He pointed at my chest.

“You better get yourself together so that person can be you.”

Then he smirked.

“I know at least five people who want her.”

He started walking away.

Then glanced back over his shoulder.

“Excluding me.”

He winked.

And just like that, he was gone.

I watched Kalia laugh at something he said as they walked away together.

The jealousy.

The fear.

The regret.

The desperation.

All of it twisted together inside my chest.

What the hell is this feeling?

Because for the first time in my life…

I think I’m in love.