austin and his female best friend start dating. something like she likes him but he won’t do a relationship with her but is going on dates with women who just wany his money. but then she goes on a date and he shows up and like 3 am angry and confessing his feelings…maybe a little spice from her because she’s been begging for him to want her. but it all works out. 😩😩 i like a friend trope
The Bahamas had been the last place Austin expected his life to change.
At twenty years old, he'd just gone undrafted. After years of dreaming about hearing his name called on draft night, the silence had been crushing.
His family insisted they still celebrate everything he'd accomplished, so they packed their bags and flew to the Bahamas.
He wasn't in much of a celebrating mood though…
His older brother Spencer and Spencer’s girlfriend,Kaci, convinced him to spend the afternoon on the beach instead of sulking in the hotel room.
"C'mon," Spencer laughed, tossing Austin a football. "Quit looking like someone stole your dog. You’re still in the nba.”
The three of them started throwing the football around in the warm afternoon sun.
Austin launched one a little harder than he'd intended.
The football sailed over Spencer’s fingertips and smacked directly into the back of a girl walking by.
She spun around, glaring.
Before he could move, she picked up the football.With one effortless motion she stepped into the throw.
The ball hit Austin square in the chest.
Austin grabbed it and immediately jogged over.
She looked at him for a second before nodding.
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"...You can throw a football really well."
"My dad's a huge sports guy. He's taught me everything about every sport."
"How to shoot a basketball. Hit a baseball.
Austin’s smiled for what felt like the first time in weeks.
"Want to throw the football with me, my brother, and his girlfriend?"
She looked between the three of them.
For nearly two hours they laughed, joked, and tossed the football around the beach.
By sunset they'd exchanged numbers.
That night they sat together on the sand with a deck of cards between them.
"You cheat," Austin accused.
She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her cards.
From that night forward...They were inseparable.
Over the next year, their friendship only grew stronger.
She came to every Summer League game.
Every preseason game she could.
Every regular season game she was able to travel to.
She celebrated every milestone like it was her own.
Somewhere along the way...
Her friendship became something more.
She never told him…but carried the crush quietly.
Then one afternoon Austin called.
"Yeah...I think she's great."
She forced a smile he couldn't see.
The relationship lasted six months.
Austin sounded exhausted afterward.
"It just...wasn't right."
She listened….Never judging…Never saying she'd secretly hoped it wouldn't work.
She eventually moved to Los Angeles to stay close to the people she'd come to consider family.
She worked as a nanny in Palm Springs.
And whenever she had time off...
She was courtside….Always cheering louder than anyone else.
Four years after they met...
The whole family gathered on a Florida beach.
Spencer was finally marrying Kaci.
Austin knocked on her hotel room door.
"I wanted to ask...would you be my date?"
"You're like family anyway. It'd be a shame if you weren't there."
The smile stayed on her face…The disappointment stayed hidden…
The reception was beautiful.
Austin laughed with friends and family.
He'd become the older brother she'd never had.
As they danced, they passed close enough to overhear one of Austin’s friends…
"Dude," Jason laughed. "She's so hot. How have you not gotten with her yet?"
Austin laughed immediately.
"Dude, ew. No. She's like a sister. Don't make it weird."
Everything inside her stopped.
Spencer felt her go still, and without saying anything…he simply pulled her into a hug.
Austin turned…Their eyes met….He knew she'd heard.
He looked guilty but he said nothing.
Later...Jason approached her.
They laughed together as they danced.
Austin couldn't stop watching.
Jason leaned closer and soon the music slowed.
They stood close together.
Austin suddenly walked over.
Jason raised an eyebrow but stepped away.
She never looked at Austin.
As they danced he spoke quietly.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"No. Why would 'ew' hurt my feelings?"
Austin gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his hand resting against her cheek.
The second she looked into his eyes...
He quickly moved his hand back to her waist.
"You're my best friend," he whispered. "It'd just be weird."
"I had a big crush on you."
"But it's gone now. Don't worry."
Something twisted painfully inside his chest…and he didn't understand why.
She finally confessed everything.
"I've loved you for years."
Then quietly said the words he'd regret for a long time.
"I want a relationship..."
"Just not with you like that."
The second the door shut...Austin buried his face in his hands.
"I said that so wrong..."
They found their way back to friendship.
Every relationship ended the same.
Someone wanted the lifestyle…the money, the NBA player…
Every breakup ended with him calling her.
6 months after the last breakup r Austin called before a home game.
"What section are you sitting in tonight?"
"I'm sorry...I won't be there."
"I'll be at the next game. Promise."
That night he scored only fifteen points..
One of the worst games of his career.
When he got home he was restless
He paced his house until two in the morning.
Finally grabbed a T shirt and got in his car and drove.
By three a.m., he stood outside her house.
She opened the door wearing pajamas.
Her hair was still curled.
Her makeup was untouched.
She clearly hadn't been home long.
He walked past her without answering and sat on the couch.
"Fine? I haven't been home long, I…"
"Did he kiss you goodnight?"
"Actually...don't answer that."
"Our date ended at nine. Then I went out with the girls."
Relief flooded him before he could hide it.
"I don’t think that's that’s any of my business."
"But you made it your business."
"What are you doing here at three in the morning?"
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
He headed toward the door.
"That could've been a phone call."
"Why are you actually here?"
He noticed how beautiful her eyes were when she was confused.
"I tried convincing myself I wasn't."
"I told myself you were like my sister."
"You rejected me." she said softly.
"You watched me love you for years."
"And now I go on one date…"
"Oh? So now that someone else wants me, suddenly you do?"
"I'm not your backup plan, Austin!"
"I begged God to make you love me."
"You told me you didn't want me!"
"I finally started moving on!"
"I can't breathe when I think about another guy touching you."
She laughed through tears that had started coming.
Years of longing poured into one moment.
Then suddenly shoved him away.
He sat in her driveway for an hour…not wanting to leave without talking to her one more time.
Finally he remembered his spare key.
He quietly let himself inside.
She stood in the hallway.
Makeup gone and hair in a ponytail.
Eyes swollen from crying.
Then simply walked into his arms.
She sobbed against his chest.
Without a word he lifted her and carried her to her bedroom, laid her down and he just held her.
"I can't be with you…not until you know you actually want me."
He kissed the top of her head.
He stayed all night just holding her.
They agreed to spend two weeks apart.
He was knocking on her door again.
"I don't love you because someone else noticed you."
"I love you because you've been my home since a football hit you in the back on a beach in the Bahamas."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"I love you because you've celebrated every win."
"Stayed through every loss."
"Listened after every breakup."
"You never wanted my money."
"And I was too blind to see I'd been in love with my best friend for years."
She stared for a long moment.
Then laughed through her tears.
She grabbed his shirt and kissed him.
And his time...neither of them pulled away.
The girl Austin had met by accident on a beach had quietly become the love of his life.
And after years of almosts, missed chances, and terrible timing...
They finally found their way home to each other.
