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“Dude... Stop.” It’s nobody’s business where I’m going or who I’m seeing, but telling my friends or my sister that is like throwing chum in shark-infested waters.
Nixon pushes the button for the elevator. “Whatever, man. How long you gone for?”
“I’m leaving after practice, and I’ll catch you guys at the beach at the end of the week. Not sure when I’ll get there.” Guess it depends on how well my surprise goes over tonight.
“You’re gonna miss the dinner Mom is throwing for Everly’s birthday.”
My first thought is, if everything goes the way I want it to, you’re goddamned right I will—because I’ll be celebrating it with her twin sister instead.
But since I can’t say that to Nixon, I just shrug. “I’ll bring a good gift.”
“Where are you going anyway?”
“Where I should have gone six months ago.”
“Hey, man. Bellamy says you’re heading to the airport.” I turn the volume up in my earbud and stare out the window at the plane I’m supposed to be boarding any minute as Cross checks up on me.
“Yeah, man. I was gonna tell you this morning at practice, but you no-showed. What’s up with that?”
“Kerrigan gave us a stomach bug. She was puking all night, and Jaxon was puking all morning. If I left Everly with the two of them, she may have castrated me.” Always the responsible one.
I love my brother and his family. But... yeah. “That sounds fucking awful.”
“So where are you going?”
“To see a friend for a few days.” The attendant announces first-class seating, and I’m saved by the bell. “Sorry, Cross. Gottago. They just opened the gate. I’ll see you at the beach. Kiss my niece and nephew for me when they feel better.”
“Don’t be stupid, brother,” Cross warns.
“Never,” I laugh and end the call.
When I get situated on the plane, I’m relieved to see the seat next to me open.
Hopefully, it stays that way.
I lean back, turn on a playlist, and close my eyes.
If the flight lands on time, I’ll catch most of the show tonight.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been asleep when turbulence jolts the plane.What the hell?We drop again before a calm voice comes over the speaker. “We’re currently experiencing a little turbulence due to a storm. The captain is taking us to a higher altitude, and it should be smooth sailing for the rest of the flight.”
I look around and see an old guy next to me who looks like he’s already knockin’ on heaven’s door. Dude’s got to be ninety-five if he’s a day, in an expensive gray suit with a navy-blue and yellow polka-dotted bow tie.
“Guess that woke you up there, Wilder.” His shaky voice doesn’t surprise me, but the fact he knows my name does. “Good. Maybe now, you’ll stop snoring.”
“Uhh... Have we met?” I know we haven’t because I wouldn’t forget this guy. He looks like Grandpa Carl from that Disney movie about the house and balloons Kerrigan loves. He just needs a yellow dog with a cone around his head.
I look around him to check for a walker covered in tennis balls.
Nope. Not there.
Okay. Guess that means it’s not a dream.
“No.” He watches me carefully. “But I’ve been a season ticket holder for the Revolution since I was a kid. You got a meanslapshot, kid. But you get in too many fights. You need to be more like that brother of yours.”
Not the first time I’ve heard this.
“I’m the enforcer. It’s my job to get into the fights Cross can’t.”
