My parents are going to New York on Thursday. Staying until Saturday.
The Kirbys are welcome, obviously…
But she didn’t specify which Kirbys.
My grin returns.
Very soon.
I hit send.
CHAPTER 24
CONNOR
It’s too early for the gym, and far too early in the morning for me in general, but it’s a better alternative than facing my father. Work is the one place I know he won’t be on a Sunday morning.
I spend an hour pumping as much iron as my body can handle, burning through as much frustration as possible. By the end, I feel better. Mostly. Sort of.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t do a thing about my guilt.
Connor, I’m ready.
But I’m not ready for the ass-kicking I’ll surely receive once your brothers find out about us.
Us. What is us, exactly?
I carefully place the bar on the rack before sitting up, my chest burning from putting myself a little too far past failure than I should have.
“Damn, little brother. You should really have a spot for that much on the bar.”
I look up at my sister. Hair up. Loose-fitting shirt. Bike shorts. Must be cardio day. “You’re welcome to volunteer,” I mutter as I reach for my water bottle.
She grabs it for me. “What’s wrong with you?” she asks.
“You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
I take a few sips to wet my dry throat. “Dad got a new job,” I tell her.
Her brow wrinkles. “He did? Where?”
“Chicago North. Guess who the new head football coach is.”
Her mouth sags. “Oh...”
“Yeah.” I stand up, my arms hanging at my sides. Gonna feel them tomorrow for sure. “Oh.”
“Well, that sucks,” she says. “Not for everyone else, but for you… Yeah. That’s rough. I get it.”
“Whatever. It’s fine.”
She chortles. “You sure seem fine with it.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do about it?”
“Nothing you can do about it.”