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“Do you think there’s any possibility of getting her to agree to come to my house tonight? I think he’d prefer to keep everyone under one roof tonight.”
“She might be okay with that,” I say. “She’s made some strides today.”
Turns out that’s true. After she apologizes to Damian through yet another curtain of tears, she agrees to go wherever Zander wants to go. Perhaps some of it is an attempt to make amends with Damian. It’s not necessary, but it shows her true character.
I don’t get a moment to talk to Zander alone until we’ve made it to Damian’s house, and he takes Callie to show her the three different guest rooms she can choose from. Only then, do I get to take inventory of all Zan’s injuries in a way I wouldn’t do with his sister in the audience.
“Let me look at you,” I tell him, tenderly raising his tee up to inspect his torso. It’s a landscape of bruises on his left side. “Fucking hell.”
“It looks worse than it is,” he says, and I look at him skeptically. “They had a few seconds of surprise and got some lucky shots in before security and the guys jumped in.”
“Assholes.”
“Yeah,” he agrees. “Stupid way to fuck up your life. The league is pushing hard on charges.”
“Good, fuck those guys,” I snap. He laughs, making him flinch in pain.
“I’m going to make a statement. I’ve been talking with management.”
“What are you going to say?”
“Not sure yet, but probably the truth.” He searches my face for a reaction while he says the words.
“That might lead to more of this,” I say, hesitantly. I’ll stand by whatever decision he wants to make. I’ll be proud of him regardless of his choice. “And end your career.”
“I’m being told that as long as I don’t push it as a platform, they’ll support me.”
“Do you believe that?”
“Maybe. I have a couple of days to decide,” he says, pulling his shirt back down so I stop obsessing. “It might be the start of something good, too. This sport needs diversity.”
On that, I can wholeheartedly agree.
“I’m with you, whatever you decide.”
“I appreciate that.”
“It’s what you do when you love someone.”
“You love me, Willa?”
“You know I do, big guy.”
“I love you, too,” he says, leaning down to kiss me. Not deep or lustful, but sweet and caring. “Thank you for taking care of my sister.”
“I love her, too,” I tell him. “She’s family, no need to thank me.”
Damian and Callie come back downstairs and she’s all smiles, lighter than she’s been in weeks now that the burden she’s been carrying is laid out on the table and she understands we’re all here to help her.
“Z! Damian says I can do whatever I want in one of the bedrooms. He even said I can paint a mural on the wall!”
“That’s very generous of him, kiddo,” he tells her.
“I know, you guys are the best,” she cries, emotions getting the better of her once again. You gotta love puberty.
“Hey, remember what I said,” Zander asks her, wrapping his arm around her.
“We’re all going to learn how to do this together and I shouldn’t feel bad.”
