This has his full attention.
I continue. “Brandon and I both have an interest in this charity. I have a disabled brother, and he has a sister who also has required a fair amount of care. This organization means a lot to the both of us. We’d both been in contact with JustSibs, and they asked us to work together to plan some activities. But that’s it. That’s why we’ve met on two occasions, to attempt to put our differences aside on behalf of this charity. We just both want to help siblings who are going through a lot. We realized how this could look, which is why we are going through our official channels.”
Nathan nods. “As long as nothing else is going on.”
I smile. “Nathan, how long have you known me? Do you really think I’d jeopardize everything for someone like Brandon Nix? I live for refereeing. You know that. This cause is about the only reason you’ll even catch me within a 500-yard radius of that man outside of game days.”
The best part about having to hide my expressions for my entire life is that no one knows how to read me. It makes me a convincing liar. Nathan buys it hook, line, and sinker. I might get away with this.
Now all I have to do is work one stupid charity event with Brandon, and I’m off the hook.
I just need to never think about kissing him—or more—again.
That’s easy.
Chapter 31: Brandon
My days are spent ina whirlwind of workouts, practices, and working with Leora on the event. We’re calling it Soccer for Sibs. I’ve recruited several of my teammates to work. We have a game that evening against the Miami Wave, so everyone will be around anyway.
I’m also spending a fair amount of time working with Watson Ross. This will come as a total shock—I know it did to me—but I have a lot to unpack. If we start with the surface problem of my sister, being the sibling of an addict causes significant trauma. It’s not dissimilar to some of the wounds that having a sick sibling cause.
On that front, my sister is actually doing well for once. Jess texts me every other day when she goes into town, where she has reception. If she’s not going to make it to be able to text me, she lets me know ahead of time. I never realized how much energy I expended worrying about Jess.
It’s not like I don’t worry now, but it’s much less than it used to be. It’s not accompanied by this overwhelming sense of dread each time my phone rings.
“I want you to consider your public persona. How you act around others. What’s that about?” Ross asks me.
I shrug. “I tell it like it is.”
“Why?” he prods.
“I don’t like liars or fakes. It’s probably because of my sister.”
“Were you this outspoken before the accident?”
I normally try to avoid thinking about that period of my life at all costs. Hell, I think I’ve repressed a fair amount of it. I think about what my coaches said about me. The comments that were made during the academy.
