We won, but it wasn’t that much of a challenge. I scored two goals before they pulled me out to sit. I didn’t mind, it gives less experienced players a chance to shine. Besides, my heart just isn’t in it anymore, which I’m sure showed through in my playing tonight.
Rory met me at the gate so we could eat dinner before heading back to my house. The restaurant finally gave up trying to stop the patrons from interrupting our dinner and moved us to a table in the back. Falling into bed later, I toss half the night before finally drifting off only to dream about Claire.
The next morning I wake up to hear Rory talking in the kitchen. Standing just around the corner from her, I pause to listen to what she’s saying.
“It’s pretty bad, George. He had a panic attack when I got here. I really havnae seen him this bad since ye drug him onto the train tae Glasgow by his hair.” She pauses before saying, “I dinnae know when she’s coming back. Finlay talked tae her briefly, she said she just disnae sound good.” She listens for a few more minutes before, “Aye, I’ll let ye know how it goes.”
I can’t stand listening to them discuss me anymore, so I walk into the kitchen. “I need tae let ye go. Aye, I will.” Hanging up she asks me in a voice a little too chipper for Rory, “Hey sleeping beauty, dae ye want some of Mam’s scones for breakfast? She sent a box of them.”
“Aye,” I mumble, dropping into a seat at the bar. Rory heats several of the scones in the microwave, setting out the cream and a bowl of jam. She slides a new phone over to me. Picking it up, I scroll through my messages. There are congratulations from most of Claire’s friends, but not one from her.
I’m halfway through my second scone when my phone rings. Looking over, I see Claire’s face lighting up the screen. Walking into the living room for some privacy, I answer it. “Claire.”
“Hi,” she says. “I wanted to call you to say you were brilliant last night.”
“I dinnae really play for that long. They naw want the starters getting injured too early in the season. Did ye go oot with yer friends?”
“We did. It was fun hearing so many people in the bar cheering. The guys told everyone that would listen that you are a personal friend of theirs.” I laugh quietly thinking about it. We’re silent for a few minutes before she asks, “Alex?”
“Aye, Claire?”
“It’s still you and me, right? You won’t give up on me, will you?” I close my eyes tight as a tear slips down my cheek. I feel Rory’s arms wrap around me when I answer Claire in a shaky voice.
“I’ll never give up on us, Claire. It will always be you and me. I love ye, I just want ye tae come home.” I listen to her sniffle through the line.
“I love you, Alex.” The line goes dead before I can say anything more.
“Damn it,” I say, wiping away tears as Rory holds me tighter. I don’t cry, ever. I haven’t cried since George told me to man up when I left home at twelve to live in Glasgow with him. It was the first time I had ever been without my parents, so I was terrified. I was a boy then though, now I’m a man. I should know what to do, but I’m completely lost in this. “Whit dae I do, Rory?” I ask, knowing she can’t help me either.
The next week I plod through like a zombie. Rory does her best to keep me fed, makes sure my laundry is done and that I don’t break any more phones. Lily sends me a daily update on Claire, but she is even becoming concerned about her.
I hear from Claire only once more when she leaves me a voicemail during practice. She’s leaving soon for her brother’s house to stay for a while. I’m sitting on the couch staring at a simple text from her congratulating me on last night’s win when my doorbell rings. Crossing to the door, I look out of the glass.
“Bollocks,” I say. Walking out of the kitchen, Rory looks at me with concern.
“Whit?” she asks, faking innocence.
“Like ye dinnae know,” I say with a growl, opening the door. Standing with his massive arms crossed over his chest is George. My brother, Robert, is trying really hard to mimic George’s scowl but it comes off looking more like he suffers from constipation.
“Bitch,” I hiss at Rory before I’m shoved back a couple of feet. I barely manage not to hit the floor before I can recover from the blow.
“Dinnae call yer sister that,” George growls at me. We all love George but he is the oldest and has always expected us to follow his orders without question. “Rory, are ye ready tae go?” he asks as our sister carries her packed bag out of the bedroom.
“He’s all yers, now. Try tae naw break him too badly,” she says before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek on the way out.
I’m grateful for everything Rory has done while she was here. She kept my house from becoming an episode ofLife After People, as well as attending all of the formal events by my side. When she climbs into the back of the cab, my brothers turn their attention to me.
“Ye look like shite, Ali.” As if Robert needed to point that out.
“Cheers, Robbie. I already feel so much better.” Robert grins at me before quickly sobering when George glares at him.
“Get yer damn pants on. We’re gaun tae get shite-faced tonight. We’ll figure this mess oot tomorrow,” George says, shoving me toward the bedroom.
George has always believed every problem can be solved with careful, strategic planning. We were all surprised he became a vet instead of going into the military. I’m not sure where the need to get drunk is coming from.
“I’m at the start of my season. I cannae get shite-faced,” I protest, trying to push back against him. George has always been much larger than either Robbie or me. He easily has three inches and fifty pounds of muscle on me, making it hard for me to make much progress in our shoving match.
“Ye are tonight. Now, shut it and get some pants on.” With a sigh, he grabs his bag, heading into the extra bedroom.
