CHAPTER 11
ZANDER
I read Tyrell’s text and frown.
Shit.
I’m gutted that he’s gonna be so late. He couldn’t make Carson’s dad’s funeral because he was overseas, and we’ve all been waiting to see him. He was really upset about the funeral, but he was too far away and Tucker’s still so little. He couldn’t leave Dani and the baby, so Carson told him not to worry about it.
I could tell how much it bothered him, and he’s been holding out to get stateside again.
And now he’s going to miss half of our reunion weekend.
Fuck. Am I allowed to tell him that he needs to stop going overseas so much and just stick around for more than a flying visit?
Sienna grew up traveling all over the world, and while it was a great adventure, she’s been determined to make sure our children’s lives are not disrupted. She wants to give them the same settled upbringing I had. No homeschooling, no changing schools, no moving houses.
We’ve pretty much been able to do that for them. Sure, we’ve moved a few times. I started with the Chargers, and after aterrible second season—I still shudder when I think about it—I got traded to the New York Jets. That was rough. The kids did not transition well to the East Coast, and neither did Sienna. I can’t even tell you why, they just didn’t vibe with New Jersey, and it was a tough three years as I worked my ass off to improve my game. Thankfully, the Chargers traded back for me, and we returned to Los Angeles when Zoey was nine and the boys were about to start first grade.
Since then, we’ve been settled, and Sienna is adamant that things stay that way. If I get traded again, she’s told me I’ll have to retire or live without them. She’s not upending the family for football, and she’s probably right. My NFL career has lasted longer than I thought it would anyway, so I’m taking each year as it comes and trying not to worry about what I’m gonna do when it’s time to retire.
Sienna’s told me she’s got plenty of plans to keep me busy, and I don’t doubt it for a second.
I snicker, thinking about how organized—and determined—my stunning wife can be… then frown as I’m thrown back into my earlier dilemma of trying to figure out what’s eating her.
In a bid to make her life as easy as possible, I’ve done everything she asked me to.
Olly’s now home from school, cleaned up, fed, changed, and ready to go.
I’ve checked all the bags, and they’re ready to bring downstairs and put straight into my SUV.
The twins arrived home about twenty minutes ago, and I sent them upstairs to get freshened up before we leave for the airport.
I can hear Cole singing at the top of his lungs, Logan jumping in with terrible harmonies that don’t work. The boys are going through a “we want to be rock stars” phase that I really hope is short-lived, because neither of them can actually sing. But theythink they’re awesome, and Sienna has told me in no uncertain terms that I am not allowed to tell them that.
“Do not squash their dreams,” she warned me. “They’ll figure it out soon enough.”
Man, I hope it doesn’t take too long.
Logan hits another bum note, Cole matching the awful sound, and I wince, grabbing my phone and checking my messages yet again.
Sienna’s running late.
I’ve texted her three times now, and she hasn’t replied.
Shit, I hope she’s okay.
I know how much she loves the gym, and there’s a chance she’s still caught up in her workout, but she knows we have to leave for the airport.
Damn. Maybe she’s just trying to stay away from me.
Fuck! What have I done?
And how can I make it right?
Hearing a car in the driveway, I whip around, rushing to the kitchen window so I can see her just before she pulls into the garage. Maybe if I can get a read on her facial expression, it’ll give me a chance to formulate the best greeting.
But it’s not Sienna.
