I’m on my way home from another long day of working out, and I got to spend some time with our new quarterback, Liam Pitz. He’s a good guy and an amazing quarterback. He’ll be an asset to the team, and hopefully, we’ll win some games this year and make the playoffs.
Presley wasn’t at the gym with me today, but like she said she would, she assigned a newer trainer to work with me for experience. It was a decent workout that left my shoulders aching and my mind wrung out, and the only thing I wanted was to get home, shower off the smell of sweat, eat a good meal, and rest before getting up and doing it all over again tomorrow.
My phone rings, lighting up the touchscreen display, and my sister’s name and picture pop up. She’s got a cheesy smile on her face and a kid in each arm.
I smile before I even answer.
“Hey, Savannah Banana.”
“Well, look at that,” she drawls, warm and teasing in a familiar way that settles something in my chest. “Wyatt St. Clair answering his phone on the very first ring. I’m shocked.”
I laugh and shift my hand on the wheel to turn up the volume on the sound system so I can hear her better over the road noise. “What are you talking about? I always answer your calls, unless I’m on the field. Did you call to check on me or pick on me?”
“Um … maybe a little of both.”
Her laugh is bright and easy, and when she laughs like this, I can picture her clear as day. She lives in North Carolina and is probably sitting on her couch, one leg curled under her with her long, dark hair up in a knot on the top of her head, one kid probably crawling all over her while the other demands a snack. My sister has always moved through life like she was born to hold chaos in her hands and make it look graceful. I honestly don’t know how she does it.
“You’re a brat sometimes, you know.”
“Maybe, but you love me anyway.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say, smiling.
“Did you work out today?” she asks.
“I did.”
“And? How are you feeling? Your knee holding up?”
“It’s good. Stronger every day. I’m ready for camp for sure. Can’t let Coach think I’m replaceable as I get closer to thirty, you know.”
“Hmm.” She makes a disbelieving sound. “You, big brother, are many things, but replaceable isn’t one of them.”
“Aww, Sav. You’re, like, my number one fan,” I tease.
“I am, but don’t think for a second that I’m not capable of humbling you at any moment.” She gives it right back to me.
“I think you’ve been doing that since you could talk.”
“A little humility is good for the soul.” She snickers.
I bark out a laugh, real and full, the kind that loosens the knots between your shoulder blades. My baby sister excels at getting under my skin, but can also soothe it at the same time. It’s a gift.
“How are my favorite nephew and niece?”
I hear a rustling noise on the other end.
“Alive, but barely. I need a break, so I’m hiding in the closet,” she whispers.
“You are not!” I laugh.
“No, I’m not.” She admits. “But I did lock myself in the bathroom for three minutes while Rhyan was taking her nap. Remy wouldn’t leave me alone, and I just needed a few minutes of peace, so I told him Mommy had to think about her sins.”
“That sounds … healthy.”
“Listen, sometimes, you have to think on your feet, and that’s what I came up with. You do what you gotta do to survive, brother.”
A small voice shouts something in the background, followed by the unmistakable crash of something hitting the floor.
