Page 104 of Big Dill

My chest sinks, not because I no longer have a partner, but because I know what Jaxon is going to go through and how important this tournament was to him.

‘It’s okay,” I say quickly, shifting my thoughts. “Our priority now is your recovery. To get you back on your feet… without any long-term damage.”

He lets out a low sound, part grunt, part sigh. “Yeah, but you still have to go, Brody.”

“No,” I say. “I can pull out. I’ll figure something else.”

“No,” he insists, voice firm despite the slur creeping in, no doubt from pain meds. “Our priority is for you to go, to promote the social. And Jami needs to promote her new line of clothes. You both need to be there. And hey… if you both have to be there, why can’t Jami take my spot on the team?”

Jami blinks at me, incredulous. “Big brother… what kind of drugs are they pumping into you? You have to be really knocked out to suggest something that crazy.”

He snorts, a little wobbly. “It’s not always about winning, Jami. It’s about having fun, too… and promoting the social as fun, and your clothes as comfortable and athletic.”

I bite back a laugh, because… he’s not wrong. There’s a logic buried in the madness.

“Right,” Jami agrees slowly. “But losing spectacularly probably isn’t going to achieve anything.”

“You’re not as bad as you think,” he teases, voice light but rough at the edges.

Jami opens her mouth to counter, but I cut her off. “I’ll train you. Hard. Intense. You’ll have to work your ass off because we’ve only got a few months to get you competition-ready, but… you have natural athletic ability, whether you realize it or not.”

She freezes, mouth slightly open, like I just suggested she could run a marathon tomorrow. Or maybe that I just threw her life into overdrive.

I can see the calculation behind her eyes, terror, disbelief, and maybe just maybe a small hint of excitement all tied together.

“We start tomorrow,” I say before she can untangle her thoughts, and decide this is a bad idea.

“Thanks, Jami,” Jaxon says, his voice fading. “I knew I could count on you.”

“You…” She shakes her head at me. “You…you can always count on me, big brother.”

“Me too,” I add.

“Jami,” Jaxon says in a big brother voice I’ve come to learn. “I’m okay, I promise. There is no sense in you being here. Work on your designs, have fun on the court.”

“Okay.”

“Promise me.” Before she can answer, he adds, “You have to promise me you’re going to have fun. If you don’t promise me that, I’ll send you back to the mainland.”

She laughs and her eyes meet mine. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“Sis, you can’t lie to me. I know you had a good time with Brody at the cottage.”

She gulps, and I hope he can’t hear it. “He probably made a fire, took you snowmobiling, and I bet he made you his famous bologna sandwich.”

Jesus, it’s like he knew everything I had planned. I just hope that’s not true.

“He did all those things,” she answers.

“Good, then stay and have fun. Sitting here with me is useless. You’re only here for a while, so I want you to embrace all Churchill Falls has to offer and experience each day to its fullest okay. I know you’re working and helping at the social, but I want this to be a break for you too.”

“Okay,” she agrees, her voice stronger. “But I’m coming for your surgery so I can take you home.”

Before Jaxon can answer, and knowing how important that is to her, I say, “I’ll make arrangements with Frank.”

“Thanks bro, I knew I could count on you. I’ll message with the details when I know more.”

“Sounds good, now you go get some rest and let us know when you’re settled at Devon’s. Don’t worry about the club, Jami and I have everything covered.”