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“Hollingsworth,” he shouted as he chased me.
“He shoots.” I lined up on the three-point line. “He scores,” I yelled as the ball swished through the net.He curls in a ball in pain.My stomach felt like an elephant had sat on it.
“I need a break,” Lincoln said, tossing both of us a bottle of water.
He’d barely broken a sweat, was in as good a shape as I was even though he sat behind a desk. And he could read me like a book.
“Go get that checked out, little brother,” he murmured where only I could hear.
“Vivian and Muriella are organizing a fundraiser and adoption event. I want you both to come.” Daniel wiped the cold bottle of water across his forehead.
“In case you haven’t noticed, we’re both blissfully unattached. I don’t think either of us are ready for kids.” I lifted my T-shirt to clean the sweat from my face. A punch landed on my arm. “Ow. What was that for?”
“Not kids. Dogs.”
I dropped my shirt. “I’d love to have a dog, but are you gonna babysit when I’m at the station?” Muffy, Ash, Sadie, and Jet popped into my head. They were a handful, but hanging around with them had been fun. Actually, it had been more than that. I hadn’t had a dog since I was a kid and I’d missed the companionship. Or maybe a certain smoky-eyed creature had more to do with the experience being enjoyable.
Daniel glared at me. “Vivian and Muriella worked hard on this. You don’t have to adopt a dog, but a donation and your support would be nice.”
“Tell me when and where. I’ll be there.” Lincoln said.
“I’m in too.” I chugged cold water. “What’s the shelter?”
“Grey Paws.”
I nearly dropped the bottle. Everything in my life seemed to be circling around that rescue lately.
“Well, well. Both of my sons have forgone work to play games. I certainly didn’t teach you that.”
I jerked my head toward the edge of the court. The last person I wanted to see stood tall in his customary suit and polished dress shoes.
My father.
Chapter Ten
Teague
“You knew he was coming over?”
The question directed at my brother came out as more of an accusatory hiss.
He glared at me. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
And what he didn’t say was I should trust him more than that.
“I don’t like unannounced visits.”
“That makes two of us.”
Daniel sidled up beside me. “Want me to stay? Referee? Because there is some serious tension going on here.”
“No. You shouldn’t be involved in family drama,” Lincoln said.
Our father waited impatiently in the door to the basketball court. He’d come without warning, yet expected us to hop to his demands.
“Mr. Hollingsworth.” Daniel lifted his chin but didn’t shake my father’s hand before he turned to my brother and me. “Good game. Do it again soon?”
“Soon,” I said, doing my best to appear unaffected by the looming presence a few feet away.
