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Declan
Annabelle buries her face in my chest and laughs at Tommy, who’d already moved on. “Oh. My. God. Declan. I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
I hear Carys ask Tommy if he wanted to see something on her phone and was immensely grateful for my soon-to-be stepsister.
Murphy slaps my shoulder. “Good to know you’re packing more than the middle schoolers in the stadium, Dec.”
Snickering, Sabrina shakes her head at Murphy but won’t make eye contact with me.
“So,” Nattie pipes up. “I thought you two were just really good friends.” She looks at Belle and me with an eyebrow raised and a silly smile on her face.
“Natalie Grace, give your brother a break. He’s a grown man and doesn’t have to tell you every aspect of his life.” I’ve got to remember to thank my father tomorrow. “Of course, I, on the other hand, see him every day of the damn week. Ya think ya might’ve given me a heads-up, son?”
Fuck the thank you.
Amelia catches me off guard when she jumps in, “Wow. You’re a fun crowd, but damn, you’re all up in each other’s business.” She chuckles, then glances around the room as if she’s expecting a response or worried she said something wrong.
“Well, yeah,” my sister tells her. “We’re family. It’s what we do.”
Amelia points between Nattie and me. “You two are family.” Then she points at Murphy and his mom. “And I think they’re family.”
She’s cut off by Bash, who slings his arm around her shoulder before telling her, “Yeah, our definition of family is a little different. You’ll get used to it if you stick around long enough.” Bash is smiling. Amelia, not so much.
She pushes Bash’s arm off her shoulder. “Nice try, little boy.”
Bash steps back, hands going to his chest and feigning hurt.
“Burn. Looks like you got shot down, pretty boy.” Brady doubles over laughing.
Bash shoves Brady back. “Fuck off, QB.”
Dad clears his throat, trying to sound stern. “Kids.” When everyone in the room looks up, he laughs too, “Fuck it. We beat the Sentinels today! Next step, division champs!”
Yeah, we are.
I’d wanted to ask Belle if I could follow her home after the game but second-guessed myself, not wanting to look clingy or needy. Oh, how the tables have turned. A year ago, I’d have been the one running from the first whiff of a needy, clingy relationship. Now, I’m worried about being that way myself.
I’m halfway home when my phone rings. “What’s going on, Hunter?”
“Can’t an agent check in on his number one player after he beats last year’s championship team? Great game, man. I’ll be there in Cali when you play next Sunday, cheering you on.” Hunter offered to fly out for today’s game, but it seemed pointless, knowing I’d be playing in his backyard next week when we play Oakland.
“Works for me, man. We going over the interview info then?” I’ve agreed to two different interviews. One is scheduled for mid-December, and the other for January. “I can’t fucking believe that December is only a few days away.”
“Well, believe it and be grateful you don’t have a game on Thanksgiving.” The fucker laughs then pauses. “Seriously, do you even remember the last time you got to sit down with your family on Thanksgiving Day? High school?”
“Yeah, man. Never got to go home for Thanksgiving while we were at Notre Dame.” Hunter keeps talking, but I drift off, thinking about the holiday this week. We’re not flying out until Friday, so Dad wants to do Thanksgiving at his house with everyone, and I’m the asshole who never thought to invite Belle and Tommy.
“Right, Dec?” he asks, but I have no clue what he just said.
“Sure, man. Listen, I gotta go. We’ll catch up Sunday.” I hit the button to end the call and turn left instead of heading home.
Kroydon Hills is an old town a few minutes outside of Center City, Philadelphia. I live in Center City. My understanding is that Kroydon Hills has always been a community of affluent families. Senators, business owners, CEOs and chairmen of the board live in this town. And for the last two years, Philly’s pro-football coach has lived here too. Dad’s house is less than ten minutes from Annabelle’s, and that’s only if you hit one of the few stoplights in town.
When I turn right onto Belle’s street, I see Tommy and her walking up to their front door. She mentioned she needed to drop Amelia off before coming home, but I thought she’d have been home already.
When I pull into the driveway behind her cute little white SUV, I see her send Tommy in the red front door before she turns to look at me, hands on her hips and an annoyed expression on her face. As I hop out of the Bronco, she stomps to meet me.
“I told those guys it wasn’t a big deal. I just left the light on.” She’s determined to be pissed at me over whatever she’s currently got going on.
