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“I guess. I go back in a week for the results. I’ll know more then. But I feel better now. How are you?”
“Missing you, baby. How are classes? How’s things with Chloe?” Jesus, I just want to see her face. To touch her.
“Classes suck ass. I’m done. I swear, I don’t want to take any more. I’m thinking about taking a semester off. Things with Chloe are amazing. We’ve sold an entire line to two different boutiques in Philadelphia, and I just sold one here in San Diego too.” The excitement in her voice settles deep in my soul.
“I’m so proud of you, baby.” I lie down on the makeshift bed in this hole-in-the-wall safe house and listen to her tell me all about the designs and boutiques for the next ten minutes. Then I realize it’s time to get off the phone.
“Sing me something, Carys. If I can’t be home, at least I can feel like it.”
Chills run down my body as she sings an old favorite of mine, “Crazy Love.” And when she’s done, with my body relaxed, I close my eyes and picture home, imagining us together.
“I’ll be home soon.”
“I love you, Cooper.”
“Always, baby.”
Dad lefta pass for me at the will-call box for today’s Kings game. If they win this game, they win the division. I promised I’d do my best to be here. But I asked him to keep it quiet, in case something came up. He understood. Once he got over the initial fear and hesitance when I told him I was joining the Navy, he’s been supportive, like he always is.
He was upset I wasn’t going to college. I think he was disappointed he wouldn’t have another son following in his professional footsteps, but he never said it out loud. My older brother, Declan, the all-pro quarterback, will have to be enough for both of us.
After I grab my lanyard, I walk around the stadium and take in everything that’s changed since we first moved here years ago. Dad’s won two championship trophies for this team in the past five years. A huge picture of Declan throwing the winning pass last year takes up an entire wall now. I smile and wave to one of the team owners as I pass her.
My buddy Sebastian is marrying her sister at some point. When I’m here, I feel like I’m home in a weird way.
Maybe I should consider switching to Bravo Team permanently.
It would mean we’d be closer to the family.
If the family knew there was aweto start with.
I quietly let myself into the box suite, full of my family and friends, and watch them for a minute before they realize I’m here. We’re already ten minutes into the first quarter, and everyone is scattered throughout the room and in the seats that sit on the other side of the glass. It’s a room full of the people I love.
All but one.
I can picture her standing on the fifty-yard line a few years ago, belting out the National Anthem to the sold-out stadium. She was incredible. I remember wondering how that big voice could come from such a small body.
“Cooper?” Nattie’s voice brings me back to the present as she throws her arms around my waist. “Oh my God. What are you doing here?”
Her blonde hair tickles my face, and I inhale her familiar vanilla scent.
“Hey, Nat.” I squeeze her back. “I had the day free, so I drove up. I wanted to see Declan and Bash kick some Denver ass.”
I spend the rest of the first quarter catching up with everyone. But my twin doesn’t leave my side. A bit later, when I sit at the table with Brady and her, she asks the question I knew was coming. Call ittwintuition.
“Okay, so what are the chances of you staying with the team in Virginia? I mean, they wouldn’t have asked you to fill in if they weren’t interested, would they?” She looks so damn hopeful that I feel like a fucking ass for leaving in the first place. It was the right decision for me, but she always knows how to make me feel bad.
“Leave him alone, sweetheart.” Brady rests his arm across the back of her seat and winds his fingers through her hair. “We don’t even know where we’re going to end up next year if I get drafted.”
“Listen here, Brady Ryan. You’re a finalist for the Heisman. There’s got to be a team on the East Coast that wants you. I don’t want to raise our babies on the other side of the country from our families.” If Nat was standing, she’d be stomping her foot with her hands on her hips. And judging by the smirk on Brady’s face, he knows it too.
“Hey now,” I laugh. “You two just got engaged. How about you give it a few months before you make me an uncle?” I’m kidding. I mean, yes, I don’t think my sister is ready to be a mom, but are any of us ready to be a parent until it happens?
Nattie glares at me even as her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Don’t change the subject, Coop. Don’t you want to move home? Maybe find a girl you want to see for more than a night?”
“Drop it, Nat.” I blow out a deep breath, knowing I need to tread lightly.
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say. I just added fuel to the fire, according to the devious look on my sister’s face. “Come on, Cooper. You’ve got to settle down at some point.”
