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“Abram—Dad,” Finn corrects sharply, and my nerves fire off at the adjustment.
Okay so maybe he was aware of what he’d said earlier.
“I’m not destined for Hardin like you. I’m meant to be on a court, with a basketball.”
The desperation in his tone rattles me. Every fiber of my being wants to jump in and further defend him, but I plant my feet instead. This is Finn’s battle, his war.
“You have an amazing opportunity. Here. At Hardin.”
Finn’s head is already shaking before he has time to finish. “I tried, Dad. I gave it a shot for you but all it did was prove to myself more than anything that this isn’t for me.”
“And what will happen to Hardin then? You were born to fill this spot.” Abram’s hand waves, emphasizing his spot at his desk. “Have my seat.”
Finn’s jaw tics and then he says, “Hardin should go to Rory.”
My mouth goes slack. What the hell?
“She has good ideas, is diligent, and most importantly, the people like her. They respect her,” he splutters on, so sure of what he’s saying.
My chest jackhammers at the same time my breath stalls.
This wasn’t supposed to be about me and yet somehow, it’s turned into that.
“I’ve seen it, and you can’t tell me you haven’t noticed.” Finn takes another step forward. “That’s what you should want. Someone like her filling your shoes. I have no doubt that she’d be able to lead Hardin to success. The same way you have.”
A liveliness, as well as sadness, settles in Abram’s observation.
“Although I applaud your efforts and congratulate you on the achievement, I’m not sure that’s your call to make, son.”
“But—”
“—I need to get back to work.” His fingers are already on the receiver of the desk phone, dialing back whoever he was talking to before. “You have things I had the secretary bring in for you to sort through.”
Is Abram denying him?
“Did you not hear what he said?” I shoot out, fire in my lungs. I ignore that last part of the conversation because, one, it’s too surprising, and second, this is about Finn. “He wants to play basketball.”
“Rory, you also have work to do. Now go. Both of you.”
I’m not at all stunned by his callous, dead reaction. Abram is dismissing us, treating me the same way that summer when he abandoned me. Finn, however, looks like he’s wilted into the floor.
His features crumble before they suddenly steel back over. I’m done but it doesn’t seem that my brother is.
“You told me yourself, that night we won, you thought I was incredible. Gifted, even.” He notes as his features pull, tightening at every angle in disbelief.
“And you are… but right now, there are tasks that need to be completed,” Abram defends, unyielding. Fully shutting us both out as he apologizes to the person in the receiver for hanging up so abruptly.
“Fucking bullshit,” Finn huffs under his breath. Snatching up the documents left for him and storming back out of the room.
I’d like to say I hoped this to have gone better but I’m not entirely surprised. Finn may not have ever seen Abram this heartless, but I had firsthand experience.
Time eases the burden but the bruise that’s left is a solid reminder of who put those wounds there in the first place.
thirty-four
Rory
“Christ,whatdidthatlocker ever do to you?” I ask, wandering over as Finn kicks it shut.
