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To say she was excited that we’d made up was an understatement. She’d been calling me daily and checking up on me via text when I didn’t answer. It was good to be on talking terms at least, though my trust in her, it wasn’t the same.
Still, she was my sister, and hopefully, with time, we could get to where we used to be.
She pulled me toward the end of the table, where we took our seats.
“I ordered your favorite—the chicken Parm, light on the cheese, and veggies instead of pasta. And a sparkling water. I know you’re in full rehab mode.”
I sat down and reached for the glass, taking a sip. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, giddy. She reached for my hand and squeezed. “You’re looking good. How is rehab?”
“Hard but worth it. My trainer tells me not to push too much, but I know my limits.”
“When do you leave again for LA?”
“End of the week. Then, it’ll be two weeks with Dr. Carringtime, and I’ll be back here with the team’s therapists. I’m feeling good about this, Brandy.” I leaned back against the chair. “I think I’ll be ready not too long after the start of the season.”
She touched my arm, her eyes softening. I read the guilt in them and knew she blamed herself for the reason I had gotten hurt. “I’m sorry, you know, about …”
I placed my hand lightly over hers. “I’m not over it yet, but I think I’ll get there,” I said honestly.
Her small smile surfaced again. “And I’m happy for you, big bro. I know that’s all you wanted. Can I come visit you while you’re out in LA?” she asked, almost hesitant—and Brandy was never hesitant. “I can shop when you’re in rehab, and then at night, we can have dinner and catch a movie.”
I shook my head. “It’ll only be a couple weeks. Plus, I’ll be with the doc nonstop.”
Her smile dimmed. “I just want to keep you company …”
“I know.”
That was the one thing about Brandy. She was trying, but now was a good way to tell her the truth.
“I’ll be fine, and”—I tipped back more of my water—“I’ve asked Sydney to go with me.” I paused. “To rehab and spring training.”
“Oh.” Her eyes held shock. “Are you two, uhhh …”
“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “We’re dating.”
“Oh.” She started blinking rapidly. “Does Alec know?”
I held my calm. “Nope. Not yet, but we’re going to tell him soon.”
She nodded and blinked some more but didn’t say a word.
“I’m not asking for your blessing,” I told her. “I’m just letting you know.”
She leaned in, placing a warm palm over my fist on the table. “I know you don’t need my blessing—or you don’t want it—but I’m giving it to you anyway.” Her eyes lit with an inner glow when she spoke. “Sydney Loverly is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She loves hard and unconditionally. I’ve witnessed it throughout the years. The Loverly clan gets protective, but they’re good people.” Her voice cracked at the end, and she tore her gaze from mine.
I nodded, knowing it was true and grateful that she saw it. I couldn’t help but ask though, “What happened, Brandy? What made you stray? Alec is one of the best guys out there, better than James, better than ninety percent of the male population. How could you do that to him? How could you let him go?”
She rubbed at her brow and sighed miserably. “I … I don’t know. I guess it wasn’t enough. His love, our love, what we had. Maybe it happened too soon. He was the one who wanted to get married first; he wanted to put a ring on my finger. We’d been together forever, and that was the natural next step, right?”
She searched my face for answers that only she had, but I read between the lines. She’d felt trapped.
At twenty-three, she didn’t want to settle down, but there would have been a better way to end things or even press the brakes if she’d wanted to.
Now, any chance with Alec was gone.
She waved a hand. “Enough about me. We’ve already established that my actions were shitty. So, you and Sydney, huh? I can’t believe you asked her to go to LA with you and to spring training? You hated when your girlfriends would beg to come to spring training.”
