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“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Should I go downstairs?” Penny asks.
I shake my head. “Give her some space.”
“For what it’s worth,” Cooper says, “I think it’s a good plan.”
My shoulders nearly sag with relief. “Really?”
“Yeah, definitely. Right, James?”
“Cooper and I were just talking,” James says. “If it’s not what you want, don’t do it. Don’t tie yourself to it just because you feel you have to. Having played football professionally for a season now, I know that if it’s not what I wanted to do, I’d be toast.”
“And you’re incredible at cooking,” Cooper says. “We know how much you love it. You’ll be a success no matter what you do with it.”
I duck my head as my cheeks heat up. “Thanks, guys.”
“You’re our brother,” James says. He presses his fist to his heart; to the tattoo he shares with me and Cooper. “We’re always going to support you.”
My heart sprints in my chest, the good emotions warring with the bad. “Even if I’m not… an athlete anymore? Not like you guys are?”
“To be clear, I’ll still be challenging you at the gym every chance I get,” Cooper says. “And I’ll definitely be sad if you leave me a semester early.”
James shakes his head fondly at our brother. “Seb, you’re not our family because you play a sport. You’re our family because we love you.”
Bex sniffles, clearly on the verge of tears again. “This is so sweet.”
He squeezes her hand. “It’s just the truth. Remember the fight you got into the first week at Albright?”
“That was a good fight,” Cooper reminisces. “Definitely worth the lecture from Mom and Dad.”
“I jumped into the fray for you then,” James says, “and I’d do it now and always.”
It’s quiet for a second, while I figure out how to talk again. I don’t know why I was so worried about their reactions. I guess it’s impossible to calm the anxiety when it comes to moments like this, even if they’ve accepted me as their brother since day one. “Thank you.”
“Wait,” Cooper says. “Do Mom and Dad know your plan?”
“Not yet,” I say. “I wanted to tell you two first.”
“Poor Richard,” Penny says, although she doesn’t sound all that sorry. “Learning he’s going to be a grandfather and this all at once.”
“We’ll back you up,” Cooper says. “Whenever you want to tell them, we’ll support you.”
James nods. “I guess it does need to be soon, since the draft is in a few weeks. What do you have to do to withdraw, write to the commissioner’s office?”
Penny gets up, pressing her phone to her ear. “Hey. Are you okay? Do you want me to bring you down a plate?”
Mia.
I get up too, circling around the table to her. She shoots me a look as she runs a hand through her hair. Her eyes widen as she takes in whatever Mia is saying.
My heart leaps painfully.
“Oh,” she says. “I mean—shit, are you serious?”
“What?” I demand. “Is she okay?”
“Sure. I’ll call ahead and tell Dad you’ll be there.” She pauses. “Right. Are you sure this is what you—”
