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“Geez, did he just crack right open and spill everything?” I grumble.
“You could say that.”
“Great,” I huff.
“This is a terrible idea, love. Are you sure you’re making the right move?”
“No.”
A pause, and then a long exhale. “Promise me that you’re going to protect yourself. I can’t see you like that again.”
“A zombie, you mean.”
“Sad,” he corrects me.
“It was my fault, Coop. I’ve accepted that, and my life is better for it. This could be my chance to right my wrongs. To earn his forgiveness and finally close that chapter of my life.”
He’s not the only one afraid of what could happen and how it could drag me back down into the hole it took me far too long to crawl out of, but I refuse to miss out on this opportunity. It’s now or never. Whatever comes . . . I have to be ready for it.
“He’s nervous too, you know? The guy could barely get a breath in through his rant.”
That does little to settle me, but I keep that to myself. “I found his jersey in my closet.”
“Are you going to wear it today?”
“He told you about today?” I ask while walking into the closet and staring at the box again.
“Yes.”
“Do you think I should wear it?”Say no.
“I think if you’re trying to get over what happened, that yes, you should. It’s a step forward.”
I frown. “You suck.”
The laugh that follows my insult is pure Cooper—sunshine and rainbows. “Addie is picking you up, right?”
“That’s what Maddox said.”
I haven’t seen Adalyn since she was ten. Besides Noah, she’s the one I’m most nervous to see again. Does she hate me as much as her oldest brother does?
“It’s a good move. Addie is the more open one of the entire Hutton family. I don’t think she holds a grudge against you, just your father,” Cooper says.
I nod even though he can’t see me and close the gap between me and the damn box. “Okay, yeah. I can work with that.”
“Yeah, you can. You’ve got this.”
“Thank you, Coop. I love you.”
“I love you too. Talk later, B. Have fun.”
“I’ll try. Bye.”
We say goodbye, and I set my phone on a shelf.
With a new sense of determination, I crouch back down in front of the box and peel back the top, brushing my fingers over the jersey before pinching it and holding it up in front of me.
Nodding, I suck back a deep breath and stand before pulling the jersey on and tugging it as far down my torso as it will go. I hold my arms out in front of me and start to relax when the sleeves are a good length. When my eyes fall to my stomach, I smile.
