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“I see that,” Mom hums. “Are you enjoying yourself, sweetheart?”
“I am. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming, but I’m truly loving it. We met the cutest old man in Madrid, and I can confirm Irish beer is way better than it is anywhere else in the world.”
“Becoming a beer connoisseur, are you?” Dad teases.
Cooper’s cologne makes my nose tingle as he finally joins me in the room. His eyes sweep over me behind the phone, leaving a lingering warmth on my skin. My breath catches when our eyes meet and hold, and shit does my heart ever skip a beat at whatever lives in that stare of his.
“I wouldn’t go quite that far. You should see her guzzle down a glass of red wine after walking around and exploring all day,” he says, sitting beside me, thigh pressing right up against mine. I try not to look at him to see if he’s noticed how close he is.
“That’s my girl,” Mom coos, grinning. “I hope you’re keeping her good company, Cooper.”
“Of course.”
“I’m loosening him up a bit.” I smirk.
Mom’s eyes twinkle so bright I notice through the screen. “It sounds like you’re having a great time. I’m happy to hear it. I was worrying a bit over here.”
“A bit is an understatement. Thank you for calling us,” Dad says.
Guilt churns my stomach, and my smile slips away. “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. Time got away from me, I guess. I didn’t mean to make you worry or anything.”
A hand on my thigh tears my eyes from the screen, away from my parents and their apologetic expressions. I stare at a tattooed finger instead and the thumb that strokes my bare thigh only once, just below the hem of my shorts.
I bite the inside of my cheek to try as I try to fight a shiver. My swallow is thick when I glance back at the camera and refocus on the conversation.
“It’s okay, Addie. We understand what it’s like to be off doing your own thing. You’re grabbing life by the horns and trying not to miss a second of it. Don’t apologize for that. We’re here for you always, regardless if we’re talking on the phone or not,” Dad says softly.
I tug one side of my mouth into a partial smile. “Thank you. I love you guys.”
“We love you t—”
“Is that my sister on the phone?” Maddox cuts Mom off before she can finish.
I roll my eyes as my oldest brother grabs the phone from our parents and holds it in front of himself. His playoff beard is gone, which means playoffs are over. Another jolt of guilt rolls through me, only this time, Cooper falls victim to it too. He hisses a breath between his teeth, and it takes everything in me not to look at him to see if he’s okay.
“Your beard is gone” is what I choose to say. Not a “hello” or an “I miss you.”
He notches a brow. “Thanks for stating the obvious.”
“Did you guys win?” Cooper asks, the words tight.
I know we’re both thinking the same thing.How did we not know?The answer is obvious, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. I haven’t reached for my phone more than a handful of times since we arrived in Madrid. My social media notifications are muted, and the only messages from those important to me have caught my attention.
Nobody told me Maddox played his last playoff game of the season. Win or lose, I don’t know.Wedon’t know.
“Nah. Lost in game seven,” my brother says as if it isn’t a big deal.
“Why didn’t anybody tell us?” I sound as offended as I feel.God, I’m a hypocrite.
Suddenly, my ring finger burns.
Maddox’s eyes soften as he tells me, “Because it isn’t a big deal. I’ll be back next year to try again. You don’t need to be over there feeling bad for me when you can be having fun.”
“You should have told me, Dox. Doesn’t matter where I am, I want to know what’s going on in your life,” Cooper says.
“Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Braxton was here to kiss me better afterward.”
My features relax slightly at that, a smile toying with my mouth. Sensing Cooper’s lingering discomfort, I change the subject. It’s more than my brother’s loss that’s bugging him.
