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My phone buzzed against the table.
Text from Mr. Carter:
Can you ask my wife to pass the pepper?
THIRTY-ONE
TRAVIS
Las Vegas, Nevada
Operation: Fake Fiancee
Weeks 4 & 5
All the Days
Stay the hell away from each other.
ACT EIGHT
BACK THEN
TRAVIS
Parker Hotel & Suites
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“Ijust couldn’t stay away!” Penelope twirls in front of the camera screen, showing off a sparkling pink costume dress. “I changed my mind and bought this one at the last minute. What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful, Crown.” I smile. “What did your coach say?”
“He doesn’t want to see it yet.” She rolls her eyes. “I have a few competitions before the Sochi Olympics and he’s a stickler for focusing on one thing at a time.”
“He’s the best in the business for a reason.”
“He’s the best at sucking the fun out of everything.” She plops down into a chair. “Thank you for paying his ridiculous rate for me, though.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I bought a sweater for you to wear in Sochi.” She holds up a grey and red knit that says, ‘I’m the Best Figure Skater Alive.’
“I bought an iron-on patch that says, ‘My Sister Is’ for you to put on top of it,” she says. “You have to promise to wear it when you get here. Well, if you actually come, that is.”
“I’ve told you that I’ll do everything I can to be there. I’ve said it a million times.”
“You say that about every competition lately, and yet…” She gives me a look I’ve come to know all too well.
We’re usually mid-argument, and she calls me “the worst brother in the world” before hanging up in my face, but for some reason, it stings more when she’s calm like this.
Then again, to say that I’ve been “the worst brother in the world” lately is an understatement.
It’s far too nice.
I’ve missed every single one of her competitions by canceling at the last minute to take a fighting opportunity or a meeting with a potential sponsor.
Although I’m making more money than before and can take care of both of us a bit more comfortably, the one thing I can’t afford is spare time. Not when I’m this close to making it, this close to lifting our family’s debt off my chest.
