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“With a baby on the way, it’s the worst time to forge a new relationship with someone I’ve hated since I can remember. It’s not my focus—that’s Aspen, the baby, and our future.”
My elbows thumped on the counter. “I get it. Your priorities should be on your family, school, and football.” It was different for me. I didn’t have a girlfriend, and my future was uncertain.
“And you.” His silver eyes blazed. “I want you right there with me. Are you worried about the Green family retaliating, though they don’t have a case against you?”
A chill passed over me. The mention of Luke alone seemed to resurrect him from the recesses of my mind, where he lurked, waiting to attack me with the memories of what I’d done. “I am, but leave it alone. I don’t want you near the Greens or me if something happens.”
“That’s bullshit.” That same muscle jumped furiously along his jaw. “What happens to you happens to me. We’re twins. You don’t think I feel the shit you’re going through?”
Goddammit.“Phoenix.” I closed my eyes briefly, struggling to control my emotions. “You have too much on the line. I’ve got Grandad and Uncle Lucas fighting for me. You know they would never let anything happen.”
“I hate it. This shouldn’t be happening.”
My gut churned. “I know. I was stupid.”
“No. Not that. Just… it was an accident. You shouldn’t be facing any repercussions.”
He meant a civil case, and I wasn’t sure I was out of the woods there. Though I wished for the same exoneration he spoke of. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”
“Fine.” Phoenix yanked open the fridge, grabbed an apple, and tossed it to me before taking one for himself. “What bullshit is Joe feeding you?”
I grimaced as he transitioned from one emotionally charged subject to the next. “Come on, man. Let’s drop both of those conversations. It’s too damn early in the day for them.”
“Coach told me how many invites Thane has for the combine.”
“Holy fuck. Did you get an invite?”
“He’s not releasing that yet, but we got thirteen. That’s a high number for a D1 school.”
“The fucking combine.” It was a week-long, on-field event to test athleticism and conduct interviews for the NFL. “You’ll get one for sure.”
He shrugged. “It’s too early, and we both know it. But Cole.”
Cole was a year older. It was possible. “Did he declare?”
“Not yet. He wants to finish college with Riley before he declares his intent to enter the NFL draft. Especially since the next Olympics isn’t until after they graduate.”
That made sense. Once he declared, he wouldn’t be eligible to play for college. “He’ll do it his senior year.”
“Yeah.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t know.” He took a bite of his apple then set it down. “I already talked to Aspen about it. But I want to. You know school is…”
“I get it.” He had mild dyslexia, so he had to work hard and needed someone to read the assignments or whatever wasn’t available on audio. “I thought you wanted to finish college, though. For a backup plan.”
“I do. I will. But… with the baby.”
“It’s not a bad idea. It would set you guys up, and she’s got her custom surfboard website going.”
“Yeah, she’s killin’ it. It’s good that Skylar, Cass, and Riley are helping with pictures and marketing.”
Skylar was Damon’s girlfriend. Riley was Cole’s, and Cass was their friend who had gone to high school with us.
“I thought you would wait until our third year to declare.” I’d made peace with that when he’d told me. If I was still eligible, I planned to declare senior year and follow only a year behind him. But I wanted to get my degree. I would still need my master’s, but I could work on it in the off season. It would just take a while. If—and it was a big if with everything going on—I was still eligible and not in jail.
“I was going to wait, but with the baby coming soon, I think I’ll go for it next year instead.”
