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“I’ve got it,” Ballz says.
“Really? Mister act first, think second, has a plan?” Jeff teases him.
“I’m as shocked as you. What do you think about this? There are three of us. We could rotate so that one of us stays home each time the team travels. You’d never be alone, and it would give each of us individual time with you.”
“Your coach would never allow that.”
“If he’s faced with losing all three of us, he’ll have to negotiate. But if we make it to the playoffs, we all might have to go.”
“If you make it to the playoffs, I’ll be right there by your side.” Her optimistic tone gives me hope.
Ballz says, “I’d prefer playoffs, but if taking a year off will prove our point, I’m in. Whatever makes it work so we can be here for Cindy.”
“I’ll present it to him,” Jeff says.
Teamwork just might pull this off. “That’s fine. You’re skilled with the ‘take it or leave it’ mentality.” It’s the negotiations that sometimes lead to punches. That won’t happen with Coach.
Jeff hops up, and in seconds, he has Coach on the phone as he strides out of the room.
It seems like no time at all has passed when Jeff comes back but his expression is unreadable.
“That was quick. Did he go for it, or fire us all?” I ask.
“He’s pissed as hell. But I explained our need to keep our situation with our stepsister on the down-low for now, until we make this official and marry you.” Jeff kneels in front of us and takes Cindy’s hand. Is he going to—?
The door clicks open. My head whips to the grandfather clock in confusion as I process that our parents are home. Where did the time go?
Holding my little sister in my lap isn’t as acceptable as it used to be. She’s fidgeting to get away, but I hold her close
“What the hell is going on?” Dad says.
I whisper to Cindy, “This was going to happen sooner or later. Do you trust us?”
“Yes.” Her barely audible answer is a monumental step toward having a relationship.
I nod at my brothers. We instinctively, simultaneously say, “All for one.” It’s something we do before games, a ritual about solidarity. And this game has the biggest stakes ever.
Jeff stands. As usual, he’ll handle the conversation.
Dad tips his head up, sniffs the air, and his expression shifts from confusion to horror.
“It smells like a goddamn brothel in here.”
Mom steps inside behind him and pinches her nose. “Whoa!”
Nineteen
Jeff
“There’ssomethingweneedto tell you.” I move to the end of the couch so Cindy won’t be caught in the middle.
Then it occurs to me, she actually hasn’t said she loves us. Fuck. I hope Cindy doesn’t dash. That’d be my classic way of fucking things up, always taking control. I feel so deeply in my soul that this is right, I haven’t even processed that she might not go for it.
My brain risks fizzling out as I glance at Cindy. “Ready to be on our team?”
She smiles nervously, glancing toward our parents. Her tiny nod has me wanting to whisk her away to fuck her, but first things first.
“You might want to sit down.” I motion to the bar stools behind Mom and Dad. She scoots closer to Dad and puts her hands around his arm.
