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Bex’s eyes are shining. She blinks, and a tear slips down her cheek. She kisses my cheek gently. “It wasn’t your fault.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to pretend.”
“I’m not.” She cups my cheek, her eyes searching mine. “When I was eleven, my father left my mother. One day he just packed up and left. It turned out he had another family, and everything he built with my mother, the diner, their marriage—he threw it away in an instant.”
I stare at her. “What a fucking dick.”
She laughs shortly. “It destroyed my mother. She was pregnant, and the news shocked her so much that she miscarried. She turned into someone I didn’t even recognize, and even now, years later, she’s not the same.” Color floods her face. “She turned into someone who takes a valium with wine at noon and accidentally sets apartments on fire.”
“Bex—”
She shakes her head. “Even though I hate my father, I don’t blame him for how my mother still acts a decade later. What happened with Sara wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known that’s how she would react. She was sick, and she needed help.”
“She could have died.”
“And she didn’t. You helped her. You did a lot more than most people would.” She strokes through my hair, then presses our foreheads together.
We stay like that for a while, breathing in tandem.
After all was said and done, my father and I agreed: no girlfriends until I got into the league. No distractions.
But being able to hold Bex, just like this? I’m willing to take the risk.
Chapter 28
James
I don’t want to impose on your family though
Wouldn’t be imposing. I want you there
Is this bc I can’t make the Heisman?
Nope. Ideally I’d want you at both, but if I had to pick, I’d choose Christmas
Us Callahans have some kickass traditions ;)
Anything would be better than being alone w/ my mom
I set down my phone, even though Bex just sent another text, and try to focus on my homework. Getting her to agree to come home with me for Christmas will take a lot of coaxing. I knew this going into it, but if I’m anything, it’s persistent. Bex had to spend Thanksgiving with just her mother; her aunt and uncle went to Florida to visit other relatives. They haven’t been talking much since the fire, according to Bex, so the whole thing was awkward.
The post-season hasn’t started yet, but with the season windingdown, I’ve been working around the clock to prepare. Press for the Heisman ceremony is happening too, and I haven’t evenseenBex in a couple days, which feels criminal.
Almost the second I get back into the groove with the problem I’m solving, however, Cooper bursts into my room. I scrub my hand through my hair.
“Hey,” he says as he shuts the door behind him.
I don’t even get into the whole not-knocking thing. “What’s up?”
Both of us have been so busy with our respective seasons that I’ve barely seen him either. McKee’s men’s hockey team isn’t doing nearly as well as its football team is this season, but Coop’s still been playing his heart out. He has a deep purple bruise on his cheek, thanks to a puck to the face last game.
He lets out a sigh as he sits on the edge of the bed. “You and Bex are getting pretty serious.”
I keep my grin in check by burying my nose in my textbook. “Yep.”
“Even though you said you weren’t going to date anyone the rest of your college career.”
“She’s different, man.”
