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“Admit what?” Tessa asks, walking in at the perfect time from picking Finn up from his day school. It doesn’t take her long to assess what she’s walked into. “If y’all act crazy, Dad is gonna be in a bad mood the rest of the day. This is too important of a day for him and Mom. And Carter,” she says looking to me.
Finn runs into my side, bear-hugging me with his little arms. I reach down and pluck him up, settling him on my hip and wrapping the welcome interruption in a warm hug as I try to shake off my frustration with Presley. It doesn’t take long for the feeling to recede as Finn wraps his arms around my neck. “I missed you, buddy.”
“Me too.” He places a wet smooch on my cheek as Carter walks up to us.
“Carter, this is Finn, my nephew. Finn, this is my friend Carter.”
Carter extends his hand as Finn gives him a weary look before accepting it. He wiggles, so I set him down, and he’s off to Tessa who asks if he wants to go with her to our parents’ house or stay at the store with his granny. He opts to go to Granny’s for a snack, and it sounds like a plan.
“I’m a mess.” I rub my hands over my yoga pants, pulling my T-shirt away. So much for keeping myself halfway decent looking, not that it should matter. “I’m gonna head to my parents’ house to get ready.” It’s more convenient since it’s just a short walk from the store and much closer than my place.
“Mind if I tag along?” Carter asks, waving a hand over his just-as-messy appearance. “I could use some freshening up too, so Joe doesn’t lecture me.”
“Sure.” I tell Dad we’ll be right back, and Carter and I head outside. He grabs a bag from his truck, and I do the same. As we walk in silence, I cull my mind for topics of conversation. Something. Anything. But all I can think about is showering at my parents’ house with Carter there. And him doing the same as my mind instantly visualizes what’s beneath the T-shirt that I’ve watched cling to his body every damn time he moved in a way that made his muscles more than noticeable.
Stop it, Avery.I shake the thoughts out of my head, looking ahead. Tessa and Finn are way ahead of us, disappearing through the front door as we continue the walk to the house tucked behind the store.
“Is this where you grew up?” Carter breaks the silence. Thank you, baby Jesus.
“Yep.”
“It must’ve been nice growing up here with such a big family.”
“Yes. It really was.” I smile.
“Now I know why you were so quick to protect your family. They’re awesome. Your dad especially.” There’s sincerity in his voice, but I sense pain in it too. And it makes me grateful for the family and parents I was lucky enough to be born to, because from the little I know, Carter didn’t get dealt a good hand from the parent deck.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Of course,” he responds too quickly.
“About your dad.” I add to make sure he really is okay with it. Today has been wonderful but the question keeps playing in my mind.
“Ask me anything, Avery.”
“Why don’t you tell the truth when they ask you about him?” We take another few steps and he doesn’t say anything, so I add something I’m a bit embarrassed to admit. “I saw your interview after one of the games. And I was curious about it.” I wave a hand in the air. “But you don’t have to answer. Sorry.”
He stops, looking to the ground as I halt beside him, afraid I’ve overstepped until his expression softens. He wasn’t avoiding the question, it appears he’s thoughtfully composing an answer. “Because the media will spin it one of two ways: I’ll either be the bitter child trying to ruin my father’s legacy in the sport or a pity story where I’m the victim. And neither are narratives I want to take part in. I’m not covering for him or lying for him. I’ve chosen to take control of the story so I don’t have to play a part in someone else’s commentary on it. I’m entirely uninterested in participating in any version of an exposed ‘he said, he said’ type of scenario with him. If the media gets wind that there’s a story behind the scenes, it will play out in a very public way, and it won’t ever end. This way, the focus stays on the game. And not him.”
“That makes sense.” It does. But I can’t help but feel sorry for him and it confirms exactly what he’s saying.
“Don’t,” he says, clasping my hand in his as we continue walking. “Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” I ask, already knowing what he’s about to say.
“I told you about him because I trust you. I want you to understand me, not pity me.”
“Thank you for telling me.” We approach the house, step inside, and I see Carter take a look around.
“The bathroom is straight through there.” I point down the hallway. “You go first because I have a snack date.” Finn runs into the room as if on cue and grabs my finger to illustrate my point, pulling me to the kitchen.
“First a book, then a nap, now a snack date. I can’t compete with that one for sure.” Carter grabs his chest, acting like he’s defeated before grinning.
He has to know he’s not only competing but kicking ass on capturing my attention as he stands in my childhood home, looking hella enticing even covered in sweat and dirt. “Don’t be a buttface.”
Carter laughs at Finn’s favorite “bad word.” My nephew isn’t supposed to be saying it, so I probably shouldn’t either because he giggles and repeats me, causing Carter’s smile to grow.
“Chop, chop,” I instruct Carter. Following instructions, he walks down the hallway.
