Page 13 of One Night Rebellion
I don't think I've ever been so nervous about a damn date in my life. At the same time, I'm not sure a date with anyone else has ever mattered this much. Mom and Dad aren't home, but Sierra's been watching me as I've been cooking the dinner I'm taking out to the old Bradley place.
"Why don't you just take her out somewhere?" Sierra questions, her hands on her hips.
There are times when she's way too old for her own good, and way too nosy. "What are you talking about, Sis?"
She raises her eyebrows. "You're going out with Addie. I'm not an idiot. Just take her somewhere."
Sighing heavily, I run my hands through my hair before going over to wash them and finishing up my pasta salad. "It's complicated, Sierra. You're too young to know what went on in her household before Luke adopted her and Malcolm. She has a lot of feelings about Bellehaven, and being on that damn group was awful for her. So if I want a chance, then I need to play by her rules. I'd appreciate it if you'd keep this between us."
She crosses her arms over her chest. "Oh my God, JT. You haven't told Malcolm yet, have you?"
"No, she doesn't want me to."
Sierra hops off her stool and comes over, wrapping her arms around my waist, hugging me tightly. "You're a good guy, big bro. She's lucky to have you, and so am I."
Those words coming from my little sister mean more to me than I ever thought they would. Chokes me up slightly. "Love you too, Sierra."
She lets me go and then giggles. "Don't do anything that'll get ya back in the group."
I roll my eyes as she runs upstairs. Because who the hell knows what even merits getting a post about you?
—---
Thirty minutes later, I'm pulling Dad’s SUV up to the old Bradley place. The old farmhouse sits empty against the evening sky, but the property still has that peaceful quality that always drew us all here as teenagers. Perfect for what I have planned.
I back the SUV up to face the sunset and start unpacking everything from the cooler. The pasta salad turned out better than I hoped, and I managed not to burn the grilled chicken. I spread out the blanket in the back of the SUV and arrange everything just right, trying not to overthink it.
Addie's headlights appear down the dirt road just as I'm second-guessing the whole setup. My heart kicks up a notch as she parks next to me and steps out, looking beautiful in a simple sundress that makes my mouth go dry and my heart speed up.
"This is perfect," she says, taking in the scene. There's something soft in her voice that makes all my nervousness worth it.
"Figured we could eat with a view," I say, helping her up into the back of the SUV. "Hope you're hungry."
We settle in with our legs dangling off the tailgate, plates balanced on our laps. The conversation flows easier than I expected, starting with safe topics like the weather.
"I still can't believe Malcolm's getting married," Addie says, twirling her fork. "Remember when he used to chase me around the house with those plastic spiders?"
I laugh, thinking back to the early days of our friendship. "Now he's all responsible and talking about mortgage rates. It's weird seeing him so settled with Rachel."
"Good weird, though." She smiles, but there's something wistful in it. "Sometimes I feel like everyone's growing up except me."
"Hey." I bump her shoulder with mine. "You're doing just fine. Look at you—you’re working, making a life. That takes guts now."
She's quiet for a moment, picking at her food. Then she looks at me with those eyes that always seem to see right through me. "Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Do you ever regret it? Your knee injury, I mean. Not becoming a pro player like everyone thought you would?"
The question hits me in a place I usually keep locked up tight. I set down my fork and stare out at the sunset, thinking about how to answer honestly.
"Yeah," I admit. "When it first happened, I was angry as hell. Basketball was everything to me. I didn't know who JT was without a ball in his hands and a court under his feet. I felt like my whole identity just... disappeared."
I can feel her watching me, waiting.
"But now?" I shake my head, surprised by my own words. "Now I'm grateful for it. Sounds crazy, right? But that injury taught me that life can still work out, even when it's nothing like the plan you had for yourself. Maybe especially then."
I turn to face her, and the way she's looking at me makes my chest tight with something I can't name.
