Page 3 of The Game Plan
Now it’s just me.
I stayed behind and took the coaching job under my dad, the one he groomed me for last season. The new routine fell into place easily while everyone moved on. Some days, it’s fine. Other days, it feels like I’m standing still while the world keeps spinning.
Motion behind the living room window draws my attention, but by the time I glance up, no one’s there, only the fluttering of curtains. In seconds, the front door opens. Bret steps into the humid Texas air, her hands landing on her hips as she stares back at me, eyebrows furrowed with concern. Our roles have reversed in the last year. It wasn’t too long ago when I was the hovering, overprotective brother concerned about my sister’s well-being. Now, she’s the one hovering over me.
It made sense for me. She was hiding something—I could feel it—and her sudden move only made me more certain. And unfortunately, I was right. With her move and a deep, dark confession, there was a big reason for me to be concerned. Since her adjustment to CTU, her personality has shifted drastically—in the best possible way. As hard as it is to admit, Crew has been a big part of that.
Shaking my head and clearing my thoughts, I internally slap myself for my whiny mood tonight. If my friends knew where my brain was at, they’d no doubt revoke my “man card.” But who ever said men can’t have moments of sensitivity?
Climbing out of my truck, Bret’s voice breaks the silent night.
“G, need any help?”
Grunting out a no, I round the front of the truck to the passenger side. With the bags of food retrieved, I walk to the sidewalk to where Bret’s waiting.
“Hey,” I grumble in greeting, waiting for her to move out of the way. When she doesn’t, I glance up. “Something wrong?”
Deep down, I know why she’s looking at me; her expression is telling. Bret has the type of face that says exactly what she’s thinking. I’m in no mood to deal with my little sister’s interrogation, though.
Bret lifts her hands from her hips, crossing them over her chest. With a tilted head and eyes narrowed, her gaze flicks over me like the answers are written on my face. Lucky for me, I don’t have the same curse as she does. My thoughts stay buried beneath a broody exterior.
“You tell me,” she says, quirking an eyebrow.
With a huff, I shift the bags in my hand as if they’re heavy. “Can you move? My hands are full.”
“You look weird,” she comments instead of moving.
I roll my eyes, my face scrunching. “Thanks?”
“You do.” She pauses. “Almost like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I did see a ghost. I saw my future living without me, and it scared the fuck out of me. Everything I wanted to happen after graduation is happening…without me.
Seriously, someone take my man card already.
I deflect, not wanting to touch this topic with a ten-foot pole. My eyes flick down to her outfit—if you can even call it that. Skin-tight shorts and a sports bra, her midriff bare, her expression completely unbothered.
“Do you ever wear clothes?” I grumble.
Her eyebrows shoot up, annoyance flaring. “It’s July in Texas. It’s too fucking hot. And stop objectifying me.”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “I’m not trying to… Never mind.”
She groans, throwing her hands in exasperation. “You’re the worst.”
“And yet you still invite me over.”
She glares for another moment before finally stepping aside, something huffed under her breath. Something sounding a lot like,if I don’t, then who will put up with your grumpy ass?I take the opportunity and slip past her, stepping inside where the AC blasts my skin.
The living room looks like how I remember it, with a few new touches. Instead of the girly art prints on the wall, a large canvas hangs in their place. It’s a drawing of an eagle in flight, one Crew drew. His secret talent has now been exposed since my sister insists on showcasing his sketches. She’s even started a social media page for him.
Tyler claims one end of the couch, while Crew lounges in the oversized chair, waiting for my sister to join him. The two are in a heated debate over the hypothetical position of the MLB draft in a couple of weeks. They both have their opinions about where two of our friends will end up. A sports show plays on the TV, fueling their argument.
Stepping closer to the coffee table, I place the bags down, giving them a nod in greeting as I sit on the opposite side of the couch. As my sister takes her place next to Crew, she eyes me carefully, still too observant for her own good. I know she’s waiting for me to crack. Joke's on her, I’m indestructible. Ignoring everyone, I dive into my food as Tyler selects a comedy movie, which happens to be about a guy winning his girl back after a workplace injury.
No matter how hard I try to focus on the movie, my mind drifts.
My thoughts are still stuck onher. And our last time together…
