Page 2 of The Game Plan
“Campbell, tell me you’re close so you can pick the movie?” my sister’s boyfriend, and my friend and former teammate, Crew, says from the other end of the line. The dude has quite the intro because some days I still can’t believe he’s dating my sister. And some days, I’m surprised I’m still friends with him. Not because he’s a bad guy; Crew Riggsby is the furthest thing from that, but because of how I treated him when I found out he was dating my sister. Let’s say fists were involved, and that’s not my style.
Looking back, it was a major overreaction. One I’m not afraid to admit to. The entire situation blindsided me, and I felt lied to for months. Now I couldn’t ask for a better guy to date my sister. Crew Riggsby might be as relaxed as they come with his jovial personality, but he fiercely protects the ones he cares about. If only I could get them to keep the PDA to a minimum and tone down the inside jokes that make me want to gouge my brain out...
“I already told you I pickedFast X,” Bret says.
“Rebel, not everyone is obsessed with theFast and Furiousmovies like you,” Crew says, donning his nickname for my sister.
A subtle gasp sounds from the phone. “Take that back, Riggsby.”
I tune out their bickering over movies as movement from the third-story window draws my attention. Savannah moves her curtains aside as she waters a plant hanging from the window.
She does live here.
Realization causes a twist in my stomach as I take in the area. It’s decent, but not the best or most well-lit area. The buildings are old and in need of repair. I can imagine what the inside looks like based on my observations of the exterior. Plus, the smell of Chinese food is strong. As good as it smells when picking up our orders, I can imagine it would get old. Especially if she has any scent sensitivities during her pregnancy.
“Grant, tell her everyone would rather watch a movie about a stuntman and not another Fast movie.” Crew’s voice snaps me back to reality. I pull the phone away from my ear and notice our order status has changed from pending to ready.
“I’ve got to go grab our food,” I say, cutting off the conversation that doesn’t need me.
Before I can hang up, my sister’s concerned voice fills the quiet cab.
“Grant,” she whispers, and I notice all the noise from her end has vanished. She switched me off speakerphone. “Are you okay?”
I hesitate before running my fingers through my hair as I exhale slowly. “Yeah. Just…a long day.”
Ending the call, I switch off the ignition and climb out.
I should’ve grabbed wings tonight.
The drive to the townhouse complex was a blur. I barely remember getting back in my truck and leaving the parking lot. I drive on autopilot, the giant bags of takeout lining the passengerside floor, filling the cab with an array of smells. I barely notice the stoplights or familiar turns.
All I can see is her.
Her chin lifted high with her usual spark of determination. The slight changes in her appearance allowing room for the growing life inside her. But it’s the exhaustion in her expression that’s the most jarring. I can’t get that look out of my mind, and I can’t ignore what I discovered tonight.
Savannah is pregnant and living alone above a sketchy Chinese restaurant.
Stop it, Grant. It’s not your problem.
I grip the steering wheel tightly as I navigate through the complex, turning onto the final stretch. I could drive this route with my eyes closed, which I’m thankful for, with how distracted I am. I’ve made this drive countless times—to my sister’s place and my place, which was once the heart of our friend group.
Back then, the townhouse was more than a two-story structure. It was the center of everything. Sunday dinners with our found family. The house where we watched the university’s baseball games, celebrated wins, nursed heartbreaks, and hosted late-night gatherings that stretched into the early hours.
The shake-up in our group started with the first move-out—Quinton Boyd, my best friend and last year’s number one NFL draft pick. Leaving college was the best decision he ever made. He and Brynn Wilder pulled off a surprise elopement in Kansas City during the draft, which shocked no one. They’ve never done anything the conventional way.
Long-distance lasted all of two-point-five seconds before Brynn found out she was pregnant. She graduated a semester early and left last winter to start her life with Q in Colorado. The timing turned out to be perfect—Cleo decided to arrive in early January. Now the three of them are figuring out their new normal, nine-hundred miles away.
Navigating down the aisle, I find a vacant spot near Bret’s townhouse. With summer break in full swing, most of the students who live here have gone home or headed off on vacation, leaving the place emptier than usual. By late August, finding a free spot will be impossible. Thankfully, the complex issues parking passes and assigns spots for residents. With the truck in park, I sit in silence for a moment. Staring at the black front door with a crazy wreath attached to it, my mind drifts back to graduation.
This spring, most of our group walked across the big stage, diplomas in hand, closing the chapter on our four years together. We knew it was coming—college doesn’t last forever—but that didn’t make it any easier. Caps flew, hugs lingered, and reality sank in: our CTU Eagles family was scattering, each of us taking flight in different directions.
Chloe Mariano, Brynn’s roommate, gave up her lease to move in with her boyfriend, Cody Jacobs—at least until the MLB draft decides where he’ll be playing. My sister took over her spot, keeping the tradition alive. Graduation had upended her living situation, too.
Last year, Bret transferred from Arizona to Central Texas University and, thanks to a housing mix-up, ended up as the fourth roommate to three of my teammates: Tyler Harris, Jeremiah Prince—JP to us—and Crew Riggsby. To say I was shocked is an understatement. With JP graduating this spring, one of their rooms opened up, leaving Bret, Crew, and Harris debating between finding a new roommate or downsizing. Chloe and Brynn’s vacant townhouse, with its three bedrooms, solved their problem perfectly.
Speaking of JP, he was—and still is—a core part of our group. This spring, Buffalo drafted him to play football, another friend lost to a cross-country move. Until his season starts, he’s back home, spending the summer helping his mom and siblings.
Another one of us gone, another piece of our makeshift family scattered.
