Page 96 of Interference
“No. Never. Just enough for you,” he promises.
I nod, looking back at the screen. “It sounds like you already made up your mind, so why ask me?”
“I don’t make decisions without you anymore, buttercup. It’s you and me against the world.”
It feels oddly right to know that he feels that way.
“The first one, then. So we can spend as much time together as a family as possible,” I tell him.
He nods. “My thoughts too.”
For the first time, a future with Brett doesn’t scare me.
Emery stays here more than at her own place these days, but she felt she needed to sleep in her own bed and get some space. I don’t like it, but I understand it.
Today was a lot for her. I knew it would be, but she needs to start thinking about the future. I can’t stay in school indefinitely, and I don’t want to be drafted across the country away from her. Before her, that might have been okay and I would have done it for a few years, but it’s not where my heart has ever lived.
I want to help other kids achieve their dreams. I want to see the light in their eyes when they learn something new. I guess because of my shitty childhood, my passion is for kids.
Shutting the door, I head into the living room to find Kellan, Wyatt, and Colson, the freshman who moved in this year, are sitting on the couch.
“What are you guys doing?” I ask, taking one of the chairs.
“Watching this documentary on penguins before people start coming over. Did you know they give rocks to the penguin they love?” Colson says.
“Maybe you should try it, Wyatt,” Kellan teases.
Wyatt glares at him before focusing back on the TV.
“You guys are having a party?”
“Not a party. A get-together,” Colson says as if there’s a difference.
“Right…”
“What are you doing home?” Wyatt asks after a moment.
“I live here?” I answer, wondering what he means.
“Usually you are in your room with your girl or you are at her place or wherever you guys go. I haven’t seen you without her outside of practice in weeks. Did you fuck it up? I swear, Brett. I will nut check you if I have to go console her.” Wyatt finally looks at me.
He’s dead serious, too.
“Bro, chill. She wanted some time to herself tonight. Said she felt like she hadn’t spent any time in her own space in a while. She’s fine. You can text her and ask,” I tell him.
He harrumphs, but picks up his phone.
I laugh, shaking my head. Crazy fucker cares too much about us and not enough about himself. I swear.
When he gets a text back, he looks over at me. “She said she’s fine. Just thinking about the future. What’s that mean?”
I roll my eyes. “You are being dramatic. I told her today that I want to teach at a school nearby and that I wanted her input. I think it freaked her out a little bit that I am so rooted in the future right now. I love her, but one of us needs to plan for this kid. I’m happy to be the one to take on the burden.”
“Wait, you’re not drafting?” Colson asks.
I shake my head. “That was never the goal for me, kid. Sometimes there are more important things.”
“You are crazy. You could go in the first round. The millions you could make? The fame?”
