Page 35 of Fate in Motion
I smirk. “It’s huge. Among other things.”
Rachel chimes in immediately. “Big, you say? How big are we talking?”
I shoot her a look. “Relax. I was kidding. I’m not telling you that, but yeah, it’s impressive.”
That’s the thing with my siblings; we’re close, we mess with each other constantly, and no one holds back. They are all my best friends and kept me sane throughout my childhood. I’d never actually spill personal details like that, but messing with them a little is part of the fun.
I look over at my family, all devouring turkey sandwiches like it’s their last meal, and shout, “We gotta get going; the game’s about to start! I need one more drink. Maybe some chicken tenders if I can find them.”
Before anyone can argue, I flash a grin and drop the real surprise: “Oh yeah…Carter got us fifth-row seats. Dead center. Right on the 50-yard line.”
All four of my siblings freeze mid-bite, exchanging wide-eyed glances. Bex literally drops her sandwich.
“Let’s get the fuck inside!” Ian shouts, already on his feet.
We make our way to our seats, and yeah, they’re amazing. The energy in the stadium is unreal. Deafening screams echo from every direction, but it’s the kind of chaos that makes your skin tingle. I'm three fast drinks deep and buzzed, that it all feels euphoric instead of overwhelming.
The crowd erupts again, and this time, the noise around me gets louder. I glance over to see the home team rushing through the tunnel, hyping up the crowd like they do every home game.
I scream along with everyone else. I grew up a Philly fan, so technically, they aremyteam, but I’m biased toward New York now. Although, the Philly love never fully left.
A second later, Rachel leans in and whispers, “Look, it’s your boo running through the tunnel. That ass. Those muscles. I totally see why you’re into him.”
I laugh. “You perv.”
Both teams sprint to their sidelines, and for a moment, the stadium actually quiets down. I turn to Rachel and Evan, the lucky two who scored the seats next to me.
“So,” I say, “where are we eating food after this? One of your places, right?”
They exchange a glance before Evan says, “We can go to mine. It’ll be tight, but it’ll work.”
I nod. “Good. And obviously, Mom and Dad aren’t coming?”
Evan snorts. “Obviously.”
“Honestly, it’s for the best,” I say. “They still can’t be in the same room without ruining everything. Grow up already, am I right?”
Rachel cracks up at that.
I look at them and grin. “Ugh, I love trauma bonding with you two.”
From a few seats down, Bex shouts, “Hey! We’re still here, idiots. I wanna trauma bond, too!”
We all burst into laughter. It’s true; our parents are a disaster when they’re in the same room, but at least we’ve all learned to laugh through it.
I’m glad we’re heading to Evan’s later. My siblings get why Carter’s not open about his sexuality. He’s not comfortable being out at bars or restaurants withjustme. He worries too much about rumors. Though I honestly don’t even know what the rumor would be for later. “Carter Elliott spotted with random group of loud siblings. He must be gay!” Maybe people would think it’s for charity. Who knows. I just want him to be happy and anxiety-free.
Just as kickoff is about to happen, Ian jumps up and announces, “I have to pee!”
We all groan and roll our eyes.
“No one cares, dude,” I shout. “Go take a piss, and grab me a beer while you’re at it. Thanks, babe.”
Ian glares at me but nods like the reluctant big brother he is and heads off.
As soon as Ian disappears up the stairs, the stadium lights flash, the music gets louder than I can handle, and the crowd jumps to their feet. It’s kickoff time. Philly receives the ball first.
The opening play is electric. People are screaming, jumping, pounding the backs of seats like they’re trying to piss everyone off in front of them. I glance at Evan and Rachel, who are already fully immersed in the current vibe.
