Page 69 of Missed Notes (Rixon High 5)

“The team needs me? Seriously,that’syour line?”

“Did it work?”

“Not really.” But it did make me smile.

This was exactly why I couldn’t tell him. Now my brother had gotten his happy ending, he was on some kind of mission to make sure everyone around him got theirs. It was sweet in a totally annoying way.

I didn’t want to dampen his mood or ruin his year.

But it was so hard, pasting on a smile, pretending everything was okay.

And he’d hate me for it. When he finally found out, Aaron would hate me for keeping it from him. But if it afforded him more time in blissful ignorance, I would gladly pay the price.

“Please come. It’s my final season. We’re so fucking close to the playoffs, Sofe.”

My resolve cracked. How could I deny him when I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to get out of bed and leave the house?

“Fine. I’ll come.”

“Seriously?” He gawked. “Because I had this whole other speech prepared and—”

I got up and headed for the hall. “Give me fifteen minutes.”

“Ten,” he called after me. “And Sofe? You might want to do something with that bird’s nest you’re rocking. I love you, Sis, but the bed hair has got to go.”

Soft laughter pealed out of me, but it was laced with sadness. Of all the things we might never get to do, all the jokes we might never share.

Don’t think like that. You can fight this thing. You can.

Swallowing the tears in my throat, I went upstairs to get ready. I didn’t make much of an effort. It was only a football game after all. Just as I was finishing up, my cell phone pinged, and my heart fluttered at the sight of Cole’s name.

Cole: A wise man once said, it always seems impossible until it’s done.

Cole: I hope you come to the game. xo

I quickly Googled the words,smiling when the search result loaded. It was so tempting to reply and ask him how he knew the Nelson Mandela quote, but I didn’t. Besides, Google was probably his handy little friend.

“Sofe, let’s go,” Aaron bellowed.

The last thing I wanted was to go to the game, but I’d do it for him. My brother. I’d do anything to put a smile on his face and keep it there.

Because soon enough, his smile would be gone.

* * *

The game was a dog fight.For every touchdown we scored, they scored one right back. I was pretty sure I had bruises from where Leigh and Poppy had squeezed my hand so tightly as we watched the third quarter.

“God, I’m not sure I can take it much longer,” Poppy said.

“They’ve got this, Pops,” Ashleigh said, cupping her hands around her mouth and yelling, “Let’s go, Raiders.”

“How are you feeling?” Poppy snuggled closer to me.

“I’m okay.”

“Glad you came?”

“Yeah.”

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