Page 18 of Lucky Shot
I shrug. “I don’t have a brother. No idea.”
He laughs. “Lix is pretty cool but… maybe I’ll run it by him before I hop into bed for a whirlwind summer fling that I’ll forever remember and tell my grandkids about.”
We laugh and I seriously hope he’s joking. Those aren’t the kinds of things you share with offspring. Right?
“What about you?” he asks.
“Nope. I’m not messing around with my colleagues. That’s just weird.”
Roux grins. “I mean, are you open to a sordid affair? You’re really…”
“Pretty?” I ask, raising a brow.
He laughs. “You get that a lot, huh?”
“I think it’s my name sometimes,” I say, making Roux laugh. “No offense, but no. I’m waiting for something real for a change.”
Roux nods. “That’s cool. Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I hum in answer and what I feel is a weird silence passes between us, so I ask, “You’re in college, right?”
“Longwood U,” he says. “Ever been there?”
“No,” I tell him, shaking my head. “I only attended a year of college before being drafted and it was in Michigan.”
“Oh. Lix went to Michigan.”
“Yeah? I didn’t know that.”
“You and Lix aren’t friends?”
“We’re friendly,” I say. “We say hi when we’re in the same place, but I don’t think we’ve ever talked much.”
“Huh,” he says, tilting his head to study me. After a minute’s consideration, he says, “Lix is a really good guy. You should talk to him sometime.”
I nod, not understanding what this is about exactly. “Okay. Sure.”
Roux laughs. “Sorry. He’s just… he’s a really great big brother. Don’t tell him, but I’m pretty sure he’s my idol. He always looks out for me and our family, even though he’s hardly ever around. He called me all the time last year, especially when I was going through… hard times. With the breakup or whatever. It’s just… I think he should have all the friends, you know?”
I’m smiling by the time he’s done rambling. “Yeah, he sounds like a great guy.”
He nods. “He is. But seriously, don’t tell him any of that.”
I laugh. “No problem.”
“Someday,” he says wistfully, “I hope to do something huge for him. Just so he understands how much his support has always meant to me.”
I like Elixon a little more. Knowing that a guy takes care of his little brother like that… Growing up an only child, I’ve always wished for that kind of friendship, I can appreciate (and envy!) when someone else has my dream.
Roux abruptly changes the subject and we’re talking about Longwood U once more.
SEVEN
ELIXON
I’ve looked forwardto this trip every year since I was first invited. Being able to relax and not worry about what you’re doing or how the press will spin it one way or another. Sitting in the sun with no expectations. Swimming in crystal clear waters. Hanging with friends whogetexactly the things you go through.
There’s freedom in this that’s hard to describe.
