Page 132 of Across the Board


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Dad squints at me. “What’s with you?”

“There’s a girl,” Luke sing-songs.

I glare at him.

Dad sighs. “Really, Seb? You’re distracted over a piece of ass?”

“She’s not a piece of ass,” I snap. “I like her.”

No wonder Mom left him. He’s a misogynistic asshole who never grew out of the good old boys’ club.

He rolls his eyes. “My apologies.”

“Whatever. I need some air.” Stalking out of the room, I’m surprised when footsteps echo behind me.

“Dude, come on,” Luke says. “What’s with you?”

“Why’d you tell him?” I whirl on him. “You couldn’t keep from blurting it out?”

“I didn’t think she was a big deal,” he says, defensive. “Didn’t you pick her up in the bar?”

“I—it’s more than that.”

His eyes narrow. “When’d you meet her?”

With a sigh, I admit: “On the plane.”

“And you brought her back to the hotel?”

“She’s staying here.”

Luke squints at me. “Who is she?”

I hesitate.

“Seb, who is this woman? Do you even know her?”

“Her dad is the Boston coach.”

He whistles. “Shit, man. You’re in for it now.”

I shake my head. “It means we actually have a chance. We don’t have to do long distance.”

“You think making a play for the coach’s daughter will help, now that they’ve traded you?”

“They want me,” I defend. “They wouldn’t have traded for me if they didn’t. Now we have a chance to be together.”

Luke hums. “Maybe.”

“I want to be with her. Whatever it takes.”

“You realize how crazy you sound, right? You just met this woman?”

“When I saw her, I knew. She’s the one for me,” I tell him seriously.

My brother shakes his head. “You’re crazy.”

“Crazy for her.” I sigh. “Look, you don’t have to understand it. You don’t even have to support it. But I’d like you to have my back. You know I’d do the same for you.”