Decker looked over at her with a frown.“Hey.”
“Didn’t mean anything by it, Deck, and you know it,” she said with a laugh.
Mollified, Decker focused back on the court.Tristan settled between him and Gavin.“How we lookin’?”Carly was easy to pick out, her red-gold ponytail swishing against the back of her royal blue jersey as she warmed up with her teammates.
“It’s tough,” Gavin answered grimly, game face firmly in place.
It was both weird and awesome how fast he’d adjusted to being a father.But he and Autumn had been incredibly close since they were kids.Nobody had known just how close until a few months ago, and while Tristan had been shocked at first, Autumn and Carly were the best things that could ever have happened to his twin.
“Other team came in second in the state last year and only lost three times all season.Most of our squad’s new and inexperienced.”
“They’ll do great,” Marley said.“Gotta start somewhere, right?A little adversity never hurt anyone.It’ll help them gel as a team.”
He, Decker, Teagan, Gavin, and Autumn all looked over at her.Marley pretended not to notice, clapping and cupping her hands around her mouth to shout at the team.“Let’s go, Crimson Point!”
The game started.And it was obvious right from the first serve that Carly’s squad was facing an uphill battle.Tristan winced as the opposition player at center net leaped up and spiked the ball between Carly and one of her teammates in the back row.Carly dove flat out to try and save it but missed by inches.
“Bless her,” Autumn said, putting a hand to her chest.
Tristan grinned.“It’s just a game, Mama, hang in there.”He stuck his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle.“Atta girl, Carls!Put your face in it!”
“That’s right, Carls,” Gavin called out, every inch the proud dad.“Get it, girl.”
Tristan felt an unexpected pang of loneliness deep in his chest, instantly dismissed it.
He loved his life.Loved his job and living in Crimson Point with his whole family nearby.And yet...
Some part of him he didn’t want to acknowledge was keenly aware that he was the odd-man-out now.Even though none of his siblings had or would ever do anything to make him feel that way.
They were all happily settled with stable, loving partners, each forming their own little families.Seeing how happy they were made him long for that himself someday.
A text came through just as Carly made another good dig.He pulled out his phone, his heart doing a little catch when he saw the message from Cassie.
Thank you again for the tickets.It was really nice of you.
The hint of a smile tugged at one side of his mouth as he typed back a response.You’re welcome.See you tomorrow.
There was a lot more he wanted to say but left it at that.He’d told her once flat out that if he said something, he meant it.And that if he promised to do something, he would follow through.
The look on her face when he’d given her the tickets, even though he’d told her he would get them.Like she couldn’t believe he’d remembered she’d wanted to go to the concert in the first place, let alone that he had actually gotten them for her.
For some reason, her lack of belief in his word really bothered him.
“What are you grinning about?”Marley asked, trying to peek around Autumn and Gavin to see him.“We’re in deep shit out there.Put that down and cheer more.”
He tucked his phone away without responding and got back to cheering.
Marley waited until the intermission between sets to shoo Gavin aside and sit next to him.“Seriously, what was the grin about?”she whispered, leaning in close.Her sister radar was sharp as ever.
“Nothing.Just a work thing.”
“Was it Cassie?”
Startled, he glanced at her.
Marley’s brown eyes twinkled victoriously.“Thought so.”She nudged him with her shoulder and faced forward.
He knew that tone.“Thought what?”
