Being around her, hearing her argue with me… it was glorious. We had shit to work through, but I had no doubt we could. I didn’t intend to drop the ‘dad’ card on her, but it was true, and even now, I still wasn’t over that. He texted me weekly wanting to talk the past three years, and I kept delaying it. Everyone else was working on forgiving him, but I just… couldn’t. I saw my mom sob. I saw how hurt she was.
How could I forgive that? Yeah, no thanks. I’d focus on my life and my mom and sisters, and that was good.
But, I hated seeing Ivy cry. That… no, that wasn’t great. I knew I had to make up for those tears. She had enough people in her life tearing her down, telling her she couldn’t achieve things, and I only wanted to build her up. Not make her cry. And it wasn’t justified to blame her for our fight when all she did was ask questions and push back at me—something I loved about her.
The thrill of the challenge lit me up. It was a character flaw of mine, (I didn’t have too many) but the thought of working hard for her trust back made my blood sing. My life had been chaotic, a party, just… a continual stream ofeasy.Partying, girls, football, grades…it wasn’t… they came easily to me. I worked hard, but no real elements of a challenge presented themselves there.
Ivy pushed me. She always had, and maybe that was part of the issue those years ago. That I wanted easy. I didn’t want to be challenged or argued with. I wanted a fan, and she was my friend instead.Zap.There went my energy. I deflated like a balloon after New Year’s Eve party. A sad, gross latex blob.
When my moods plummeted like this, I had to focus on someone else. Anything else. Luca had already been pushed enough today. I might be an idiot, but I knew my limits with him. Turning around, I smiled. My target: Oliver. “Hey, Oli, are you good to practice again? You get cleared?”
He sighed. “Yeah. They couldn’t find anything worrying to explain why I passed out. They think its high blood pressure, so we need to keep an eye on it. It freaked me out. I get this dizzy, heady feeling.”
“How long has this happened?” Luca asked, his tone rather kind from the grumpy giant.
“I think it happened in middle school once.” Oliver scrubbed his face with his hand. “My dad is brushing it off like it’s no big deal, but my mom is worried. She wants me to stop playing.”
I frowned. “The NFL draft is next year.”
“I know, Callum.” His gaze met mine, burning with uncertainty. “My mom always said to trust my body. She’s had migraines her whole life, and it fucked her up. A part of me… I don’t know. It feels like it’s something important happening, but they can’t find anything wrong.”
“Do you still want to play?” I asked. My muscles all tensed. This conversation felt bigger than one we had in a ten-minute car ride. It deserved all our attention without distractions. Plus, I still had no idea what the fuck I was gonna do after college, and hearing his plans were great. Maybe I’d steal them.
My future in football always seemed like a problem for the next day. Yet, those days were coming fast, and I still had no idea. Going into the draft, like these guys, meant continuing this brutal lifestyle of discipline. I craved freedom, but now wasn’t the time to worry. I’d do it later… like tomorrow.
He shrugged. “It’s all I’ve ever thought about.”
“Didn’t answer the question,” Luca probed. His stopped a red light and turned to face me, his face set in serious lines. “I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but… if you want to talk this out, we’re here for you.”
“Proud of you, Luca Pooka.” I hit his shoulder, grinning wide. I would absolutely be texting his girlfriend Lorelei about this. Not the content but Luca offering totalkwith someone besides her.
“Shut the fuck up.”
Oliver laughed, which I wanted him to, but then he sighed into the seat, closing his eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Have you talked to Coach?”
“About the incident? Yeah, but not all this other confusing shit.” He adjusted his hair back into a half-bun.
I was never jealous of others, but if I were, I would have slight envy of Oliver’s hair. It was the perfect length to pull his hair back and tie it with a leather thing, and it was just fucking cool. No other word for it.
I pushed that thought out of my head because again, it didn’t fucking matter. I accepted my role in the house, and while I was the general goofball, I brought people together. I read the room and adapted my mood based on it. This was no different. “Afterpractice, I’ll demand a house-meeting. I’ll say it’s something about house rules, and Dean will get all worked up and show.”
Oliver’s lips quirked. “Dean does love his house rules.”
“Because he’s a quarterback and needs attention all the time, and now that he’s with Mack, she’s not gonna bow down to him.”
Luca barked out a laugh.
“We’ll talk this out but only if you want, dude. This is something you gotta figure out yourself, but we got your back. We love you, man.” I left the unsaid question in the air, and he nodded.
“Yeah, it’d be good to get it off my chest.”
“Then it’s settled.”
We were almost to the stadium, but I fired off a group text.
Callum: New House Rule. You call me King whenever I enter the room.
