“When’s your next break?”
“Our break just ended.” We usually get a two-week break in February. “The first week of March, we’ll have a bunch of home games. That’ll give us time to hang out since I won’t be on the road.”
“Okay. I’ll mark my calendar.”
“Want me to buy you a plane ticket?”
She groans. “As if I’ve used the money you sent me for anything other than collecting interest in the bank. I can afford my own plane ticket.”
I grin at the feistiness in her voice. It’s great to hear some life in her tone. “Okay, then. I’ll see you in March.”
“Love you, Jabari.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
I drop my head back. Mom’s coming. The plan lifts my spirits and simultaneously makes me worry. Will I have to put on a brave face to ensure she doesn’t fall into a dark depression? That’s the last thing I want. But maybe this time she’ll be fine, and my own issues won’t impair hers.
“Maybe,” I whisper in disbelief.
8
Val
I glance at Jackie, then Fran. Something’s happened between them. Judging by the sour look on Jackie’s face and the affronted expression on Fran’s, they’re arguing again. I drop my spoon and place my bowl on the coffee table.
“All right, enough of the sulking. What happened?” I fold my arms.
“Jackie said—”
“Fran always—”
My sisters stop, glaring at each other as if to sayHow dareyou speak when I am?It’s the same ol’ song and dance, just a different day and time. I rub my forehead, holding back a sigh.Lord,please giveme wisdom.
“Fran, how about you go first,” I suggest.
“Why does she get to go first?” Jackie whines.
I channel the same expression our mom pointed in our direction when we were growing up. Jackie clamps her mouth shut, but her sour expression has somehow worsened. She’ll turn into a prune if she keeps that up.
“Fran?” I ask softly.
Her gaze darts to Jackie’s before she speaks. “I wanted to sign a client in hopes that Dad would see how hard I’ve been working.”
Makes sense. Fran often feels like she gets the short end of the stick being the youngest. But try being the middle child everyone overlooks until they need something done by her.Not your turn to whine,Val.Right.
“Did you already have a client in mind?” I study Fran.
“Yeah, mine,” Jackie snarls.
My neutral expression fades as lines across my forehead pop out. “Who?”
“Alvin Reynolds,” Fran states. “I had no idea he was already speaking to Jackie when I approached him or else Iwouldn’t have.” She finishes through gritted teeth.
I arch a brow at Jackie. “Is Alvin already your client?”
“Not technically.” She shifts in her seat. “But we’ve been speaking for the last month.”
“Who else knew that?”
