He flinches, I don’t know if he wants to hug me or hit me. “You mean that? This isn’t another chapter to your fake love story?”
“Like I told her, before she walked out on me, I was never faking it.”
He sighs and leans on the counter crossing his arms. “She walked out on you?”
I nod. “After the parade, we talked in the locker room. I was so worked up over the announcement coming out too soon, so mad over seeing Tony with Nick, over being basically traded like cattle all in the name of money, shit, it makes me sick. But she told me to go, that this is what I wanted, what she had been helping me to achieve. I definitely didn’t have the right words for her because I didn’t know what they were. She won’t talk to me or return my calls. I don’t want to corner her at her house, she’s already been through enough.”
“Listen, Gage, I know you want to do great things and I want to see you achieve that but maybe your great thing is being home, being a coach to these kids and being with family again. Are you still going to take the job?”
“No. I spoke with Eastern State and pulled my name. They’re not happy about it, but I’m still working out the details of the contract because like an asshole, I trusted the wrong people and signed something without reading it.”
He nods. “That’s good to hear. It would kind of suck if you weren’t around,” his smirk says it all.
“You love me,” I say and go to walk towards him.
He puts his hands out in front of him to fend me off. “Let’s not go that far, fucker, I’m still pissed you hurt my sister. So, the question is now, what are you going to do to win her back?”
A sly smile spreads across my face. “Funny you should ask. Are your parents’ home?”
Chapter 41
Francesca
Ihaven’t spoken to Adam since he punched Jackson. I haven’t spoken to Jackson since we left the locker room. I’m avoiding my parents. I’m avoiding the press.
The only two I can’t escape are my girls.
And Billy, of course. He never did know how to take a hint.
I’m angry. I’m sad. I want to rage against my brother. I want to kick Tony and Nick both square in the balls.
Most of all I want to hate myself for allowing my mind to dream. For thinking it could be different this time. I don’t even know when it changed. When I allowed myself to dream and let that dream become reality.
But I also know I have no right to do that. I knew going in what the outcome he hoped for was. I also knew I wanted to help him reach that goal, whether I was going to go along for the ride or not.
I guess I should have just prepared myself for the crash after the ride alone.
There’s a knock on my door and I stupidly get my hopes up, just for a second. Then everything comes flooding back. It wouldn’t be Gage, his team has just under a week left before the state championship game. I know they’ve been on the field and in the classroom watching tapes.
Still, a girl can hope.
I get up and open the door to come face to face with my oldest brother.
“Chessy, can I come in?”
I step back and sweep my arm around, allowing him room to pass.
“So, I guess you kind of hate me, huh?” He gives me a sheepish grin I’ve seen him use on mom since we were kids.
“Adam, your charm isn’t going to work on me. You were wrong and you know it.” I’m standing firm. I won’t be bossed around anymore or made to feel my decisions are inadequate.
He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “Listen, I’m going to be honest with you?—”
“I certainly hope so.”
“It’s what I told Jackson?—”
“You spoke to him?”
