“Exactly,” he says, smug.
“Anyway,” he says, “I’ll stop giving you a hard time. You heading to class?”
“Yeah, I should probably finish getting ready.”
“Good. Don’t let the media circus make you late. And tell Coach to unpack those boxes—I hear his place still looks like a damn storage unit.”
“Goodbye, Steven.”
He chuckles. “Bye, Sis.”
The line clicks off, and I stare at my phone for a second before setting it down beside the sandwich I’d forgotten about.
I glance around Clay’s nearly empty apartment, sunlight starting to creep across the floor.
It’s quiet again. Peaceful.
And for the first time in a long time, I don’t feel like I’m waiting for something to fall apart.
I rinse out my mug and stack it in the sink, glancing at the clock. I still have time before class, but my brain’s too busy replaying Steven’s words to focus on anything else. It feels like a weight’s been lifted—at least from one part of my life.
Before I can overthink it, I grab my phone and open a new message from Clay.
Clay: Coach Sanders didn’t even show up for film. Starting to think I should’ve stayed in bed with you instead.
Me: You should’ve. I would’ve skipped class for that.
Clay: Don't tempt me. I'm already half tempted to blow off the rest of practice. How's your morning?
Me: Good. Just survived telling my brother. One awkward conversation down.
I drop the phone on the counter and go about stuffing books into my bag. It buzzes before I’m done.
Clay: How’d it go?
I smile at the screen, thumbs moving before I can stop them.
Me: Better than I thought. He asked a million questions, but he was supportive. Shocked, but supportive.
A typing bubble appears, disappears, then comes back.
Clay: That’s good. I was wondering if you’d heard from him.
Clay: I had my own version of that conversation this morning.
My eyebrows lift.
Me: With who?
Clay: My mom. Called her on the drive to practice.
I lean against the counter, reading that twice before replying.
Me: How’d that go?
There’s a pause before his next message comes through.
Clay: About like you’d expect. She was surprised. Mostly worried about what people will say, and about Evan.
