No more Christmas? Sure, the trip to the mountains was great, but Chase and I both agreed we missed the holidays with Mom and Dad—the little traditions you don’t realize you treasure until they’re gone. Decorating the tree. Eggnog by the fire while Dad readA Christmas Carol. Matching pajamas that we swore we hated but secretly loved.
A lump forms in my throat as my thoughts spiral. Soon, I wouldn’t see Chase every day. We’d been a package deal since birth—brothers, best friends, inseparable. The idea of us going our separate ways after graduation makes my chest tighten painfully.
It makes me feel kind of like a sap. But my family’s great and I enjoy being with them. My mind wanders to what it would be like to have Ginny there as part of it. My parents would love her, especially Mom, after she got over the shock of us all being together.
Mom: How was your trip?
Mom: Did the three of you have fun? How’s school? Practice?
I can’t help but laugh at how quickly she can change topics.
Me: Practice is killer but great. Chase is good. Blake is Blake.
Mom: Are the three of you coming home over Easter? Will there be a girlfriend coming with you or Chase? Maybe a boy or girlfriend for Blake? The three of you need to be settling down especially before you go pro.
Shit! I forgot we always get together at Easter and Blake is always there since he’s part of the family. But if this issue with him and Chase doesn’t get resolved, then it’s going to be a very tense dinner.
Me: Yeah. You know nothing will keep us away. I love you Mom, but I GTG, we’re heading out for dinner.
I click out of the thread, and pray she doesn’t video call so she can talk with us. The phone vibrates and I glance down quickly, seeing the notification is from her. A simple I love you back.
The truck starts to slow and I look up, but Blake’s building wasn’t what I was expecting to see, and by the look on Blake’s face, neither was he.
He looks over at me, catching my attention before mouthing, “What the hell?”
I shrug my shoulders. Not sure how to answer. Chase is in hurt mode right now and he’s keeping a gate firmly locked around his heart in an attempt to protect himself.
Watching Blake get out of the truck and the heartbroken look on his face leaves me at a loss for words. Chase didn’t even bother to look over his shoulder at him, or even say a simple goodbye. But I caught it. If I had blinked, or not glanced over at that particular moment, I would’ve missed Chase’s eyes in the rearview mirror, locked on Blake.
He still cares. I can feel it. There’s no way Chase would let go of years of longing for Blake so easily. But what does he want? Is he hoping for a fight? A massive grand gesture from Blake to let him know he truly wants to be with him after rejecting him so harshly? Or did Blake’s rejection carve a wound too deep for Chase to ignore, leaving him quietly crumbling under its weight as he tries to find himself again?
We’re back on the road before I can finish my thoughts, let alone answer the questions swirling around in my head. The truck hums beneath us as Chase and Max slip back into their conversation. Or rather, Max talks while Chase remains unusually quiet. When he does respond, his statements are short, his tone restrained, as though he’s holding something back—almost as if he’s a flood threatening to break through a fragile dam.
My phone buzzes in my hand, a sharp vibration that causes me to jump in surprise. I glance down, and a rush of warmth spreads through me like a sunrise breaking over the ocean. A huge smile lights up my face when I see her name: Ginny.
Finally! She messaged back.
I want to get my brother back with the man who should be his boyfriend, I also want the group we were in the Poconos. I want the three of us, my best friends, my brothers both by blood and choice to be with Ginny. We were perfection together as a unit, each of us beating as one, and we can be that again. We need to be that.
I swipe open the thread, my fingers trembling slightly with anticipation. I lean forward, bringing my face closer to the screen as I shift in my seat, eager to absorb every word she’s written. For a moment, everything else fades away, replaced by the thrill of reconnecting with her. My breath catches, the world narrowing to this one fragile moment—Ginny’s words waiting just beyond the screen, and maybe a chance to get closer.
It’s a race, but one I plan to be the tortoise in. It’s slow and steady that’s going to bring us all together.
Ginny: Duh, genius, I knew you were at practice.
God, I love how she can be so fucking cute while being a smartass.
Me: So operation repair Blake and Chase. It’s on.
Ginny: Like Donkey Kong.
Me: Um, are you sure you’re not some kid from the 80’s? I know about that game because my parents still have the dinosaur game system you play it on and love to bring it out.
Ginny: My dad had it too until it broke. When do you want to meet to make a plan? I think we need to put it into action sooner rather than later.
Me: You’re kidding me, Coach is a gamer!?
Ginny: Was.
