Page 226 of Tangled with the Tight End

Winona

It's not whether you get knocked down;

it's whether you get up.

~ Vince Lombardi

“So,” Cass says over breakfast Friday. “I have tickets to the playoff game this weekend.”

“The Thunder?” I ask. “How on earth did you manage to get tickets?”

“That’s not the point.”

I cross my arms. “Cass. Those tickets are hundreds of dollars each.”

She glances over at me with a sheepish expression on her face. “We’re in lower bowl sideline seats.”

“What?” Those tickets had to be at least eight hundred each. “Cass.”

I study her face. She didn’t spend sixteen hundred dollars to get us into a game—especially not when Declan is on her You’re lucky I’m not hunting you down and teaching you a lesson list.

She pivots off her stool and grabs the frying pan from the stove, busying herself cleaning it.

“There’s a charity thing,” she says. “The Thunder is sponsoring a fundraiser for needy youth in the surrounding areas outside Waterford. Hearthstone is a smaller sponsor. There’s a clothing and toy drive and the Thunder is giving a big donation to local agencies that support after-school programs.”

“So your company gave you nearly two thousand dollars’ worth of tickets? Our local real estate office gives out two thousand dollar bonuses for funsies now?”

“I work hard. They love my work.”

“Mm hmm.”

“They do.”

“Oh, I know they love your work. I just smell fish. If it smells like a fish … it’s fishy. And this has more fishiness than the Cumberland in spring. So. much. fish.”

I stare Cass down, but her back is still to me, so she can’t feel my scrutiny and I can’t get a read on her. Could one of the Thunder who came to Thanksgiving have given Cass tickets? That would be odd. I know it wasn’t Hearthstone. They do love my sister. She basically keeps that office functioning. But they’re not handing out playoff tickets for free.

“Well, the point is …” Cass says, turning and grabbing the dish towel to dry her hands, “... we have tickets.”

“You have tickets. And I hope you find someone to go with you. I bet Dad would pee himself if you offered him that extra seat.”

“Win!”

“What … I’m just saying.” I smile. “Take Dad. And maybe … some Depends.”

Cass laughs lightly. Then she walks toward me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “I’m taking you.”

“Um. No. Thank you. Really. But, no.” I look up at my sister, my eyes imploring her. “I’m doing better. I am.”

Though I’ll never be my old self again.

A piece of me still lives in Declan’s heart, and I miss that piece every day. And him.

A tear tracks down my cheek.

Cass pulls me into a hug. I let out a sigh. “When will I stop leaking?”

She cups my face. “Do you trust me?”