Page 146 of Made Better Together

“Hopefully, he gets a contract to keep kicking,” Landon interjects, his eyes lit up. “Since that’s what he wants to do.”

“I hope so, too,” Rori responds, smiling at him.

“Your dad’s been a game changer for Connor,” Landon continues, his voice laced with emotion. “We’re really grateful.”

“I’m so glad,” I reply. “I’m sure Connor’s earned the opportunity too.” I know he has, but I can’t say that out loud.

“He certainly has. I’m really happy for him.” The pride and affection radiating off Landon is palpable. This man, his big brother, truly cares deeply for him.

His transparent love for Connor reinforces my instincts from weeks ago. Not only do I think his siblings would want to know everything he went through with their mom, but I’d bet a whole NIL deal they’d support him in every way possible.

That could only be good for Connor.

Rori and then I get called up a short time later to give our speeches in succession, as people eat their sautéed chicken dinners.

While the topic of Connor doesn’t come up again, I’m left with food for thought afterward.

Maybe it’s time he stops holding onto this secret with the people who love him most?

I feel good about my classes, but as I look ahead to the coming weeks, I’m still overwhelmed. SLP may be organizing my schedule; I’m the only one who can execute it. The playoffs, homework, my NIL content obligations—they make for days where I’m constantly on the go.

So much so that Bree and I decide to get up early the next morning to shoot all the content that’s required before the holidays under our NIL contracts.

My alarm goes off at six, which is ouch. We want to start by the time the sun rises in forty-five minutes, and unlike my Feetlix pics a few weeks back, I need my hair and makeup reasonable for what’s on the agenda today.

After I shower, I notice Bree’s not up yet. Dang it. Time to be annoying.

I knock on her bedroom door. “Hey friend, wakey wakey…”

“Grslkjflksdjj” or something like that comes through the door.

I retreat into my bedroom as soon as I hear her marching around. She goes into our shower five minutes later, while I blow-dry my hair in my room.

Twenty minutes afterwards, I’m in hers while she does the same.

“Whose genius idea was this anyway?” she grouchily asks.

“Um, yours?” Last night she’d been all about it when we came back from the dinner. I’d jumped at her proposal because I needed to knock these tasks out anyway.

“Oh, yeah.”

“Just think, by the time we go to our ten o’clock classes, we won’t have to worry about taking photos or videos again for months.”

She grumbles her way through finishing her beauty routine, and we both head outside with coffee, the products we’re supposed to promote, and my tripod.

I won’t lie. While we’re cute, smiley, and happy for the camera during the next two hours, I don’t feel that way inside until we’re done.

Another thing checked off the list for a while. Phew.

42

CONNOR

TWO DAYS LATER

“You ready?”

Eden nods, anticipation written all over her face. I punch in the key code and open the door.