Page 174 of Made Better Together

“Really?” she asks excitedly.

“Yes, it’s time.” More confident now, after a moment to digest.

“I’d love that.” Her eyes glowing.

“Me too, beauty.”

No more hiding. It’s going to be awesome.

“I’m hoping I’ll know more about my future otherwise, then, too. This waiting is getting hard.”

“Have you heard anything from Aiden?”

“He sent me an email saying he was still working on it.” She sighs. “For now, once I’m back, the U23 training camp is the only thing on my schedule other than school. Oh and I still have to keep up with the content for my brand deals too.”

“You’re a rockstar. It’s going to work out.”

“I just wish it was working out faster.” Her impatience is covered by a half-chuckle.

I don’t have any words of wisdom, so I wait to see if she wants to vent more. Instead, she changes the topic.

“Anyway, are you sure you’re alright about tomorrow?”

I smile at her concern. “I am, I promise.”

“In case you start feeling otherwise…do you want to do that thing they do in movies? Fall asleep together on FaceTime?”

I don’t think I need it as a security blanket, but I’m sure as hell game to stare at her while she sleeps.

“Let’s do it.”

She hustles off to brush her teeth, while I fold my glasses, placing them on my nightstand.

“Night, Connor,” she says when she returns, tucking herself in.

“Night, Rosy.”

Despite everything that’s going to come tomorrow with Mom, I fall asleep within minutes.

50

CONNOR

Rawley, Avery, and I show up at Grace and Johnson’s house in the morning to help with prep for the Christmas Eve party. Although, as expected, our two hosts have most things handled. Mainly, it’s a way to keep each other company with so much otherwise shut down for the holiday.

Also, we’ll be buffers for each other when Mom arrives.

“The caterer’s ETA is still noon?” Grace asks Johnson as they both walk into the dining room.

Avery and Rawley are at the kitchen table with me, eating a snack, chuckling quietly while they look at a video on Rawley’s phone.

“Yup. Who else will be here then?”

“I think everyone,” Grace replies. “Except someone needs to go to the airport to pick up Mom. Connor? Unless someone else wants to?” She looks, eyebrows raised, at everyone else in succession.

Rawley, Avery, and Johnson all have a “not me” expression on their face. Shocker.

I swallow the compulsion to make an excuse. “No volunteers? I’ll do it then.” Goodie. Now I wish it wasn’t a Tuesday, so I’d have practice.