Page 32 of Fighting the Odds

“Want to know a secret, Sam?”

She looks at me in question.

“Okay. Well, I have one, but you have to keep it between the four of us. No one can know, especially Dad. Can you do that?”

She looks at all of us before she finally nods.

“Good. We talked to Sierra.”

Her face lights up instantly at the mention of her sister. “You did?”

“Yes. She can’t talk to you until they prove those allegations are false. But we promised her we would help. She wanted pictures, but we thought of something even better.”

“You did?” She sniffles, grabbing a napkin to wipe her nose. I vow right then to see her smile, no matter what it takes.

“We did.” Zander smiles, scooting his chair closer to her.

“I’m going to give you Colt’s phone, and I want you to record a message for her. When you’re done, come back. Every day, one of us will give you our phone so you can record another message. We’re going to ask her to do the same, and send it back for you,” I explain.

Her eyes light up, and I know she’ll sleep a little better tonight.

“Here you go.” Colt hands his phone across the table and she grabs it, running with it to her room.

We sit in silence, watching her until she disappears.

“Why did you pick me first?” Colton asks.

“Because you have the most to make up for. Plus, this gives you the push to do it. You’ll have the video, so you have to message her. Now, let’s get dinner cleaned up.”

Chapter 16

Colton

My heart races as I hold the phone in my sweaty palm.

It’s just a message.

Not that hard.

We’re not even face to face.

So why is this so damn hard?

Because I’m a fucking idiot, that’s why.

I went to my room after Sam gave my phone back. She threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly when she did. Her happiness made me feel even worse about how I treated her sister.

She ran back to her room, this time with a little more bounce in her step.

I hope Sierra is just as happy. Remembering how she was that Sunday that they were here, I don’t doubt she will be.

Maybe she won’t hate me as much.

But first, I need to apologize. Tell her how much of an asshole I was and beg for forgiveness.

I finally find the courage to message her when my phone vibrates in my hand. For a second, I think it might be her, but when I open it, all hopes of that disappear.

Wes: Hey man, you get your balls back?

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