Page 57 of Scoring Chances

I shake my head trying to make sense of what she’s saying.

“Um… Redmond? The guy that cheated on you?”

She shrugs.

“Why?”

“Because… I’m thirty-one, Hicks. And I’m done playing games. I’m ready to settle down. Have a family.”

“And you can’t do that with Keelan?”

She looks at me, eyes wide. “You tell me.”

“Why are you asking me?”

“You’re his roommate and his teammate. You see him day in and day out. You know him better than most.”

“Ryker’s his best friend.”

“I’m asking you… not Ryker.”

“Rina…”

“I’m about to marry someone, Hicks. A guy who made a mistake, granted–I did too–but we’re moving on and planning on getting married. I just need to know… is Keelan ready to settle down?”

I drag a hand over my face. “Can’t you ask him?”

She shakes his head. “No. He’ll tell me what I need to hear just to make sure I don’t end up with Redmond. I know he will.”

“Well maybe you shouldn’t be with Redmond. Maybe you already know that’s not the answer.”

“Redmond wants kids… now, Hicks. And honestly,” she pauses. “So do I.”

“So you’re going to marry him?...Just to have kids? Listen to yourself, Ri.”

She sighs and cracks her neck before pushing the chair back and rising. “Thanks for the talk, Hicks. I think I got the answer I needed.”

“Did you?” I ask her retreating figure. “Give him a chance, Rina. Don’t make a long-term decision based on short-term circumstances.”

She scoffs. “Maybe take your own advice, Hicks.” She pauses with her hand on the doorknob and says over her shoulder. “For what it’s worth–I’ve enjoyed working with you. I hope your next team treats you well.”

She pushes the door open and leaves me alone on the back porch.

Fuck. What just happened?

A sparrow floats down to the table and pecks at some crumbs left behind.

Take my own advice? Is she talking about Cassidy? This is totally different.

I’m leaving.

Keelan is here. So is she. Neither of them are going anywhere. What the hell is wrong with those two?

I push off the chair.

It’s not the same. At all.

Two days after the bug took out the boys and Cassidy, they’re all back to their normal selves.

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