Page 45 of The Try Line

"Shit, Janel. Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not okay!" Her voice is high pitched and panicky. "You've been ignoring me for two fucking weeks!"

Probably because you act like this whenever something happens that you don't approve of. Well, wait until he breaks this news to you, sis.

"Hey, hey. I'm sorry, okay?" His words are gentle and placating, and part of me hates it. It's not that I want him to hurt her feelings. She's my sister and I love her. We have a good relationship, but she goes too far, and he lets her take advantage of his kindness. "What do you need?"

My stomach churns. It's obvious there's something wrong, but my sister has a history of using her emotions against Mik. What if she talkshim into coming back to her? What if he compares the two of us and decides he prefers her soft, feminine curves to my harder muscles, chest hair, and rough stubble along my jaw?

Mik says something I can't quite make out through my garbled thoughts, but I think for a second he's about to tell her about us. About why he's naked in my bed. I move closer, ready to come in and discuss things with her like adults. But then she drops a bomb.

"I'm pregnant."

What?

The walls around me close in. I feel like an insect trapped under an upturned glass. Everything looks distorted, and my access to the air I need is blocked.

She said…What?!

No. No. No no no no no no no. This can't be happening. How? When?

I stumble into the doorway and get a good look at them. I can tell from my sister's pallid complexion and serious expression that she's telling the truth, not that she's the kind of girl that would lie about such a thing. When my eyes land on Mik, all the breath and fight leaves my body. He stands and reaches for her, then remembers he's naked, and grabs a pair of pants from the ground. Then, slowly, like he might spook her, he pulls my sister into his arms. He holds her against the very same body I spent the night making love to, tucks her right against his skin that is marked with hickeys and signs of our passion. He sits down with her in his lap, holding her and pressing his mouth to the top of her head, eyes closed. When he opens them, I see his fear and his panic.

"We'll figure it out," he says into her hair, but his eyes are locked on mine. "It'll be okay," he says reassuringly. I give him a brief nod and give them space.

In the kitchen, I start some coffee and tidy up, trying not to overthink it. Part of me wants to run. He looked right in my eyes and said we'd figure it out, so that means he was talking to me, right? I mean, he was probably talking to my sister, too, but it was clearly directed at me. I just need to give him time and space and try not to freak out.

He's going to choose her. I know he will. If I know my sister, I know she'll keep this baby, and he'll do the right thing and raise it with her. My father will pressure them to get married. I can't be his side piece. His dirty little secret. His one night of passion, only to be forgotten.

My phone rings from Mik's room. I sneak in there to grab it, and realize how much of a mess we made before moving to my room. Both rooms smell like sex, I know that much. I listen to a couple of messages from the sports agent my dad set me up with. He's been trying to sell me on the idea of moving overseas, but I didn't want to move that far away from my family. From him.

"The offer is good until the end of the month, Jason. I told them you're not interested right now, but they're looking to sweeten the pot. I'm sending you an email with the new offer details, take a look at it. No pressure, but one season abroad could put you in a good position to negotiate with whatever team you want."

Maybe now is the time to take his offer. Do I really want to stay here and watch the man I'm in love with marry my sister?

I open the email with the offer, scrolling through the pages. Maybe it’s the right thing to do. But I can’t make a decision like this right now, not when there is so much at stake. I put my phone away and focus on calming my thoughts.

Janel and Mik eventually emerge from the room over an hour later. I can't meet Mik's eyes, or Janel's, for that matter.

"Are you okay to drive?" Mik asks her softly, and the way he pushes a flyaway lock of hair behind her ear makes my stomach clench painfully.

"Will you come with me to tell my parents?" she asks meekly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah, of course. We both will," he says. My head snaps up and I meet his eyes. He gestures towards my sister encouragingly.

"Oh, uh, yeah. Of course, baby sis." When I pull her in for a hug, she's trembling so much I drop all my animosity and selfish thoughts. I wrap her up and squeeze her until she complains that I'm suffocating her.

"Do you want to stay for breakfast?" I ask her, mostly because I'm putting off the inevitable conversation with Mik. How could he not choose her? She's so weak and scared, and carrying his fucking baby.

Janel shakes her head and pulls away. She looks green. "Ugh. No. I can't handle the smell of coffee and your sweaty bodies."

Once she's gone, the silence is oppressive. I'm standing in our small kitchen, staring at a picture of me and Mik from when we were sixteen. I was in love with him then. Even if he chooses her, I won't be angry. I'll try to understand. I can take that position in Wales and–

Mik's hand slips into mine. "Hey. Are you okay?"

An unhinged laugh bubbles up from inside me. "You're asking me if I'm okay?" His lips quirk, but there's no humor in it. "Are you?"

"Fuck no, I'm not okay. I'm freaking the fuck out, but I'm more worried about…" Despite his casual posture, his hazel eyes are dark with fear, and he looks like he might lose his shit at any moment. I pull him into my chest, wrapping my arms around him. His face buries in my neck, and he inhales a shaky breath. He's spent the last hour and a half being strong for Janel, then trying to put on a strong front for me. What he really needs is to let go and know that I'll be here to catch him.

---