Page 44 of The Way We Score

“You okay?” His brow lowers. “I saw Liv on the way out of town. She was driving pretty fast.”

“I guess she had to get back to Birmingham.” I don’t know what else to say, and I don’t really want to talk about it, even though it seems everybody knows.

My oldest brother crosses his arms, watching as I finish loading up the dishwasher. I know he’s waiting to walk with me to the house, and I’m tempted to clean the pots and pans as well just to see if he’ll give up and go away.

I know he won’t. Jack’s took over the role of dad after we lost ours years ago, and he’s not going to let any of us off the hook if we’re hurting. Looking around, I decide to get it over with and head for the screen door down the hall from the kitchen.

He follows me out, down the short flight of steps to the path leading to our home.

“I’d say that was a pretty interesting development last night, but you don’t look too happy about it.” He cuts those blue eyes up at me. “It didn’t start with Liv, though, did it?”

This guy. He doesn’t miss a thing.

“I don’t know.” I shove my hands in my pockets, taking the path at a slower pace.

I said Liv used last night as an escape from the things that were troubling her back home, but hell, I did the same damn thing.

“What’s on your mind?”

We take a few steps, and I guess if anyone would understand how I’m feeling, it’s Jack. He didn’t retire because he was injured. He was at the top of his game. He was a superstar on the way to being a legend when he walked away and moved back to Newhope with a little girl and a shitty divorce.

“I’ve been thinking,” I start. “In a few short months, I’ll be looking at another season. I’m not so sure my heart’s in it anymore.”

His hands are in his pockets, and he looks down at his boots. “You have one season left in your contract. Have you thought about what you might do when it ends?”

“I’ve actually thought about it a lot.”

Glancing up at me, his brow quirks. “Radio?”

“Nah, that’s Logan’s thing. And Zane’s. And yours, I guess.”

“Not mine,” he laughs. “I’m glad to stop in and chat every now and then, but I don’t want to have to talk for ninety minutes every week. I can’t believe Zane does.”

“No shit. I couldn’t believe it either.” Looking up, we’re almost at the house. “He’s good at it, though.”

“So what are you thinking?” He stops, turning to face me.

“I got my degree in criminal justice.” Reaching up, I scrub the back of my neck. “I kind of always wanted to work in law enforcement. Maybe be a sheriff here in town. I just need to do the training. Hell, maybe I could even do it on the job.”

His brows rise, but as he thinks about it he starts to nod. “I can see that. You’d be a damn good sheriff. You’re intimidating as hell, but you’re actually pretty even-keeled and fair.”

“Thanks, bro.”

Nodding, he takes a step and we continue up to where hisold Ford step-side is parked in front of the house. “I’ll talk to Rodney and see what you’d need to do. I bet in a year we could have something lined up if that’s really what you want.”

An unexpected weight lifts off my chest. It’s so surprising, it actually makes me want to laugh. “Sounds like a plan.”

“All right.” Jack smiles, smacking his palm against my shoulder. “Now you’re looking more like my baby brother.”

“Baby brother, my ass.”

“For a few minutes you were a baby.”

“Now I’m the man.”

“You’ve still got some training, and I’m pretty sure there’s a test at the end.”

“I’ll be ready. I was born ready.”

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