Page 41 of Forging Legacy

I adjust my bag to the other shoulder and switch the phone to my other ear. “Grand, I don’t really care about the specifics of all that. I’ll get it sorted eventually.”

“I was wondering the same things as Jae-won, actually. I know we didn’t get a chance to talk about school in all the hustle to get you to your new team.”

I reach the hotel where I have a long-term rental set up while I’m supposed to be looking for apartments. I take the stairs up to my suite while Grand lists all the reasons a college education is important for everyone, especially when I’m just a few credits shy.

“Look,” I tell her, clicking the door shut and flipping the deadbolt. “It was the easiest way for me to get on the road quickly,” I lie. The truth is withdrawing from school was worlds easier for Fern. If I made it so I was no longer her student, there was no chance for repercussions from the BuzzTalk article.

Although, Brian tells me the writer and editor are getting slammedandsomeone from the university is in trouble for releasing information about me. Who knew I had federal rights to privacy about my enrollment?

“Well,” Grand continues, “Jae-won and I also have a student in common. Fern.”

“I forgot you had Fern in class this semester.” I sink onto the edge of the bed, trying not to put my grandmother on speaker so I can look at photos of Fern on my phone.

“Yeah. She’s doing some really cool interdisciplinary work with advanced pattern modeling and art forgery identification. I’m writing her a letter of introduction for someone at her graduate program in London.”

My heart swells at that, the idea of Fern getting a leg up. I like that it’s based on something she did with her own incredible brain and work ethic. Nothing to do with me pulling strings or swinging my family name around. Fern probably likes that, too. “I’m sure she’s going to be a rockstar over there,” I mutter.

Grand hums again. “Well, I’ll let you go. I’m supposed to remind you that the Stag herd is flying down for your match against Cruz Azul, and your Uncle Tim wants to have a board game night afterward.”

I scoff. “Sure. Let’s sling colored tiles around while the fam is on vacation.”

Grand laughs. “Azul is a fun game. But I think you’re right that the beach would be a better choice.”

“Are you and Lolly coming down with them?” I can’t figure out if I hope she is or isn’t … I want to grill her for more information about Fern but also avoid all discussion of her until she’s settled into her fellowship and safely funded where she needs to be.

“Nah. Gotta get ready for finals. Love you, Wyatt.”

“Love you, too.”

The next few days are a blur of training, film, and trying to understand what Coach is asking of me. The team here has a very specific style of play, really aggressive offensively, and I’m up to the challenge. I just … am slow to process the strategy through the language barrier.

So, I’m mentally exhausted when I walk back to the hotel the night before the match and totally unprepared to find my family sprawled out in my suite.

“The hell?” I barely get the curse out before I’m bombarded by hugs and hair ruffles. Even my sister wedges herself in for a hug. “Shouldn’t you be in Palo Alto? I thought you have camp?”

Birdie shakes her head. “You got your weeks messed up, dude. I had this next week off to be home for your senior night stuff …” She shrugs, and Mom gives her a side hug.

“We’re all excited to spend time with you here and see you play, babe.” Mom stretches up to kiss my cheek, and I bend over to let her.

My cousin Wes and his girlfriend, Cara, are sprawled on my sofa, watching a British Premier League match on the television on mute. “We’ve both got a bye week,” he says without looking away from the screen.

I grin, happy to see my space full of family, even if it’s a little shady that someone from the staff let them in here. I guess my parents have sway with fans of La Liga. Dad pushes off the wall, waiting until everyone peels off me to give me one of his crushing hugs, lifting me in the air with a grunt. “Wow. I keep forgetting you’re big now.”

I grin, wrapping my arms around his waist and lifting him easily. We both laugh as I set him down, and he says, “All right, all right. Show off.”

I show them the view from my window—boring apart from the trees Grand cooed over. I show them my gear, feeling a swell of pride just seeing the name MOYER in glossy white vinyl on the back of my practice jersey. My game kit will be hanging in my locker when I get to the stadium, and I like that they’ll see that, too.

But Mom looks wistful, and Wes barely glances away from the game. Which, to be fair, is tied with just a few minutes of injury time remaining. Birdie tells me she ordered room service since she and my cousins are on a meal plan. I am supposed to be, too, but I’ve been slipping a little now that I have access to incredible street tacos.

We cram around the table, and my family is oddly quiet and polite. “You guys are acting weird,” I tell them around a mouth full of corn.

Dad and Mom exchange a glance and she sighs, reaching for my hand. “We talked to Grand, you know. We hadn’t realized you withdrew from school.”

I point at Wes, who never even finished his senior year. “We already went through all this with him last year. My body only has so many years to do this kind of work. Dad, you didn’t finish school, either!”

He nods. “You’re right. But I also never dropped out to protect someone from a publicity scandal incited by a criminal in violation of his no-contact order.”

“Wait, what? Nick was behind this?” I throw my napkin across the table, feeling nauseated at the thought of that man somehow determining my life path in any way.

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