Page 143 of How to Score Off Field

He had hesitated. “True, they might have their reservations. But what’s life without a little bit of rebellion?”

I’ve never been a rebel a day in my life and neither has Drew.

Except for this one thing apparently where I did what no one in my family ever thought I would do; get pregnant from a one-night stand, and the father was my brother’s best friend.

Was.

Past tense.

They obviously haven’t spoken, but mostly because my brother has been acting like a dick.

Color me surprised that he treated me with respect on our call last night—the last call I was expecting.

“Hey, sis,”Grady’s voice came through, casual and familiar—yet unfamiliar at the same time. In the past few weeks, I feel like I don’t know him at all.

"Hey," I replied, my heart racing a little."What's up?"

"Nothing much,"he said."Just wanted to talk to you about something."

My mind raced through the possibilities of what this conversation could be about."Sure, go ahead."

I stood at the kitchen counter in my apartment, arms and ankles crossed as if he were standing in the room, talking to me face-to-face and I had to be in defense mode.

There was a brief pause before Grady spoke again. "Mom and Dad told me about your plans to visit Drew."

My brows shot up. "Yeah, that's true."

"I gotta admit, I was surprised,"Grady said, his tone light."I mean, you're hopping on a plane to see the guy who got you pregnant. Illinois isn’t exactly your typical vacation destination."

Vacation destination?

What an idiot.

I couldn't help but chuckle."Yeah, I guess it's not your usual vacation spot. Lots of farm fields and cattle, I would imagine.”

Same as here.

"But seriously, Tess,"Grady continued. "Are you sure about this? I know you're a grown-up and all, but I can't help but worry."

“Worry about what?”

Nothing more could happen to me. The month has been one of the shittiest on record for me in the history of shitty things happening to me. Not getting a bid from my top sorority choice my freshman year used to be at the top of the list.

Ha.

And I thought that was rough…

What a fool I’d been.

“Mom and Dad told me about…you know. Everything. The baby and stuff.”

The baby and stuff…

I picked at a piece of lint on my hoodie. "I appreciate your concern, Grady, but…you know Drew better than anyone, and I want to see him. He wants to see me. We need…time together to..."

Shoot, how do I put this?

“Heal.”

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