Page 95 of Slash & Burn

Joey outright laughed, a hoarse chuckle from under his breath that somehow Cash managed to ignore.

“I think I’m okay.”

I didn’t want to hurt my brother’s feelings. Especially since the last time he’d offered to help me with anything was when I was six and too small to hammer the nail when I attempted to hang another bookshelf in my childhood bedroom.

Cash offered me another nod, but it was less enthusiastic this time. “If you say so.” He gave both of us a look before stepping off the curb. As he passed me, he gave my shoulder a squeeze.

“Good to see you, Jilly-bean.”

“You, too, Cash-money.” He huffed out a laugh, his smile going wide and soft, how I remembered it as a kid.

He didn’t say anything to Joey, just gave him a tip of his head and then he walked away.

“Mom called Cash?” I asked when he was gone.

Joey rolled his eyes as he went for his truck. “She texted both of us on a thread we haven’t used in like ten years. You know she never expected him to show.” He waved as he hopped up inside and backed out of his spot before I’d even gotten into my car.

But he had showed. And as childish as it might have been, it made me feel good. It almost felt like old times. Aside from everything else in my life being in shambles.

CHAPTER 36

GRADY

My palms were sweating. I’d been so on edge all day, I wasn’t sure if it was anxiety or just nerves. It had been a couple of weeks since a full-on panic attack had laid me out, but things were ramping up and the stress of it all was taking a toll.

But this was what I’d asked for, so I took a deep breath and told myself to suck it up.

No dreams worth having come without a price.

That’s what my dad had told me since I was six and I believed him. Everything I’d done had led me to this day and as I tightened my tie, my eyes on the mirror of the mens’ room in The HUB Garden I refused to let my shaky mind steal a moment of this from me.

“Here he is,” Cooper announced, slamming the door open before heading for a urinal. “You ready, Cap?”

The announcement wouldn’t happen until the dinner was over, but the team knew. They’d all cast their votes and Blaise had given me a nod when I arrived. I’d never asked Coop if he had really tried for it or not, because he was just as good of a leader. If it had gone to him and not me, I couldn’t have even been mad at him.

“I’ll be ready when it really happens,” I told him, catching his eye in the mirror. “Don’t jinx me.” I didn’t know an athlete that wasn’t superstitious, and I sure as hell was.

Coop laughed, joining me at the sinks. “Such modesty,” he chuckled. “You’d think you hadn’t wanted this your whole life.”

“Wanting it and getting it are two different things.” I yanked a paper towel from the dispenser, drying my hands and waiting while he did the same. “But thanks.”

“No thanks needed, man. You earned it.”

We headed back to the ballroom, the walls cast in white and yellow lights and a stage at one end with a black and gold podium. Around me were my coaches, the training staff, marketing people, and everyone else involved in the organization. My team was already taking their seats, so I went to find mine, my heart dropping into my gut when I saw the extra one beside me. The name card simply said “Holloway +1.”

A hand landed hard on my shoulder and I let out my breath when I saw what passed for a grin on AJ’s face.

“You can take me for a swing on the dance floor if it’ll make you feel better, Holloway.”

“Thanks,” I said, shoving his hand off me. “I’m good.”

“I can dance real well,” he pushed, pulling out his chair beside me. “And I bet I could even dip you.”

I laughed at my friend. “You’d probably drop me.”

He shook his head as he reached for his beer. “Nah. I’ve got better balance than you any day.”

AJ hadn’t said another word to me about Jill since that day at the bar. I knew he was watching me though. His scrutiny before and after practice felt like he was looking for signs I hadn’t heeded his warning.

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