Page 15 of Trade Deadline

I’m still kinda baffled now.

There’s never been a time where there was an obvious mutual attraction and they haven’t wanted something from me. It’s left me off-kilter.

All thoughts of Alex are pushed to the back of my mind as Joe begins to work on my hip, and we start discussing tactics ahead of our game against Detroit tomorrow.

* * *

A few hours later,I’m about to drift off on the couch to the sound of SportsCenter on the TV and the image of Alex running through my mind when the door to my apartment swings open, quickly followed by the sound of Elliot’s voice.

“Yeah, yeah, it was so funny, Mom.” He’s practically howling with laughter, and by the time he appears in front of me in basketball shorts and a Thunder training tee, his eyes are creased with laughter lines.

I cast a glare at him, mouthing, “What?”

“I was just telling Mom about how you got turned down last night,” he says between laughter and gasping for breath.

“Blaine?” My mom’s voice echoes through the speaker on Elliot’s phone. “Elliot, leave your brother alone and give him the phone.” He hands it over to me before disappearing to look in the fridge. I can’t help but smile at the sight of my mom filling the small screen.

With bright red hair, freckles dotted across her nose, and porcelain skin, she’s glowing under the Californian sunshine where she sits on the porch of our childhood home. A far cry from the cloudy skies of Chicago currently outside my window.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hey, how are you? Great game last night!” Her delicate brows turn downward in a frown. “And I know you were protecting your brother, but that doesn’t mean I condone the fighting.”

I smother my laughter with my hand. “Sorry, Mom.”

Her face softens. “You’ve always had that protective streak when it comes to Elliot.”

Isn’t that the truth.

Ever since we were kids, my mom says I’ve always acted like Elliot’s protector. I didn’t realize the complications my parents had with Elliot’s birth until I was older, and how they thought they were going to lose him. Twins are often high-risk, and apparently I was a greedy baby, which meant Elliot was a lot smaller than he was supposed to be. It was like my subconscious mind knew that, so I was always there for him, even before we could walk and talk.

Elliot returns from the kitchen with a bowl filled with grapes and mango and slumps on the couch next to me. I haven’t moved from my spot since getting back from the conditioning session at the training facility. I usually try to make the most of our off days. Sometimes I end up using them to nap and do some stretching, and when the weather’s nice, Elliot, Zach, and I will go on a walk or something. The rain has put a damper on that plan today, though.

“I also saw that article that was posted about you.” She frowns. “That photo wasn’t something I ever wanted to see of my son, but I’m angry at those girls for doing that to you.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“I’m also angry at you for putting yourself in that position. I don’t know why you can’t find yourself someone nice to settle down with.”

I roll my eyes. “Don't you start, too. I had Elliot and Ethan give me that talk last night.”

She purses her lips, clearly wanting to argue but deciding against it. “What does Hayden have to say about it?”

“He wants me to keep my head down, at least until the trade deadline has passed.”

“Is he worried?”

I nod, sinking further into the cushions. “Yeah, Coach pretty much said the same because it sheds a bad light on the team too.”

She hums, nodding in agreement, then takes a sip of her coffee. “They’re both right. You and Elliot have worked so hard to be where you are; don’t allow people to ruin that for you, to ruin your dream.”

I look over at my brother. He’s got this sad puppy-dog face going on that makes my heart hurt. I hold my fist out to him, giving him a smile when he returns the bump.

“And what’s this your brother told me about you getting turned down last night? How is that keeping your head down if you’re running after people?”

Elliot grins around a mouthful of fruit, enjoying the fact that Mom is grilling me far too much.

I flip him off.

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