Page 116 of Win Big

“So true.” He sighs. “You’ve always worried about everything. You used to run to the door when I got home from a road trip because you were worried the plane had crashed.”

He remembers that. My bottom lip quivers.

“I’ll go to the doctor,” he says.

“And what about the money?”

His eyes go distant and he frowns.

“Everly. I told you I’m working on it,” Mom says in a gentle but firm voice.

I lift my head to fix a stare on her. “You didn’t really, Mom. You were all kinds of vague. This has to end and this family has to heal. Money is the most meaningless thing of all to fight over. Dad could be...” I stop, my throat closing up. Now I lift my gaze to Matthew, standing watching this, his forehead furrowed. “You don’t know how long we all have here. Is this how you want things to be?”

He flinches. His eyes slide to Dad. He swallows. “No.” He clears his throat. “Dad. We’ll talk.”

“You’ll talk to me as well,” Mom speaks up. She reaches for Dad’s hand and holds it. “We’re a team, and you have to accept that.”

Matthew’s eyes flicker. I glance at Asher and Théo, both watching openmouthed.

“The only thing tougher than a hockey player is his mom,” Asher murmurs.

“Dad,” Théo says to Matthew, “she’s right. You can trust her.”

Matthew shoots Théo a frown. “Whose side are you on?”

Théo stands to face his dad. “There are no sides. We’re all Wynns.”

Matthew’s jaw tightens. Then his expression eases. “You’re right.” He turns to Chelsea and nods, then walks out.

After a couple of beats of silence, Asher says, “Well, that escalated quickly.”

I choke on a laugh. I meet Mom’s eyes and hers are dancing with amusement too.

“What the hell, Ev?” Asher shakes his head.

“What is the plan you referred to, Everly?” Mom asks sweetly.

Oops. “It’s on a need-to-know basis.”

She inclines her head. “Fair,” she murmurs.

The third period is starting, so Asher hustles out.

I try to focus on the game. I just did something totally not like me.

And it was good.

25

WYATT

The TV ison in Heather’s living room, some news show, as Owen and I get home from the dinosaur exhibit at the Convention Center.

“We’re home!” I call, helping Owen with his shoes.

“In here!” Heather answers from the kitchen.

Owen runs to her. “Mommy! There were real live dinosaurs! One roared at me.” He pauses. “It scared me a little.”

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