Page 66 of Sticking Around

“I know. I watched the game.”

As soon as the words leave her mouth, I nearly fucking sob. I haven’t known this woman intimately for all that long, yet, unlike my family, she watched my game. “I let the team down and I don’t want them seeing me like this. I don’t want them to think I’m weak.”

“No, Brady, no. You are not weak, and you did not let your team down. Besides, being upset or showing emotions doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

I shake my head, ignoring that last part as she holds me tight. “You said you watched the game. You saw the last goal I let in.”

“Oh, Brady, babe. No. You are not responsible for your entire team. You’re a team. You all win as a team and lose as a team, and it wasn’t even really a loss. It was just an exhibition game. You can’t beat yourself up over this.”

I go quiet for a long time, and her hands leave my face and slide around my neck. She brings me to her, and I rest my face against her chest. Something about her strong heartbeat does something to me, has me opening up in new ways.

“My mother…” Her hand goes still on my back. I wait for her to speak and when she stays quiet, I continue. “She called me tonight. Wanted money for a car. It’s a long story, but basically told me I might as well have died all those years ago because I’m no good to her.”

Air leaves her lungs and washes over my neck as she inches back to face me. “I’m sorry, Brady. You don’t deserve that.”

I shrug, not sure if I do or not. “When I was growing up, after we lost Dad, she told me I had to toughen up because I was the man of the house.”

“You were only eight, right?” I nod. “No eight-year-old is the man of the house Brady.”

I shrug again. “She’s pretty fucking mad at me.” I search Lanie’s face, and she stares back with a raw concern that means a whole fucking lot to me. My heart pounds and I take a minute to pull myself together before I speak again. “My uncle basically accused me of thinking I was better than them.”

“I haven’t wanted to say much, Brady. Lord knows we all have our demons, and I’m not saying anyone is better than anyone else. But let’s face it. They do nothing when work is available, and they expect you to pay for everything. You train hard for your job, play even harder during games. You help everyone out at every opportunity, and yes, I know about my tuition and no, I’m not mad because I know you did it out of love, and you never want anything in return. Maybe that does make you a better person.”

“I don’t know.” I force a smile, and lightly brush her hair from her face. “I’m glad you’re not mad.”

“You’ve come a long way, not because of your family, but maybe despite them,” she whispers, her voice low, like she’s trying to soften that harsh truth. I remember saying something very similar to her once. “Trust me, I know all about that.”

This time I cup her face. “I know you do.” I give a tortured laugh as my love for this woman pushes back the pain.

“They’re grown-ass adults, Brady. You are not their meal ticket and they are not your responsibility. Just like winning and losing with the Bucks is not all on you. You have to let that belief go. I know it’s ingrained, and I know it’s going to take a lot of work to move past that, but I’m here to help you find a way forward and build a life for yourself if you let me.”

She’s saying everything I never knew I needed to hear. “Thank you.”

“I had to walk away from my family and the situation I was in for my own mental health and growth. I’m not saying you need to do that, Brady. But you do need to set boundaries, and stick to them.”

“You’re right. I do.” I take a deep breath. “I love you, Lanie.”

“I love you too.” She lightly presses her lips to mine before her lips quirk into a playful smile. “Parents… they can really fuck a kid up, huh?”

Again, I know she’s talking from experience and she has come such a long way. How could I not love and admire a woman like her.

“Yeah,” I snort out. “All the more reason I’m never going to be a father.” She inches back, her movements stiff, like my words just pierced her heart.

Was it something I said?

22

Melanie

I roll over in bed, and reach for Brady, only to find out he’s not there. I sit up, a little panicked as my heart thumps. Last night, I’d never seen him so hurt, and it still breaks my heart to think his mother said such cruel words to him. He was only standing up for himself, and while it’s great to help out family, there is a line in the sand, and they’ve crossed it too many times.

I listen for sounds, and when my ears are met with silence, I push the covers off and walk to the window, expecting him to be out for a morning jog and that’s probably good for him. As I search the sand, and find no traces of him, my hand goes to my cramped stomach. Another wave of panic moves through me.

The other night when I was out with Brighton and Dani, I did stop at the drugstore and pick up a pregnancy test. I didn’t take it, because I’m one hundred percent sure I’m not pregnant. Heck, I had my period not long ago. Okay, maybe I’m ninety-nine percent sure I’m not pregnant, and maybe I should take the test to confirm it.

Lord knows I don’t want to be having a baby, especially after last night. I can’t even imagine what Brady would do if I had his child growing inside of me. He certainly made it clear that he never wanted to be a father, and yes, I’ve told him there was no way I was bringing children into the world either.

I push that from my mind, and stand, going to the closet to grab my old but fluffy robe. I don’t have a lot of clothes, and when I went back to the apartment to get my things—when I knew my roommate was gone—I only had a bedroom full of personal things to bring. I didn’t have to haul a bed. Not because Brady had one, but because the place was furnished, just like my sublet is going to be furnished.

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