Page 7 of Brace and Chase

“You have news for me?” I ask, hope tightening my chest.

“Yes. It all went smoothly. You should be getting your papers before this Friday.” Like he has for this whole process, he’s matter-of-fact and gets straight to the point.

It takes me a moment to be able to speak since the sudden and unexpected emotion sits like a stone at the base of my throat, and even when I do, you can plainly hear the gratitude, relief, and happiness in my words.

“Thank you, Mr. Flores.”

“My pleasure. Please let me know if you have any issues. I’m at your service.”

“Of course, thank you,” I repeat.

“Have a nice afternoon.” He signs off after and I stare at my phone for a couple of minutes, still trying to convince myself that I passed. I fucking passed and now there’s no way I’ll ever be forced to leave the family I have left.

Step one in preparing everything for my retirement—which is still years away just to be clear—is done.

But the thought of retirement reminds me of what happened mere hours ago.

Charlie Heart should’ve stayed fucking retired.

Whatever Gab and Barlow offered him, he’s going to regret taking that deal.

I don’t care who he thinks he is, what status he believes his trophies give him. He better brace himself, because I’m going to chase him out of here.

THREE

CHARLIE

Two Days Before The Season Starts

I lookup at the second-story balcony that’s right over the front door and frown. Seems like a very fairy-tale detail to add to a house, very Romeo and Juliet and such.

I don’t like it.

“Oh, Charlie, this is gorgeous,” Mom says from beside me.

“It’s only a rental,” I grunt and pull out the two suitcases I traveled with.

“Still. You know it’s important to live in a place you like. And if you can’t, then you?—”

“Make it into one.” I finish the sentence she’s said to me about a million times throughout my thirty-three years of life.

“That’s right,” she says and turns to look at me with thestink-eye that always keeps me and my brothers in line. “When can we go in?” she asks, looking back at the front door of the too-big house I’m renting for a year. It was the only house I could find at a week’s notice and that met all my needs. It’s private... set back from the main road by a discreet driveway. It doesn’t have a fence or a gate, but you can’t even see the house from the street. The huge gym will help me in the coming weeks while I’m playing catch-up with my new teammates too. I need to get back to my usual start-of-the-season shape, and that won’t happen in less than a month if I only work out during practice and training.

“The realtor should be here any minute.”

I keep unloading the rental I got at the airport while I was waiting for Mom’s flight to land, and set everything up on the steps right up front.

“It’s a good thing you managed to change the destination of all your furniture.”

“Yeah, I know. Seems like fate actually, since I got the call the day before they came to pick it all up.” I speak without thinking and regret it the instant I close my mouth.Why did I have to use that word?

“I know you don’t believe that, Charlie.” Mom walks over and looks up at me with her indulgent smile.

“But you do.” I shrug and turn away. I can’t quite seem to look her in the eyes. “You believe in fate.” I try to sound cheerful as I shift the suitcases around for no reason.

“I know you’re just indulging me, but I do. I thinkeverything happens for a reason, even the worst things in life.”

“Mom—” I start to object to this line of thinking. It never leads anywhere good between us.

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