Page 5 of Power Play

There’s Tate, the oldest. He’s the football coach at the high school and runs my dad’s contracting company with him. Tate is fifteen years older than me.

Then Tyson. We’re eleven years apart. Tyson is the loud-mouthed, class-clown sibling. He was a big hockey player in high school, and that was how he and Levi met. Now, he teaches biology at our high school and coaches a youth hockey team across town.

Then there’s Demi. We’re seven years apart. I was the annoying little sister to her—she was the only one I actually lived with when we moved in—but over time, we’ve actually grown really close. I wanted to be her clone when I was a kid. She’s a publicist and lives in D.C. Istillwant to be like her when I grow up.

Then, there’s me.

Like I said, I was eight when my mom married Jeff. My dad had left us when I was four, and we hadn’t heard from him since. For a while, I wondered if he still loved me, wherever he was. But then we met Jeff and his kids, and I realized I didn’t really care. Jeff loved me like I came from him. Like I was his, too.

And after my mom died in a car accident three days after my thirteenth birthday, he took to the role even more. And so did my siblings.

Demi taught me how to use tampons, and Tyson taught me to drive. Tate bought me my first car, and none of them missed a single volleyball game, swim meet, or play I was ever in. They cheered the loudest of any other family at my high school graduation.

And when I told them I was pregnant right before I turned eighteen, they all told me it was going to be okay. That it could happen to anyone. That they were there for me, no matter what I decided.

And when I decided I was going to be a mom, they were there. Demi came to all my sonogram appointments and held my hand while I pushed. With the help of the boys, Jeff turned Demi’s old room into a nursery. He cried when he held Harper for the first time.

They all take turns watching her while I work at the restaurant. Tate has offered to help me apply for classes at our community college—and more importantly, to pay for them—but I’m just not ready yet. I know, in the long run, it’ll make life better for me and Harper. But right now, I just want to make money and spend every other second with her.

“So, I take it that means it’s at our house, then?” I ask. He smiles and nods.

“Yep,” he says.

“Who’s coming?” I ask, wondering how big of a shindig this will be. Not that I love big parties, but the more people that are there, the less of a chance I have that Levi will catch me.

“Just a few of us. Tate and Demi are coming and just a few guys from the old team,” he says. “Levi wants to keep it low-key. He’s not ready for the whole welcoming committee yet.”

I nod.

“Okay, well, that’ll be fun,” I say. “I’ll ask Dad what I can make.”

Just then, Gary comes out from around the counter with a plastic bag tied at the top and hands it to Tyson. My brother tips an imaginary hat and hands him a debit card. Gary takes it back to the counter, and my brother turns back to me.

“Don’t worry about it, Lo,” he says. “I’m picking up some pizza, and the guys are bringing drinks and chips. You should come out tonight, though.”

My eyebrows shoot up.

“Tonight? I thought you said it was tomorrow night?”

“It is. But tonight, some of us are meeting at Andy’s, over in Dalesville. You should come.”

I swallow.

“Is Levi coming?” I ask. He shakes his head.

“I doubt it. He doesn’t get in till this evening. Dad’s gonna be home, though, so I’m sure he’s fine watching Harp. Just come, little sister. You need to have more fun.”

I smile at him and nod.

They tell me that all the time.

Other twenty-two-year-olds are living their best lives.

But I’m not other twenty-two-year-olds. I’m a mom. I made a decision, and I’m not going to be irresponsible. That’s who I am first. Harper’s mom.

But going out tonight after a long shift here today doesn’t sound terrible.

Gary brings the card back, and Tyson thanks him. Then my brother pulls me into him and kisses the top of my head again before he takes his food and dips out the door.

---