Page 67 of Tight End

“Yeah. We’ll see.” I hold up my phone. “In the meantime, I have a meeting with the label on Friday to see if I’ve got a future with Sin City. I guess I’ll just obsess about that tonight while watchingInk Mastersreruns.”

Sam puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “They’re business people and you bring in a lot of cash. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

I swipe a strand of hair from my eyes. “I made my bed. I’ve gotta sleep in it.”

Sam nods and then he perks up. “Hey, so we’re doing a family dinner tonight at my parents’ house. Chase is off, which is kinda rare. Why don’t you come along? I mean,Ink Mastersis great, but maybe you could use some company.”

“And Jack? He’s okay with me going?”

Sam shrugs. “Not his parents’ house.”

I shake my head. “You really are a do-gooder, aren’t you?”

“It feels better than being an asshole.” He winks at me. “Give me your phone and I’ll put in the address.”

I hand it over and within a few seconds, he gives it back.

“7:00. Bring an appetite.”

Sofia runs over before I can respond. “Brixton, I’m so glad you’re still here. Charlie, one of the basketball coaches, was going to watch the kids at the football game tomorrow night but he tore his ACL during a pickup game.” She sighs and rolls her eyes. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but would you mind going in his place?”

“Yeah, sure. I can do that.”

Sam gives me the thumbs-up. “Maybe James would want to go, too?” He puts a hand on Sofia’s arm. “Can you give his dad a call?”

She nods. “Definitely. Thank you so much, the kids will be so excited.”

After Sofia goes back to the desk, I laugh. “This is a first. Two people in the span of about two minutes thinking I’m a good enough influence on kids to spend time with them. I feel like I’m inThe Twilight Zoneor something.”

“Yeah, well, if other people believe it, maybe you’ll start to believe it, too.” Sam backs away. “Hope I’ll see you tonight.”

I watch him walk away and definitely don’t miss the flash of annoyance on Jack’s face when Sam rejoins them.

And I decide right then and there that, fuck yes, Sam—and Jack—will see me tonight.

I wiggle my fingers in a taunting wave and Jack rolls his eyes and turns back to Chase.

Screw you, Jack-O. It’s on.

Chapter 25

Sam

“Do you think it was a bad idea for me to invite him here for dinner tonight?” I ask my mother, toying with the water bottle in front of me. Chase, Jack, and my dad are down in the media room watchingGladiatoron the new plasma screen television, and I volunteered to help in the kitchen. Not that I’m really doing much beyond second-guessing myself.

My heart pumps faster as the seconds tick by.

It’s almost seven o’clock.

Mom is quiet for a minute while she dresses the salad. Then she looks up at me, a thoughtful look on her face.

“One of the things I’ve always loved about you is that when you decide you want something, you go for it. And you don’t stop until you get it.” She wipes her hands on the apron and walks over to me. “That said, while I love that about you, sometimes I worry that it will come back to bite you because what you want isn’t always what you need and what will make you happy.”

She pours herself a glass of wine and takes a sip. “You’vealways been so selfless, always one to provide help and support to whomever needs it. All of the charities you volunteer with, all of the kids you’ve worked with over the years, how strong you were for all of us when Chase was sick. It’s your nature to be a nurturer.”

I sigh and scrub a hand down the front of my face. “So you think this thing with Brixton is just about me trying to fix him?”

She shrugs. “I can’t tell you how you feel. Only you know that. But you obviously believe you have some kind of connection to him because of his brother dying and his heart being donated to Chase. Kind of some weird twist on the whole Florence Nightingale thing. Falling for the guy whose brother ultimately saved your brother. Or maybe it’s guilt that keeps you going back. Guilt that he lost so much and that you got to experience happiness because of it.”

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