Page 104 of Fair Play
I laugh.
It’s not funny but it’s so ironic I can’t seem to help myself.
“Are you for real right now?”
“I’mtryingto be open-minded,” he growls through clenched teeth.
I feel more than see Marty’s presence at my side.
Blake seems to materialize out of nowhere as well, coming to stand beside Bodi.
Like this is an old-fashioned duel or some shit.
“It’s too late for that,” I say quietly. “You forced me to break her heart, so she wouldn’t have to choose between us. Now you can’t seriously expect me to help you fix things on your end.”
Bodi looks completely frustrated. “But I thought…”
“What? What did you think? That I threw myself under the bus with Ms. Barrowman because Idon’tlove your sister? That’s the difference between us, man. I love her enough to put her needs before my own.”
I see Blake grimace and Bodi’s ears turn red but I’m not getting into any pissing contests with him.
Especially not with all the kids running around.
I turn and head into the hallway before I do something I regret. It’s hard to resist the urge to punch Bodi in the face, but I’m doing the best I can.
“Rome.” My sister catches up to me and takes my arm as we walk down the hall toward the players’ parking lot. “Talk to me, big brother. What’s going on in that messed up brain of yours?”
I snort. “I’m attempting to be the grown-up and do what’s right. For Bodi, for Billie, and even for me.”
“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that nothing you’ve done is the right thing for you.”
“Like I told him, I did what I did because it was better forher. My future is completely up in the air, but he’s her brother. Coming between them will never end well for me. It might be a year or ten years, but eventually she’ll resent me for driving that wedge between them, and I can’t do it.”
“I think you’re scared,” she counters.
“You wouldn’t be wrong.”
“Don’t let her slip through your fingers, Rome,” she says softly. “She’s special. You know it. I know it. Even Bodi knows it. He’s not good at expressing himself but tonight was an olive branch.”
“Tonight was him acknowledging that he’s going to lose his sister if he doesn’t change his ways. It had nothing to do with me. Not really. Besides, even if he full-on gave us his blessing, I’m probably not going to be here next season. What’s the point?”
“Your life could be here too. Tell the boss you changed your mind, you don’t want to be traded.”
“It’s too late.”
“Even if it is, it might just be one season where you do the long-distance thing. Give Billie a chance to learn the ropes with Nita, finish her master’s degree, and then maybe open a franchise in a city where you can both be happy. Bodi has issues but you do too. Don’t let your disastrous past relationships impact what you could have with Billie. She’s not them. Not by a long shot.”
“I know that.”
“She’s the one, Rome. The balm to your wounds. The love you never thought you could have. Go get her. Sell that stupid house in New York and use the money to start your life with Billie. Remember when she told you Bodi would come around?”
I nod, my heart suddenly racing.
“What do you think just happened? Now you just have to get your head out of your ass and go get your girl. Do I have to teach you everything?”
“No, but sometimes it’s good if you do anyway. Thanks, sis.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.
First thing tomorrow I’m going to call my realtor in New York.
