Page 30 of The Biggest Sacrifice

“I mean, it could be worse. It could say “Gage’s 2nd Fave Twin.”

I roll my eyes at my brother. “That’s whatyoursshould read. Everyone knows I’m the favorite around here.”

Billy barks a laugh. “Sure, keep telling yourself that. We know Mom lies to us all.”

I hear a car horn honk. “Come on, Adam’s here. Let’s get to the field.”

We’re all heading down to watch Jackson’s team tonight. I’ve missed Friday night football games. Farrah and I would go to every home game. Even if I was on duty, she’d stand with me instead of sitting in the stands with the family. Just another thing she did that I used to take for granted.

Climbing into the back of my brother’s Tahoe expecting to see Farrah, but instead, I find my sister is sitting in the back seat with JJ in his car seat. I try not to show my disappointment and hope she’s still coming to the game.

Billy shoves me, then steps on me, getting to the third row.

“Fucker!”

“Fuck!” JJ yells from his seat.

Billy snickers while Chess smacks me. “Tom! He’s a damn parrot. Can you watch your mouth?”

“Damn parrot!” JJ yells again and dissolves into little baby laughs, which pull at my heart. I roll my eyes at Chess, then tickle him in his seat, which makes his belly laughs even louder.

“Where’s your tribe, Adam?”

“Farrah has them. Dom and the twins spent the day at Kandy Kane Kids, so Farrah said she’d meet us down at the field with them.”

Knowing she's going to be at the game puts me at ease.

“How was your first week back?”

Fucking awful! Harder than ever! I don’t want to go back! All these thoughts swirl through my brain, but, “fine,” is what I end up with. I thought I’d just fall back into my normal routine, but having Cash there has shaken things up. And not having Farrah as my outlet has really thrown me for a loop. I didn’t realize how much I came to depend upon her and I’m realizing how unfair I’ve been to her over the last few years.

“How’s it been riding with Cash?”

Adam glances at me in the rearview mirror. He looks away quickly and I roll my eyes. “I don’t know why you guys fall all over that guy.”

“We don’t fall all over him. He’s new to town and needs friends.”

“So does a puppy in the shelter, but I don’t see any of you running out to adopt.”

“Tom.”

I hear Francesca’s voice, but I look the other way.

“Tom, look at me.” When I do, she reaches across JJ and grabs my forearm. “He’s not your replacement. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

Snorting derisively, I say, “That’s not what I’m thinking.”

She watches me, then lets go of my arm. “It wouldn’t hurt you to be nice to him. You work together now and he lives here in town. You’re going to be seeing him often.”

“Adam, how’s business?” I’m shutting this conversation down now.

He glances at me again in the rearview mirror. “It’s busy.”

I hear Billy laughing from the third row. “Thinking of rejoining the family biz, brother? Need to get away from your competition?”

“William!” Francesca chastises him.

I lean over and punch him in his thigh. “Dead leg!” I yell as Billy howls in pain. “That will teach you to think you’re funny.”

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