Page 13 of Blindsided

“We’re doing everything we can to help her. We’ll make sure she’s safe,” Adam assures him.

“Will you give her my number and tell her she can text me anytime she needs someone to talk to?” Sarah asks.

I wrap my arm around her shoulders, grateful to have her as my sister. She knows all about having a stalker and the damage they can do. “I will. Thanks, sis.”

“Matthew, you and Carter start on a team; the rest of us are on the other. First team to ten wins, and then we’ll switch.” Adam grabs the soccer ball and passes it off to Sara to start the game.

We made up our own pickup game when we were kids since there was an uneven number of us. We’ve been playing the same way ever since. Usually, these sessions devolve into an every-man-for-themselves situation, despite trying to stay as true to a regular soccer game as possible when we start.

The five of us get together every week to play. It’s our way of ensuring we hang out with each other, even when we’re all super busy.

The rest of the night is spent shoving, taunting, and cheating our way through the game. We laugh the entire time and only stop playing when we’re all exhausted. I end up being the first one to tap out, collapsing onto the turf with my arms and legs spread out. Sara sprawls next to me, and Nolan, Carter, and Adam complete the circle.

Being this close to my siblings is one of those things I try to never take for granted. I have four built-in best friends who love me no matter what. They’re my confidants and biggest supporters. I have no idea where I’d be without them.

“I’m going to propose to Ellie.” Adam drops that information bomb with no warning, and we all startle, each of us shouting some variation of,“Are you serious?”

He laughs, his grin malicious, as if he planned to shock us like that.

“Congratulations, Adam. We couldn’t be happier to have Ellie in the family.” Sara wraps her arms around Adam’s shoulders. It’s an awkward hug since we’re all still sitting on the ground.

“When are you going to do it?” Carter asks.

Adam blows out a breath, his nerves peeking through his steely exterior. “I have no fucking clue. One minute, I can hardly hold the question back. The next, my throat closes off and the words won’t come out.”

“Are you nervous about what she’ll say?” Sara’s gentle tone makes it clear she’s not criticizing.

“No, I have no doubt she’ll say yes.” Adam shakes his head.

“But it doesn’t stop you from feeling vulnerable,” Nolan finishes for him.

“Exactly. And, of course, I want everything to be perfect because she deserves it.”

“You know she doesn’t want perfection. She just wants you,” I remind him.

Adam drops his head. “Yeah, I know. I haven’t found a ring yet anyway, so I’ll at least wait until I have that.”

“Want some help?” Sara’s grin is wide, and the manic look in her eyes has me shaking my head at Adam.

“As scary as you look right now, I would still like your opinion,” Adam says.

Sara laughs. “Done. Plus, you can use me as a reason for your absences, and you won’t have to lie.”

Adam tips his head. “True.”

I stand and hold out my hand to help Sara up. We collect our stuff from the bleachers and go our separate ways after saying goodbye.

I sit in my car, contemplating what I want to do now. It’s too late to do much of anything, but I also know that if I go home, I’ll be met with a silent, empty house.

Jesus, it was only a few days.I’ve spent years in that house by myself. How can it suddenly be so fucking different?

* * *

A buzz from my nightstand pulls me out of the trance I’d fallen into. I set my e-reader off to my side and blink my eyes. I’ve started reading the book Tilly told me about, and I can’t put it down. It’s as if I fall straight into their world the second I begin reading.

Tilly: Desmond’s apartment is disgustingly bougie. It’s like the designer thought, how can I make this place scream wealth in the tackiest way?

I laugh at the picture she sent along with her text. There’s a glass table with an awful painting hanging over it. On top of the table is a weird metal sculpture that, no joke, looks like a dick and balls.

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