Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 179812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 899(@200wpm)___ 719(@250wpm)___ 599(@300wpm)
He doesn’t wait for me to respond either way before he turns around and, I’m assuming, walks back to where he came from, his office most likely. Well, he doesn’t need to, does he? He’s one of my coaches, the head coach in fact, and I’m going to have to obey him whether I like it or not.
Along with the desire to take care of each other, soccer was another uniting factor for our family. While we were all busy with our lives, soccer had been the one thing that we could come together for. I knew, given our love and talent for the game, we’d end up in the pros one day. I also knew we may be crossing paths in our career as well. While I could never have predicted that we’d all end up associated with one team—mostly by choice, so we could stay close to our home and our little sister—I’ve always been happy about that. We always only had each other, so it made sense that we’d stick together.
Until I have to stand in my big brother’s office, ready to get chewed out for my game.
For the record, I’ve been in this position a million times. I’ll be the first to admit that when you use distractions, you’re bound to break a few rules here and there. You’re bound to be called rebellious when you’re caught breaking curfew because you were partying too hard, or when you’re sneaking into girls’ bedrooms in the middle of the night. It’s a small price to pay, though, for being the easy one.
I’ve spent most of my life being in trouble with my big brother. But this will be the first time I’ll get a talking-to for soccer, and it makes me want to break something.
Sitting behind his desk, he commands, “Take a seat.”
“I’d rather stand,” I tell him, keeping my place by the door.
His jaw clenches and I’m expecting him to repeat himself. But all he does is throw me a short nod. “Fine. Suit yourself.” I’m still reeling from his unusual behavior when he goes ahead and drops another bomb. “How are you?”
“What?”
“Are you doing okay?”
“What the fuck?”
He narrows his eyes at me, telling me without words he’s starting to get pissed—good, me too—but manages to keep his tone calm as he asks, “How are you finding things here? At practice.”
It’s my turn to make him wait for my answer. Mostly because I don’t know what else to say other than what in the goddamn fuck is he talking about? But then I realize what’s happening and my body tenses. My blood heats and I fist my hands at my sides. So this is it, huh. He brought me in here for this bullshit.
Clenching my teeth for a few seconds, I at last say, “If you’re taking suggestions, I’ll admit I’d like more variety at the vending machine. The same old shit is getting boring. And maybe some hot towels in the shower.”
Irritation flickers through his features but I don’t think it’s good enough. I want him pissed. I want him as fucking pissed as I am right now. But somehow—and I know it’s a struggle for him; I can see it in the tensing of his features—he manages to keep his calm and say in a brittle voice, “You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Could’ve fooled me,” I say, my voice just as tight as his.
His jaw pulses. “I’m trying here.”
“Trying to do what?”
“To talk to you.”
“About what?”
“About the shit you’re going through,” he snaps.
I fold my arms across my chest. “And what shit would that be?”
Con watches me for a few seconds before breathing deep and shaking his head. “Look, I’m not good at this, all right? And especially with you. We’ve always been,” he pauses to search for a word, “at odds with each other. I’m the brother who makes the rules and you’re the one who breaks them. And maybe it’s my fucking fault that this is… fucking difficult. Talking. But…” He takes another deep breath here. “This must be tough for you. Watching her. With Stellan.”
Tough isn’t the word I’d use.
It’s excruciating, watching the girl I thought was meant for me, with my twin. Although if I’m being honest, I didn’t think it would be. When I found out she wanted him instead of me, I thought I could handle it. When I found out he wanted her back, I thought I could handle stepping aside and letting them be together. Not only because you can’t really stand in the way of two people wanting to be with each other, but also because I knew Stellan deserved his happy ending.
What I don’t know is why I’m not over his new girlfriend yet.
“It would be for me,” Con goes on. “If I had to see Bronwyn with…”