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My phone rings, and Conor’s name flashes across the screen. I press the button to send it to voicemail, but he doesn’t leave one, sending me a text instead.
Call me. I’ve got huge news.
I’m busy. What’s your huge news?
I’m coming home.
What is he talking about? His preseason training has to be starting soon like the Falcons’. Why would he come home?Shit.If he is coming home for a visit, I have to tell him about Mom.
I press his name on the contact and press the speaker button, muting the television.
“Finally have time for your big brother?” he answers.
“A minute or two, I guess.”
“You’re funny.”
“What do you mean you’re coming home? Doesn’t training start soon?”
“It does.” I think he’s in his kitchen because I can hear a sizzling pan in the background.
“So how do you have time to come home before the season starts?”
I wasn’t prepared to tell my brother about my mom. His season is about to start, and it will probably crush him just like it did me. And maybe it’s a little because I know that Conor will call my dad and tell him. He’ll confront the situation head-on while I tend to try to avoid conflict. We’ve always been opposites in the way we react to a crisis. It would be so easy to let him just take this over and handle everything with my parents. But a part of me knows that I can’t place the sole burden on him. That it isn’t fair.
“Yeah, I have my training in Chicago.”
“What are you talking about?” Why would the Florida Fury come up to Chicago to train for the season? I grab my iced tea and take a sip, leaning back in the chair.
“I’m a Falcon now.”
My iced tea sprays out of my mouth. “Wha…what?”
“I’ve been traded. I can’t wait to tell Mom. She’s gonna be so happy. Speaking of, can you go get her? She’s not answering my call either.”
I stand and grab a napkin, wiping down my coffee table. “I’m not at the shop.”
“Why? Are you sick?”
“Conor, I need you to start from the beginning. Why would they trade you?”
He scoffs. “Jeez, sis, thanks for thinking I’m not a hot commodity. You think no one wants me?”
“No.” I toss my tea-soaked napkins in the trash. “I’m just surprised the Fury doesn’t want to keep you.”
“Of course they wanted to keep me, but the Falcons wanted me more.”
I’m not sure I understand how the trade thing works, but it doesn’t matter. Conor coming home means I need to end this thing with Rowan. Profound disappointment fills my chest. “That’s cool.”
“Cool?”
Conor’s clearly offended that I’m not jumping up and down. I’m happy he’s coming home, but his return forces me to confront the two things I’ve been avoiding—my mom’s infidelity and my situation with Rowan.
I can’t leave Conor in the dark. He needs to understand what he’s coming home to. Before finding out my mom was cheating, I would’ve been screaming with excitement.
“Yeah, when do you have to report here?” I ask.
“For training. Which means soon. I’m coming into town this week to find a place. Unless you want to offer up yours?”
