Page 73 of Made Better Together

“So why were you such a grouch yesterday?”

Way to keep me upbeat, Rawls. I’m trying to stay positive here, big brother. “No reason. Nothing we should talk about right now.”

“Got it.” But he doesn’t give up. “Work stuff?”

I guess, sort of, since Eden’s a client. Still, I shake my head.

He persists. “Oh—Mom stuff? Landon says she’s threatening to come here for Christmas. Did she reach out to you?”

My chest clenches, and it’s hard to breathe. She hasn’t…but the thought alone causes the reaction.

I push out air, trying to release the tightness. “Nah. Can we talk about something else?”

He looks at me for a beat, then throws on a huge grin. “Yeah. It’s playoffs, baby. Good vibes only. Forget I asked.”

Happily, the Surge players come out of the locker room right then, and BOOM, there’s my brother’s better half. In what’s become their tradition over the years, she jogs over to where we’re sitting, and my brother stands to give her a hug.

Dozens of clicks go off right as they embrace. They may have done this countless times, but a shot of “Avley”—their “ship name”—still goes viral on social media.

“Go crush it, Avie baby.”

“Just for you, Rook.”

Once they separate, Rawley sits down, but his focus stays on Avery as she runs to their shootaround. The man is enraptured with his girlfriend.

Eventually, Avery heads over to the Surge bench to talk to her coach, and that seems to snap Rawley out of his reverie.

“We need to get you out on some dates,” he says. “Now that will get you in a good mood.”

My brother’s projecting from his own haze of emotion. “Rawls, when have you known me to go out on a bunch of dates? You’re only saying that because you’re lovesick—and I mean that in the best possible way, because Avery’s fucking cool as hell…”

He laughs. “Don’t deflect this back on me.” He taps his legs with his fingers. “Did you meet anyone in LA?”

“Nope.” There was a pretty intern in the West Coast office who tried to make plans with me a couple of times, but the only person I wanted to spend time with was back in Orlando.

“I would know if you’ve met someone here. So you’re single single then.”

“Yup.” I pop the P, hoping that’s the end of this topic.

Rawley doesn’t get the memo to drop it, though. A guy with a Tolliver shirt walks by in front of us, and his eyes narrow. “What about…”

Like a train coming toward me at full speed, I see exactly where his mind is going…

“Del’s daughter, Eden? I didn’t miss you knowing only their table number at the wedding. It reminded me that you couldn’t stop staring at her that day you revealed your kicking lessons.” Rawley’s always more observant than he gets credit for; it’s his memory that’s faulty thanks to his ADHD. But not this time, I guess. “Plus she’s right at Tolliver? Here in Orlando?”

I shake my head, because this topic is basically as dangerous as talking about our mom. “Nah…she’s a client of SLP. Off-limits.”

“Huh, okay.”

I call over one of the guys selling drinks and get us some water, thinking we’ve officially moved on.

But nope, there’s one more unsolicited observation from my brother. He throws a hand on my shoulder and looks out at Avery. “When you find the right woman, Connor, it’s going to change everything.”

The problem is, I think I already have.

“Wake up, Connor. Wake up.” The stern voice is layered with a rich southern accent.

Is that Mom? My head hurts. What time is it?