Page 19 of The Overtime Persuasive

“Yeah.” Lucy chuckles, nodding. “Try growing up in a house with three of them.”

I close my mouth and sit back in my chair. When these two gang up on me, and put it like that, there isn’t a single thing I can say that won’t make this worse.

“You’re allowed to feel some relief,” Lucy says, firmly placing herself on Eva’s side. “You don’t have to solve every part of this tonight.”

“Lucy,” I interrupt. As her little brother, and the youngest in my family, I know a pile-on when it’s happening.

But Lucy ignores me. “And you don’t need to hire anyone tomorrow. I’m right here and able. I’ll come help you this week while you make the calls and get everything sorted.”

Eva looks at her. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” Lucy reaches over and nudges Eva’s knee with hers. “I want to. Whatever you need—customers, inventory, paperwork, carrying things, protest outside a government office⁠—”

“I’m going to strongly encourage no protests,” I say.

Both of them look at me, and I lift my hands. “Groundwork, that’s all.”

I can tell Eva tries to fight it, but a laugh slips out anyway. Even though I feel like my own sister has kinda thrown me under the bus here—coming over and asking me to help only to slap me around when I do—the relief returning to Eva’s face makes it difficult to hold a grudge.

The conversation eventually drifts toward safer ground. Lucy tells us a story about one of her teammates, I burn a marshmallow beyond any shadow of recognition, and Eva stares at the sky, offering a grunt or raising a hand in agreement when needed.

At some point, Lucy and I stop chatting and I finally allow myself to fully relax, sitting back in my chair. That’s when a slight movement from Eva catches my attention.

I look over, watching the firelight move across her face. She still looks tense, but she looks different than when she and Lucy first showed up. She’s not folded in on herself, looking up to see what next big bad thing will land. Instead, she sits smiling, chestnut brown eyes sparkling while she chews thoughtfully on one of my cinnamon graham crackers.

Despite the fact that today my team didn’t see me as a leader off the bat, my sister did. And I like the fact that I was the one able to help. I don’t know if I did a whole lot, but judging from the color back in Eva’s cheeks, I helped some. If she listens.

It’s funny how it feels so good to sit here, around my firepit, talking about someone else’s issues. My days are usually spent on the ice trying to prove myself; tonight, I got to do that in my own backyard.

My phone lights up on the ground by my feet. Don’t even have to glance at the screen to know it’s my reminder. Nine-fifty. Bed time. Morning practice comes early, and opening night is getting closer by the day. There’s that A for grabs, and I’ve spent my time showing the coach and the powers that be I can handle it.

I want it. I intend to get it. Anyone else sees a letter, stitched onto a jersey. To us, on the team, it means trust. It means when it gets difficult out there, you’re the person they look to. The one that’s chosen.

I glance at Eva again as she laughs at a story Lucy is sharing. Lucy’s hands flail in the air and Eva’s eyes sparkle, reflecting the fire back.

Tonight, I also found a tiny opening with Eva. Finally.

Miracles do happen.

CHAPTER 5

LIAM

The house is blissfully quiet this morning. Mondays off are so few and far between this time of year, I guard mine like a dragon guards its gold. Today there was no alarm, no practice text, nothing but me waking up slow to Thomas chittering somewhere out back, no doubt plotting his next wave of destruction. I’ve got coffee, a half-finished crossword, and exactly zero obligations until tomorrow morning.

The sun is shining and the air is still. It’s going to be a good day.

My phone buzzes on the the counter, and I glance at it without much urgency. It’s probably Sawyer sending a meme, or Owen asking if anyone’s free to help him assemble furniture he definitely should’ve paid someone else to assemble. We are adults now, come on.

Lucy

I GOT CALLED UP! Premier League. Their goalie went down at practice, and the coach called ME.

I read it twice before it fully lands, and then I’m grinning at my phone like an idiot in an empty kitchen.

Lucy. That’s massive!

Lucy