Page 60 of Within Striking Distance
“He’ll be due around her birthday,” I finally say.
My sister nods. “He will.”
“She’d like that.”
I ignore the stabbing in my chest. I’ve barely spoken about our mother in the past eleven years. It hurts too much.
“She would.”
I eye her overnight bag. “How long are you staying?”
She glances down at it. “Oh, um… I thought I could stay tomorrow and watch you play? I haven’t seen you on the pitch since?—”
Since before Dad’s death.
I force myself to smile. While the reminder of what happened when I was fourteen is unwelcome, I really would like her to come and watch me. “Yeah, that would be great.”
The front door slams shut, and it’s the only warning we get before a scowling Everett stomps into the room. He stops short when he spots Tori, his brows shooting up.
“This is my sister, Tori,” I say in introduction before he can open his mouth and say something inappropriate. “Tori, this is my housemate, Everett.”
“Hi,” she greets him with a watery smile.
“Hey.” My housemate’s gaze drifts between the two of us as he rubs the back of his neck. “Is everything okay?”
Her cheeks flush and she laughs, waving off his concern. “Oh yeah, pregnancy hormones.”
He grins, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and I wonder what’s going on with him. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“She’s going to spend a couple of nights here, if that’s cool?” I ask. I already know Tinsley won’t be staying over, but he doesn’t know that I know.
Her eyes find mine. “Sorry, I don’t mean to impose?—”
“Of course,” Everett interrupts. “It’s no problem. I’ve been dying to know more about your brother.”
She grins. “Oh, I’ve got plenty of stories.”
Shit.
When Everett goes into the kitchen to grab a beer, I pull Tori aside. “No one here knows about our past. I don’t want them knowing I killed our father.”
Chapter 17
Juliet
I’m falling for my stepson’s best friend, and it terrifies me.
Blake texts me every morning when he wakes up, and every night before he goes to sleep. They’re sweet and funny, and my heart races every time I get a notification on my phone.
Despite his game tomorrow, we text into the early morning. My heart breaks when he tells me he lost both his parents when he was fourteen.
Striker: Me and Tori were inseparable when we were kids, but our parents’ deaths forced us to grow up far too quickly. I didn’t make things easy for her, and now I don’t know how to get back what we had.
Juliet: Losing your parents is hard at any age, let alone when you’re that young.
Striker: I’m scared I fucked things up too badly, and she’ll never trust me again.
