Page 101 of Backup Plan

I sigh, and I pick up. Reluctantly. It might be an update or a question on Dad’s trial, and as much as I’d like to ignore my sister, I can’t.

“Hey,” I answer.

“What did you do to her?” she whispers.

“To whom?” I pretend like I don’t know what she’s talking about.

“Pen told me everything.”

“Then you already know the answer to your question.”

She huffs out a frustrated sigh. “She fell in love with you, you big dummy.”

I’m quiet a long time before I admit, “I fell for her, too.”

“Then what the hell are you doing?”

“Protecting her and the boys. Protecting our family. It’s too much drama, too much scandal.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s a stupid reason to end it with her,” she says.

“Thanks for your unsolicited opinion.”

“I’m serious, Liam. I love you, but you do this. You put the family first, which is great. It’s noble, and it’s brave, and it’s amazing. But not when it’s at such a high cost to you.”

“You didn’t seem to care that it was a high personal cost when it suited you. When I was busting my ass getting back and forth from Pittsburgh just because I was the only one still based in Chicago when Mom was sick or when Dad was arrested.”

“You weren’t hurting my best friend when you were doing that,” she points out.

“Yeah, well, I’m hurting, too. And having my sister call me a dummy isn’t exactly helping.”

“Then fix it,” she suggests.

“I can’t. You might’ve forgotten, but I have a new team to play for in San Diego. I’m moving, and I’m going there tomorrow to get the hell out of this town and away from this house that holds so many goddamn good memories of her and her kids. I’m staying out of her way until her divorce is final.”

“And then?” she pushes.

“And then…I don’t know. I’ll be at training camp, or in season, and she’ll be here.” I shrug even though I’m on the phone. “So I guess we had some fun, and now it’s done.”

“You can’t really believe that.”

“Maybe you don’t, Ev. But yeah. That’s reality. I gotta go.” I hang up, and then I start packing since I’m skipping town early in the morning.

CHAPTER 32: Liam Bradley

Dolorabella

It’s been two weeks since I last saw Penny. Two weeks since I’ve heard her voice. Two weeks where I haven’t stopped thinking about her.

Okay, in truth, it’s been longer than two weeks since I haven’t stopped thinking about her. Two months, nearly.

I’m not sleeping. I stare up at the ceiling as I try to figure out how to make this better. I’m back and forth on whether I should call her once her divorce is final. But who knows how much time might pass between now and then? Maybe she’ll move on, and if she does, I refuse to interrupt that process for her.

I’m forcing myself to focus on football. I meet Tanner for workouts. I go out with Clay. I immerse myself in life here in San Diego even though everything reminds me of her.

A little bookshop by the beach she would love.

A beautiful sunset over the water that I wish I could share with her.